According to the Sacramento Bee, Kevin Scott has stepped down after leading the Wolfpack to a 25-6 season.
Kevin Scott steps down at Cosumnes Oaks
- Thread starter Streak One
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On one level, of course, the parental pressure should not be a problem, and the athletic director and principal should shield the coaches -- but given the volatility of the principal's job, and the pressure that can be applied to school board members by a small minority, it's an unfortunate reality.
Which means that, on the real world level, dealing with parents is a huge, huge part of high school coaching, and should be approached with as much care, focus and attention as what offenses and defenses will be run. That may not be what coaches sign up for, but like it or not, it's part of the job description, just like dealing with the media is a huge part of an NBA or NFL coaching position.
Sometimes, sadly, it doesn't matter what the coach does -- the parents will manipulate the levers of power and force a coach out even if she's done everything possible. (But that's like just not having enough talent ... you can coach like Steve Kerr but if the girls can't make a basket, you won't win many games -- and eventually that will get you fired too.)
Which means that, on the real world level, dealing with parents is a huge, huge part of high school coaching, and should be approached with as much care, focus and attention as what offenses and defenses will be run. That may not be what coaches sign up for, but like it or not, it's part of the job description, just like dealing with the media is a huge part of an NBA or NFL coaching position.
Sometimes, sadly, it doesn't matter what the coach does -- the parents will manipulate the levers of power and force a coach out even if she's done everything possible. (But that's like just not having enough talent ... you can coach like Steve Kerr but if the girls can't make a basket, you won't win many games -- and eventually that will get you fired too.)
To Clay's point, I would like to state that the opposite situation can also be true - Coaches could be biased and or have a "my-way-or-the-highway" approach, and despite many parents complaining nothing changes. Seen it up close and personal, though my daughter was lucky to be on the good side in that situation. Not a famous program either.
Great point ... and that's the advantage of parents having more input about coaches. Back in the day, whatever the coach said went, and nobody at the school wanted to hear anything, or would hear anything. (The kind of attitude, by the way, that led to the sexual abuse scandals in gymnastics, volleyball and elsewhere ...)
The pendulum always swings too far in one direction or the other, however, and never quite settles on the sweet spot. Probably disgruntled parents have a little too much power now, which means coaches must make the necessary adjustments.
The pendulum always swings too far in one direction or the other, however, and never quite settles on the sweet spot. Probably disgruntled parents have a little too much power now, which means coaches must make the necessary adjustments.
True, coaches have to not only coach their kids, but also have to coach their parents now. Some parents like Clay says make it very difficult on their kid, coach, and ultimately the whole team. We have all seen and heard the nightmare parents in the bleachers. No matter what a coach does sometimes it isn't good enough for some parents. They have to coach their kid from the sideline or coach the coach. It is has been around for a long time, but like some have said the AAU culture has only made matters worse for HS coaches. Just go sit in the bleachers for a few days at any AAU tournament and you'll see and hear it non-stop. There is no administrator at AAU tournaments telling those parents that they are doing a disservice to their kid, team and school.
Very Unfortunate. He was good for the kids, and was a great guy.
I see no reason for parent involvement in high school sports unless the student is being threatened or being injured by the coach. Parents need to learn to stay out of the coach’s way and let him or her do their job. You may not like the way they are doing it or how they are using your child but they are the coach. And if your child has a complaint teach them to go to the coach. If your child is good enough to get a scholarship at any level they will get it. You should support your child and when it comes to coaching keep your opinion to yourself.
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the funny thing about common sense... its not very common..
Hence why I do not coach anymore! Small town and everyone was the next NBA, MLB, WNBA and NFL star. According to mom and dad!
Funny, I love my Antelope high school team, but do find coaching easier on the club/AAU circuit. The club directors, we are the AD, coaches and administrators, if a parent/player are not happy with playing time or amount of shots they don't get. They can only have open conversation with me and not someone over my head.
yup, in that setting they are basicalling "hiring" you to coach their kid. If they don't like it, they can go elsewhere. Which I'm sure leads to team hopping and whatnot, but at the end of the day hopefully you end up with kids you want AND that want to be there (parents also of course).
Good luck this summer coach
Why shouldn't parents be involved? Coaches are far from perfect -- check out USA Gymnastics and the virtues of silence and not speaking out -- and there should be a check and balance. Back in the day, supposedly, the athletic director and principal knew what was going on, but there weren't 15 sports then, and those roles tended to be filled for a longer time by a single person.
Of course parents can go too far -- but how do you think the parents of the USA gymnasts feel about telling their daughters "to work it out with the coach"?
Of course parents can go too far -- but how do you think the parents of the USA gymnasts feel about telling their daughters "to work it out with the coach"?
Obviously parents should be involved when there is child endangerment (physical abuse, mental abuse, etc). However, going to the administration over playing time, coaching style is too far. I think it sets a bad example that you can go over an authority figure to get your way
There's a phrase there that concerns me: "Coaching style." It is sadly true that leadership through fear, intimidation and mental abuse can be enormously successful in the short run, and we've all seen that style in action. I think parents have every right to complain about coaches who demean their players, or appear to demean them. That said, the administration should not necessarily cave in to every complaint, which is too often the case in these sensitive times, but it can be a very fine line between "coaching style" and "endangerment."
Playing time complaints should stop at the athletic director. Any AD who kicks that kind of complaint upstairs should give up that free period and stipend and go back to the classroom.
Playing time complaints should stop at the athletic director. Any AD who kicks that kind of complaint upstairs should give up that free period and stipend and go back to the classroom.
Playing time complaints to the AD, really! Parents should never ever complain about playing time for their child. If the student wants to find out why their playing time has decreased or wants to know how they can increase it, they need to go to the coach. The coach should never have someone telling him or her who they should be playing and for how long. Its their team to manage how they feel is the best for the team.
I agree. Teachers should not be continually questioned or threatened as long as they are actually teaching the kids, not being discriminatory, and of course not being abusive. The same should go with coaches. The gym is their classroom and the best teach much more than just basketball.
John Wooden rarely said "coach" or "coached," it was always "teacher" "teach" or "taught". Don't know how many actually notice that when they reach his writings or watch his speeches. The best see themselves as just that, teachers. Coaches should get the same benefit of respect from parents and the administrators, who made the decision to hire them in the first place, as the teaching staff at that school.
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