This program will be loaded on Sunday, December 21, 2025
The official newsletter of the North Carolina Coaches Association News & information for North Carolina high school & middle school coaches. NC Coach
Spring 2026
Volume 31 Issue 1
Welcome to the digital NC Coach newsletter!
If you’d like to see archived issues of NC Coach, please go to the NCCA website: nccoach.org
NC COACH An official publication of the North Carolina Coaches Association P.O. Box 10708 Greensboro, NC 27404 Physical Address 1101 N. Josephine Boyd St. Greensboro, NC 27408 336.379.9095 • Fax 336.379.0874 Josh Brooks, Franklin HS 2025-26 Vice President Richard Bailey, Scotland County HS 2025-26 Past President Patty Evers, East Bladen HS ncca@nccoach.org 2025-26 President
See you in Greensboro! East-West All-Star Games & Coaching Clinic JULY 20-22, 2026 What’s Inside? From the Games Desk ...........................................................3 From the Clinic Desk ..............................................................5 Tomorrow’s 25 Coaching Fellowship ...............................7 Carolinas Classic.......................................................................8 A Note from the NCDPI ........................................................9 The Jason Foundation ......................................................... 10 Press Box Perspective .......................................................... 11 In Memoriam .......................................................................... 13 They Still Call Me Coach: Joe Pinyan ........................... 15 Insurance Information ........................................................ 21
Executive Directors • Mac Morris & Phil Weaver Executive Secretary/Clinic Director • Joe Franks Assistant Directors • Reid Holmes, David Rogers, and Tim Via Game Coordinators • Clayton Nance, Reggie Peace, Herk DeGraw Office Manager • Malea Jones Editor • Heather Hirschman Media Coordinator • Jim Sands Social Media Coordinator • Earl Vaughan Jr.
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From the GAMES Desk...
pweaver@nccoach.org
Phil Weaver Executive Director, All-Star Games
There are several reminders that need to be made to football, soccer, and basketball coaches regarding all-star selections. All-star coaches, Malea Jones in our office, and I would be much happier people if you would follow these guidelines. When the nomination window opens for your sport and you think you have qualified athlete(s) to nominate you should ask the player if they would commit to playing if selected. If they say no, then you should not nominate those players. Nominating them just wastes the time of the game coaches and those in our office. It also slows the process by weeks because those who decline rarely do so quickly and once they do, the all-star coach has to start over with the alternate players. Sometimes I see a basketball coach nominate five players. If that coach has five of the regions’ top ten players, then that team should have finished as undefeated state champions. If you nominate more than one then you diminish the value of your best player’s nomination; so be careful when nominating multiple players. If an all-star coach sees five from a school then it is obvious that the coach does not evaluate talent well. Once the player selections have been made we mail the player’s invitation to the school’s head coach. Malea also contacts those coaches by email alerting them that the letters are on the way. The best all- star coaches also contact the home school coaches to alert them that the invitation has been mailed. If you get such information and do not receive the mailing within five business days you should check with your main office and your athletic director. If neither has seen the mailing, please contact this office and we will email you copies of the letters within a day.
In reading the letter, you will see that we have a deadline for a response. It is a simple online procedure which should be done with the player. When you nominated the athlete you committed to doing your part whether the player accepts or declines (which should not happen of course.) We get far too many players and/or parents who foul something up because they do not have all the information the coach has, or vice versa. After your player accepts, your duties are not over. You need to maintain contact with the selected player to make certain they are staying in playing condition and have transportation to and from Greensboro. Football coaches also need to make sure players have the proper equipment. Before your players accepted you should also have explained to them and the family what they committed to doing. You should also, asap, email us a copy of the complete physical and concussion statement. Make sure the players have requested a transcript if they have GPAs of 3.0 or better so they can be recognized as Academic All- Stars. You will be invited to the all-star banquet as a guest of the NCCA and you should respond quickly so we can make an accurate meal order. You also need to inform us of any allergies, injuries, or other helpful information about your selectees. There are states which deal directly with the student athlete being selected, but we still feel our coaches should want to be the conduit to their player(s). We know all of you and your players selected and want to do your part to make the games the best they can be. Hopefully this has helped.
See “ Notes from the Games Desk” on page 4
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Notes from the Games Desk
We maintain a separate scholarship account which we hope will grow someday to where we can pay the $25,000 for scholarships the Board of Directors has allocated annually. Currently we pay all scholarships out of the general fund. Balfour makes a donation to us annually based on the amount of sales they get from state champion ring sales in North Carolina high schools. Also, a few Gold Card members make annual donations which are deposited into that account. This fund, currently about $75,000, also presents a good opportunity for you to make a charitable donation for tax or estate purposes. I would like to see us endow the fund and take the annual scholarship monies from the proceeds each year. Based on a 5% annual return, we’d need to have $500,000 in that endowed fund.
Recently, I ran across this article in The Athletic by Jayson Jenks. Definitely worth the read! https:// www.nytimes.com/athletic/7075906/2026/03/13/ coach-k-leadership-practice-play-duke/ What looks like a simple practice plan is anything but. In this story, Mike Krzyzewski turns a routine workout into a masterclass on leadership—where every drill reflects something bigger: how to organize, when to delegate, how to adapt, and the standards that define winning. It’s not really about basketball at all—it’s about what it takes to lead at the highest level.
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From the CLINIC Desk...
jfranks@nccoach.org
Joe Franks Executive Secretary, Clinic Director
Lots of exciting things going on in preparation for the Clinic – July 20-22. The registration mailing will go out in early May to the address you put on your registration card. The website will be updated at the same time with information and schedules. From a clinician standpoint, we’ve got a solid lineup. NC State Football, Emory Men’s Basketball, Coastal Carolina and High Point Women’s Basketball, NC State Soccer, Duke Wrestling, LSU baseball, UNC Softball, Virginia Tech Cross Country, Former Florida HC for Swimming, Florida Southern Volleyball, and Cuthbertson HS Track. In addition, we will have sessions on Golf, Tennis, Mental Training and Strength & Conditioning. Registration reminders: 1. To avoid problems processing registrations, please fill out cards and send registrations in as soon as possible to avoid mail delays, etc. Remember that your registration must be postmarked by July 1 to get the reduced pre-registration rate ($70). If you are sending in late June, go get your envelope “Hand Canceled” at the post office to ensure the date (always good advice). 2. If your school is going to pre-register you, get your registration card filled out and give it to your AD as soon as possible. 3. If it’s the 3rd week of May and you don’t have your packet or if your address has changed, email us to get a registration card – ncca@nccoach.org. Please don’t wait until late June to request a card. From the “We Have Heard You” department: 1. We are increasing the number of pre-registration lines from 6 to 8 to see if this will help the lines move more efficiently.
2. We will open after lunch at 1:45 as opposed to 2:00 to give extra time for folks to get to the 2pm sessions. 3. Pre-registered Gold Card Members will be able to skip the pre-reg lines and come directly to the right side of registration to pick up their packet. Even though we open registration at 8am and start sessions at 9:50 on Monday, we believe that there is confusion related to pictures and session attendance. When you pick up your packet, one of the cards has NCCA at the top and two lines for you to put your name and school. This is ALL YOU NEED to get into any clinic session. You can get your picture made later when the lines may be down a bit – but we all know Monday is the busiest day. NCCA Last year, we were up in registrations, and we have seen that gradually increase since COVID. We are excited to see our numbers continue to grow and believe that this year we will see that trend continue. We look forward to a great clinic in July as that always is a great start to a new sports year for our coaches, student-athletes and schools. As I always say, don’t ever underestimate what a profound effect you have on the young people for whom you mentor, support, challenge and inspire. Thanks for being a coach! Together, we are keeping the title “Coach” one that is respected and admired – and that can last a lifetime. _______________ _______________ 2026
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On February 16th, the state of North Carolina officially adopted the Tomorrow’s 25 Coaching Fellowship for the 2026-27 academic year. The implementation of this work will be done in partnership with the North Carolina Coaches Association (NCCA). Developed to identify and invest in emerging leaders in interscholastic athletics, the Tomorrow’s 25 Coaching Fellowship is a year-long leadership development experience that annually selects 25 high school coaches who demonstrate both professional excellence and a deep commitment to developing young people beyond competition. “We’re excited to become a part of this innovative approach to coaches’ education,” said Phil Weaver, Executive Director of the NCCA. “High school coaching in North Carolina will improve at a faster rate as we develop another 25 coaching leaders each year.” “What’s happening in North Carolina signals something bigger than expansion,” said Dr. Hunter Taylor, founder of Tomorrow’s 25. “It reflects a shared belief that coaching leadership matters - not just for wins and losses, but for the health of our schools and communities. Partnering with the North Carolina Coaches Association allows this work to take root in a way that’s sustainable and deeply connected to the state.” East-West All-Star Honor Roll is Online! The NCCA and our IT partners are pleased to announce that the Honor Roll on our Games website eastwestallstars.com has been modernized and is up-to-date! It contains 10,282 Coaches and Players who have participated in the East-West All-Star Basketball, Football and Soccer Games since the events began in 1949. The Honor Roll is searchable by Year, Sport, and School. Please report any errors or omissions to Tim Via at tvia@nccoach.org . https://eastwestallstars.com/HonorRoll.html North Carolina Officially Adopts the Tomorrow’s 25 Coaching Fellowship in 2026-27
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We are also proud to celebrate a significant achievement for one of North Carolina’s most respected coaching figures, David Gentry. As the winningest football coach in North Carolina history who led Murphy High School to nine North Carolina High School Athletic Association Class 1A state football titles, his recent selection to the NFHS National High School Hall of Fame is a well-deserved honor that reflects a lifetime of impact on student- athletes, schools, and the coaching profession. Coach Gentry’s legacy is defined not only by competitive success, but by the values he instilled in generations of young people. His recognition on the national stage is a point of pride for the entire state of North Carolina. The Office of Athletics remains committed to supporting coaches through clear policy, consistent communication, and collaboration with key stakeholders across the state. We appreciate the North Carolina Coaches Association for its continued partnership and leadership in advancing education- based athletics. Thank you for the work you do each day to positively influence student-athletes across North Carolina. We look forward to seeing many of you at the clinic and throughout the seasons ahead. Brad Alford, CMAA Director for the Office of Athletics North Carolina Department of Public Instruction New NCSBE Districts Now in Use The NCCA has officially adopted the new NCSBE Districts for all-star game selections and for representation on the NCCA Board of Directors. Please note that the NCHSAA has not yet fully transitioned to these new districts, so playoff assignments may differ slightly for some schools. Regardless of your NCHSAA playoff region, be sure to reference the new NCSBE Districts map for all NCCA-related purposes.
A Note from the NCDPI
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Office of Athletics extends its sincere congratulations to all winter sports state champion coaches across our state. Your leadership, preparation, and commitment to education-based athletics have once again elevated the standard of excellence in North Carolina. Each championship represents not only competitive success, but also the development of student-athletes who demonstrate discipline, resilience, and sportsmanship. We commend you and your programs for the pride you bring to your schools and communities. As we transition into the spring season, we also look forward with great enthusiasm to the 2026 North Carolina Coaches Association Clinic. This annual event remains one of the premier professional development opportunities for coaches and athletic leaders in our state. The Office of Athletics is especially excited about continued engagement with Middle School Monday. This focused effort highlights the importance of intentional coaching education and leadership development at the middle school level, where foundational experiences shape the future of interscholastic athletics. Investing in middle school coaches strengthens the entire educational athletics pipeline and reinforces our shared commitment to student-centered programming. Important Update on Balfour Championship Rings As a reminder, Balfour generously provides free rings for all-star coaches and state champion coaches. To ensure timely production and delivery, we are now enforcing strict submission deadlines: Requests received after these dates will not be processed, and unfortunately, you’ll forfeit your free ring. We aim to present fall and winter rings at the NCCA Clinic each summer. Spring rings will be mailed or presented at the following year’s clinic. Please submit your ring size promptly to help us keep things on schedule! • Winter Sports: April 15 • Spring Sports: July 15
Sport-Specific Organizations We’ve long had a policy of allowing North Carolina sport-specific organizations to put articles in our newsletters. If you lead such an organization, openly support the NCCA, and want to have something inserted in future issue(s) please contact us at: pweaver@nccoach.org .
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Press Box Perspective
Earl Vaughan Jr. Social Media Coordinator on X: @EarlVaughanJr
When I was a kid living in a single-wide mobile home with mom and dad, one of my favorite ways to entertain myself in that compact space was my record player. If you never heard of one, Google it ... they’ve got pictures. Anyway, it was how kids of my generation listened to music ... on something called record albums. My parents gave me a record narrated by Walt Disney legend Sterling Holloway. Holloway, a Georgia native, had a distinctive voice that was great for storytelling. This album contained a collection of Aesop’s fables, and my favorite on the album was one called the Fox and the Grapes. The story goes that a fox saw a juicy bunch of grapes hanging from a branch, but the branch was some distance off the ground. The fox made multiple futile attempts to leap for the grapes, but each one failed. He finally mustered all the energy he could, leapt high, missed again, and came crashing to the ground. In a moment of disgust, he dusted himself off and muttered, “Oh well, they’re probably sour.’’ Aesop’s moral for that tale? Any fool can despise what he cannot get. Which brings me to my topic for this installment: Complaining. One thing troubled me more than anything else in the nearly 40 years I covered high school sports at a daily newspaper. The complainers. Both coaches and readers alike. There were always a handful who couldn’t be satisfied, no matter what I was assigned to cover or how I wrote about it. The interesting thing I always noticed was that they only offered gripes, with no specifics on how I could improve if indeed there was something I had done wrong.
Usually it was just a difference of my opinion and theirs, which of course I could do nothing about unless I decided to agree with them. I didn’t ask that they change their minds, just that they tried to appreciate my perspective as I tried to appreciate theirs. I’ve written on this topic before, but I think a lot of the problem between all media and coaches is we don’t understand the inner workings of what the other does. That was why I tried to spend as much time as possible with coaches in their own environment. At the gym. On the practice field. In the coach’s office. Talking, listening, understanding the headaches of buying equipment, cutting players from a team, arguing with administrators who were clueless about the importance of high school sports. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as easy for them to experience my world. You couldn’t exactly invite a coach to sit in the front seat of my car on a Friday night while I banged out a story on deadline on a laptop computer. Or have them sit in my office at the crack of dawn, writing headlines for stories and editing the writing of my co-workers. So I’d educate them as best I could on how the job worked, knowing things would fall through the cracks and that I’d get complaints no matter what. Still, I avoided calling the grapes sour. And all I ask in return is that the coaches try to avoid doing the same. I sought to somehow, some way, get on the same page of respecting each other, knowing the limits of what we’re both capable of, and realizing one common goal: Whatever we do, it’s for the good of the young men and women we both serve.
See “Press Box Perspective” on page 13
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“Press Box Perspective” continued from page 11
I make no secret of the fact that to this day my favorite coaching role model is the great Vince Lombardi of Green Bay Packers fame. When I went to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, one of the first things I saw was a bench taken from Lambeau Field that had been on the sideline for Lombardi’s last game there. I reached over the barrier, breaking all the rules, just to press my finger against it for a second. If you’ve never read the Lombardi biography “ When Pride Still Mattered ” by David Maraniss I encourage you to pick up a copy. And for all the complainers, I leave you with one of Lombardi’s greatest quotes, one I think is great to live a life by. “Gentlemen, we will chase perfection, and we will chase it relentlessly, knowing all of the while we can never attain it. But along the way, we shall catch excellence.”
* Congratulations to the following winners of major awards at the recent N.C. Athletic Directors Association gathering in Asheville. • Athletic trainer of the year - Danielle Edgerton. • Distinguished alumni award - Dr. Rob Jackson. • Officials of excellence - Anthony Maynor, Jay McCarraher, Garry Russ, Brad Shrader, Bruce Stevenson, Ray Thomas. • Braveheart award - Darrell Purcell. • MS AD of excellence - Carey Galbreath. • Citation awards -Zachery Bennett, Christopher Blake, Matt Carpenter, Chase Cochran, David Rines, Mandy Peele McMillan, Robbie St. John. • Athletic directors of excellence - Chad Barbour, Brian Bourque, David Fernandez, Drew Hackett, Reese Felder, Morgan King, Shannon McLaughlin, Robert Weindenburner. • Rusty Lee professional development award - Leslie Reeves. • Leadership award of merit - Matt Davis. • State award of merit - Steve Robinson. • NCADA Special recognition - Matt Davis. * The N.C. High School Athletic Association recently announced its 2026 Hall of Fame Class: • Michael Baker, longtime Fairmont coach and athletic director. • Zoe Bell, volleyball coach at Providence and Ardrey Kell. • Patty Evers, East Bladen basketball coach and athletic director. • Greg Frey, Morehead wrestling coach. • Vicki Hamilton, Charlotte-Mecklenburg athletic director. • B.W. Holt, football coach at Franklinton, Starmount, Rocky Mount Academy and Rocky Mount. • Leo Lockhart, multiple sport official. • Bobby Reynolds, Cherryville and East Rutherford baseball coach. The induction ceremony will be August 15th at Grandover Resort in Greensboro.
In memoriam James “Rabbit” Fulghum Greene Central Steve Hollemon Cary Tommy Pruett Burns Steve Spivey Broughton
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They Still Call Me “Coach” Joe Pinyan
men and a quality staff of assistant coaches at Salisbury High School put together a 10 game pressure packed winning streak after starting out with 3 wins and 3 losses. What a ride! ” NCC: WHAT PART OF COACHING WAS THE MOST REWARDING FOR YOU?
NCC: WHAT SPORTS DID YOU COACH? “ Football (High School 16 yrs as a Head Coach, 16 yrs as an Assistant Coach, 2 yrs as a Head Middle School Coach), Wrestling (17 yrs), Baseball (8 yrs), Golf (1 yr) Also served 8 yrs as an Athletic Director at the High School Level and six months as the Interim County Athletic Director after retirement. ” NCC: WHERE DID YOU COACH? “ S tarted my career at East Rowan High School, went to Mooresville Middle School, then to Mooresville High School. From there I went to Salisbury High School and finished at Jesse Carson High School. ” NCC: HOW MANY YEARS DID YOU COACH? “ 34 years. ” NCC: ARE YOU STILL INVOLVED IN COACHING AND/OR ATHLETICS? “ Yes. I am currently serving my seventh year as a Part Time Assistant Football Coach at Catawba College Also stay involved in Wrestling and Baseball by officiating both sports (Wrestling 25+ years and Baseball 30+ years). ” NCC: WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE COACHING EXPERIENCE? “ I was truly blessed as a Football Coach to win a State Championship at Salisbury High School (2010), and coach in both the East West All Star Game (2011) and the NC/SC Shrine Bowl Game (2007). Those three events pretty much stand above a lot of other great memories that have taken place in my career. I really enjoyed the East-West game and the Shrine Bowl because of all the friendships (coaches, players, staff of each organization) that were developed during those weeks. But to watch a group of young
“ I think any time you witness people buying in to where the program is going, the rewards are great for everyone. Players and coaches all straining to achieve the same goal and sometimes in difficult times. You get to enjoy seeing what these people are truly made of and how much they value the culture of the program itself. Then it goes even further. Those players take those same values and apply them in their lives as they become adults. Those coaches take the next step and become Head Coaches or Coordinators and apply what they bought into in their programs. So, I guess, the answer of being rewarded lies in watching the lives of others, that you have an impact on, as they move forward in their lives helping others. ” NCC: WHY DID YOU GO INTO COACHING? “ I think we all have those dreams that we will develop unbeatable, dominant programs and success will follow us to that infamous pot of gold! I’m not sure there was any significant reason for being a coach other than a love for the game. But as my career progressed, I
See “Pinyan” on page 17
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“Pinyan” continued from page 1 5
realized why I was in coaching. Billy Graham once said that “a Coach will impact more young people in a year than the average person does in a lifetime”. I believe that is the reason and is still the reason for being in the position that I’m in at Catawba College. ” NCC: WHAT IS YOUR FUNNIEST
NCC: WHAT WAS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING COACHING MOMENT? “ In 2008, we finished the season 11-0. We ended up having to forfeit 4 of our wins due to an ineligible
COACHING MEMORY? “ For many years, we had discussed using a fake punt that was quite deceiving and a little unorthodox. We never implemented it into the game plan, so it was questionable if
player. Ironically, he came to us from our county rival, and he was promoted from one grade to another. The catch was he had too many absences which should have not allowed him to be promoted, but their administration did otherwise, and I didn’t catch it. We were fortunate that he came out late and had to sit out a couple of weeks on top of that. So, we had to look at every game to see when he was dressed and forfeit those games. Certainly not one of my favorite memories. ” NCC: WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PLAY OR STRATEGY? “ We hung our hat offensively as a triple option team and defensively as a 3-3 stack attacking team. We felt this made us different than most typical offenses and defenses. Therefore, you had to take time to prepare for us differently from other opponents. My favorite play was “Trap”. I don’t care where we are on the field; what the down and distance might be; what the score was at that time---it was my “go to” play. It wasn’t a secret, and we ran it well. I still believe that it should be in every offensive playbook. ”
it would work. I finally gave in late in the 2017 season. We worked it in practice and carried into our final game. The officials were made aware of the fake in our pre-game meeting and were told to expect the possible fake if we called for a “pooch kick” from our sideline. The ball would be snapped to the punter who would swing his leg as if he were punting the football. As he did this, he would toss the ball underhanded as high as he could down the field. The two end men on the line of scrimmage released downfield with one designated as the receiver and the other would be his blocker. The entire punt team called out “Peter” which is commonly used as an alert word for the return team to get away from the ball. The opposing team did avoid the ball, and our player caught the ball giving us a successful fake. Sometimes, it ok to think outside the box !! ”
See “Pinyan” on page 19
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“Pinyan” continued from page 1 7 NCC: WHO HAD THE TOUGHEST TEAMS YOU COACHED AGAINST? “ Thomasville, coached by Allen Brown beyond a doubt. Always well coached and prepared. There was no doubt that those games were physical, and every possession was priceless. Because of that, those were some epic football games. ” NCC: WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU MAKE TO THE CURRENT RULES IN YOUR SPORT? “ The game of football is played at such a high rate of speed and with violent collisions. Steps have been taken to protect the athletes and coaches are provided the opportunity to educate themselves to provide a safe environment. Safety is a priority as it should be. The puzzling part to me is that the “tush push” is allowed and/or whistles are blown late when a runner is stood up but getting pushed by others. The opportunity for injury seems to be at such a risk in those situations. ”
NCC: WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A BEGINNING COACH? “ ‘Coach’ is more than a title---so much more. Because of that, you are going have go “all in” to understand what this profession is all about. Too many coaches focus on coaching one sport when they can be extremely valuable helping with other sports. The reward for working other sports is that you meet other athletes who can help your sport be successful and you learn more about the athletes that play for you. Also, the administration (Principal, AD, etc.) really enjoy filling those coaching spots. I can’t tell you how many years that I coached three sports each school year. I really believe you appreciate and understand athletes when they perform outside of your sport. The athletes see a different side of you. These added opportunities also develop relationships between coaches to sometimes share athletes. The final piece of this little puzzle is that being more invested in the profession makes you realize that the time you have invested is impactful on you and the athletes. That leads to the desire to stay with the profession instead of getting out after a few years. ” See “Pinyan” on page 20
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“ THE PRESS/MEDIA: I always made myself available for these guys. Make sure they know how much they are appreciated. They have a job to do, and they will get information. I’d rather it come from me than someone who might fabricate a story. If we didn’t play well, I would always ask them to take care of my players. It is my responsibility to correct us before we play again. ” NCC: WHAT DID/DOES THE NCCA MEAN TO YOU? “ The value of the NCCA really can’t be put into words. They provide all coaches of all sports with the opportunity to improve themselves through the clinic they provide every summer. This learning opportunity is a resource that goes beyond measure ---quality clinicians sharing valuable knowledge. For me, it goes a lot deeper. I had the opportunity to coach in the East-West All Star Game. During that time, friendships were developed with NCCA staff members that remain strong today. I was so impressed with the organization that I jumped at the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors which led to serving as President in 2017-18. The Staff of the NCCA is made up of coaching individuals who truly have invested their lives into the success of coaches across our great state. ”
NCC: WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR YOUNG COACHES TO DO IN DEALING WITH: “ ATHLETES: Always be honest. You are impacting young lives. Take time to be the best that you can be for them, because during a game, that is what you expect from them. Remember that they are made differently, and they learn in different manners. Coach every one of them. When you don’t coach them, they view that as “you don’t care about them”. ” “ PARENTS: Preseason parent meetings are the best things in the world. Set the standards of how things will be done. When they come to practice or games, speak to them and appreciate their support. All discussions about their student/athlete must come through a scheduled meeting. ” “ ADMINISTRATORS: Simple rule--They don’t like surprises! Keep them aware of the good and bad around your program. Don’t be afraid to tell them how much you appreciate them and the job that they are doing. ” “ ATHLETIC DIRECTORS: Help them out. They have a full plate, and they want you to succeed. Eliminate some of the minor game day duties that they do for your sport by doing them yourself. Get your pre-season paperwork completed early. ” “ OTHER COACHES: Don’t ever ask another coach on your staff to do a job that you wouldn’t do. Yes, I drove the bus, painted the lines on the field, washed the uniforms, cleaned the locker room, broke down film, issued equipment, etc. We also operated under the premise of “it’s not important what you know--- do your players know what you know?’ As far as coaches outside of your sport, offer them your support. Going along with my earlier comment, they may help you get an athlete to come out for your team. ”
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