A Balanced Attack?

COACH,

Upon completion of a 42 year on field coaching career last season, I will be the first to tell you that I am thouroughly ashamed of neglecting family for football! I by passed my twin brothers funeral a year ago this month because I was the HC and our opening game was scheduled for the same day. I have been married 46 years come this August 8th and have 4 grown children and 8 grand children. I was blessed with a son who was a full scholarship Quarterback at Clemson Univ. and went on to play professional ball. He is a now a very successful business man. I am married to the best wife God ever gave any man!
Due to the long hours of preparation, travel, and complete immersion in football I am sure I have brought her many disappointments, a fact I would give anything to change! I have 3 daughters as well, that I did my dead level best to support in their activities, but know I fell way short of my intentions.

I finished with a won - lost record that is impressive and with lots of personal honors, etc. HOWEVER, ALL THAT PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE REAL ISSUES OF LIFE THAT REALLY MATTER. In addition to my coaching career I have been in the Ministry for 30 + years as well, serving my denomination as an Evangelist for the great majority of that time. That also called for a great deal of my time as well.

I have shared these personal thoughts with you in hopes of helping you avoid the pitfalls of our profession as much as is possible. I often said that my priorities were GOD, FAMILY AND FOOTBALL AND REALLY MEANT IT. However, in actual practice and many instances, the number #3 priority really was the # 1 priority. Don't allow yourself to make the same mistake.

Coach Easton

Wow! Thanks TIGERONE and CGTIGER for the responses. I salute you two for sharing your struggles with other coaches and encouraging them to learn from the mistakes of others. Definately a characteristic of a true leader. I hope that others share their stories or comments as well.



Thanks Coach!

tiger,

as much as i hate the analogy - U ARE SO RIGHT.

I can barely make it home by 8 or 9 PM monday thru thursdays. Friday nights consume my time from 6 am until midnight - and shes sleeping when i get home. up again early and 10 hrs in the office on saturday. i do give my coaches off on sunday, but the time, even at the HS level, is quite consuming.

i think one bit of advise that i would give is to GET YOUR WIFE INVOLVED. one thing is to go to games and be supportive, but include her in little things like grilloust, fundraisers, feeding the kids, etc. make her feel part of it. at the same time, do the extra things and be thoughtful during the season. little things are important to those woman.

Great points coach;

Football can become addictive at times - although my wife refers to it as my 'passion'. It frustrates her at times but she respects it and is even trying to learn more about the game.

One key point that I learned from a coach I worked under was to NOT ever say anything bad about your other coaches to the wives - after a game/meeting/practice. They tend to remember it and hold it MUCH longer than we do, and it can come up in a bad way at different times.

Another important aspect to remember is that our High School players see us as role models whether we want them to or not. They understand the old axiom that actions speak louder then words. I have a daughter who has some issues...minor thankfully, but there are times that I must go to meetings or take her to doctors. I dont hide it from the boys. I tell them if I am not going to be at a practice or film session, or if I have to leave early. I tell them I love the team, but my kids are #1 to me. Once or twice a season (hell week, or week day practices) I bring my daughters to practice and they see what I hope is GOOD Father -child interaction. I coach in a NYC h.s. and unfortunately a significant # of my players do not good father figures (many have absentee fathers or phone call fathers).
Whats funny is we were having a lousy week in practice and I had to leave early one day for a Drs appointment. The boys knew and I was going to leave after the Special Teamssession (I'm the SpecialTeams Coordinator among things). Well we had guys flying around and had the best session of practice all week to that time... in fact in the game 2 days later we blocked a punt, returned a punt for a td and kept the other teams Kick returns to an 11 yard average!! The Head Coach joked after the game, maybe we should have pretended on Tuesday and I could have snuck off and had a great week of practice instead of a great Thursday (we play on Saturdays typically)

Sometimes Troy, but other times they think I'm just NUTS!!!

Coach Zuck,

Don't believe MBK on this one! We are ALL more than a little nuts!!! HEHEHEHE

Coach Easton