National Coaches Day 2023

October 6 is National Coaches Day. 

The definition of a coach is "a person who teaches and trains the members of a sports team and makes decisions about how the team plays during games." 

A coach is so much more than that though.

From playing sports, to covering sports, to coaching and working in athletic offices, I have dealt and deal with coaches a lot. 

There is a lot that goes that goes into being a coach beyond coaching practices and games. There's preparation, and paperwork and dealing with people and issues and so much more. 

There are many different coaching staff roles and duties to make sure everything runs smoothly. There are variations depending on the age of athletes, level of play and the league that the coach is coaching in. 

A good coach doesn't just care about wins and loses and how the athletes perform of the field, court, etc. A good coach cares about their athletes. They care about them both on the field and off. A good coach not only wants their players to have a good experience with the team, but is there for them in life. 

A coach may make a decision in a game that is the best to help their team win. This doesn't mean they don't like or care about the player as a person. 

The head coach is the leader of the program and he can dictate how he wants to use his assistant coaches. Many coaches have different roles for how their assistants can help them. 

Coaches are teachers even if they are not actual teachers as their full-time job, at any level, but especially at the youth and high school level and that's important. 

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For me, it's being an assistant on the Ludlowe baseball coaching staff. We have a great staff led by Ken Geriak and a tremendous group of kids who it's a pleasure to coach. Everyone has a role and it's about the kids. 

It's also working with all the coaches I do at Ludlowe and Warde. I honestly work more directly with coaches than I do the student-athletes. From coaching permits and paperwork, to rosters, buses and so many other items that come up on a daily basis. 

Some coaches I am friendlier with than others and deal with more. A lot of that depends on the sport and their needs, as well as what coaches are around the office more than others. 

Then there's also my heavy involvement in Ludlowe basketball and dealing with John Dailey and his staff even more than I do the other coaches I work with for my actual job. 

It's the coaches I've covered as a media member. Always so gracious and helpful. 

It's also those I played youth sports for. So many great parents who were the coaches who knew I wasn't a great athlete but was passionate and cared. 

There are way too many coaches to name them who have had an impact on me. Especially with the fact that I don't want to forget or slight someone. Everyone important in one way or another. 

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There are so many great coaches professionally. Everyone has their opinions. 

From Vince Lombardi to Phil Jackson to Connie Mack, to Mike Krzyzewski to Geno Auriemma and so many others. And that's just head coaches, not even making any assistants. 

Everyone doesn't like their teams coach when things aren't going well and loved them when they are. That's the reality of sports and the position they are in.