the parent question

S.J. Very well put. Coach Campbell

We have great parent support in our program. One of the reasons I believe is that we have been open and honest with them from day 1. We have also told them we will never discuss schemes and playing time. We have protocol for a meeting that goes as follows: If a player has a problem he is expected and encouraged to come talk to a coach. If him and the coach cannot come to some sort of resolution than we would expect the parent to call to set up a meeting. We will never meet with people who show up unnanounced nor will we discuss a problem with a parent if their son has not already come to us. This has made things not only simple but has also placed responsibility on our player to be a young man.

Parents are the toughest people on interview panels. Over this year I interviewed with 3 schools - total on panels 30 people. of which 16 were parents, 8 were admin. 3 were AD's, and 3 were booster heads - did not have people in the program. The problem is they all have secret agendas. (and you'll never know what they are till your picked) Only 1 on all three panels had either played or coached (played in HS - coached Freshmen!)

A story from some 20 years ago,

I was interviewing for a job in NJ. Well I go in and see they've wheeled in a blackboard! One of the parents asked me to get up on the board and start drawing X's and O's. When I refused - He told me it could mean me getting the job or not. I told him fine and asked what he did. Ends up - he was a chief chemist for the Dupont plant. I asked him if he could get on the board and explain the chemical formula for the latest synthetics. He said there was no way he could explain it so I would understand. I said so he was a professional and a layman wouldn't have his expertise. When he said yes - I quickly responded "So am I'

I ended up getting the job.

Now, it's just a story in my past for entertainment. Times have changed. Now you have to answer to parents (try explaining to a TV parent who's son is the QB why you're a flexbone coach and not a shotgun - throw it every down.

One thing I've done is prior to the interview is try through contacts to find out which parents are on the panel and why (i,e, son's a qb, big booster, was part of group that lynched last coach, etc.) I don't change my answers but at least I can prepare from where they're coming from.

My answer always is-- Be open and honest with them. When it comes to playing time let the parents know that Johnny is not one of the 5 best offensive linemen or let them know that he's not better than the person who he is competing against.

If the parent think Johnny should be a quarterback, where he really is a wide receiver, let them know that he best helps the TEAM as a wide receiver. Follow this up by telling them that he has a better chance to go to college as a wide receiver. (If he would be able to play college ball as a quarterback, he'd be starting there anyway!) I hope this helps.