Evaluating the Season’s End

Most had tears in their eyes and that’s a good thing. Tears meant they
understood the finality of Wednesdays’ district basketball games ending. It
also meant that the overall experience was truly impactful. The seniors lined
up single file facing me. Behind me was the rest of the coaching staff and
the underclassmen. One by one, I thanked each senior for his commitment to
the program. I shared one tidbit that I uniquely loved about them and
finished with a final hug. The process was repeated with every team
member. On this night it was a struggle to keep my composure. This was a
special team.
For years I measured the success of a season simply on the win/loss record.
Experience has taught me that the record is nothing more than a snapshot at
just one piece of the “success” pie.
“Not one of you is going to play this sport professionally,” is a statement
made often to the athletes I coach. In year 38 of my coaching career, this
statement continues to hold true. I follow the statement with the question,
“then why play this sport?” They are then bombarded with all the evaluation
skills and discipline forming traits that I hope they absorb during the season.
The 2023/2024 Austin Catholic basketball team was filled with 8 seniors
who have given this old sole some life changing memories. Starting with the
captain Adam who would consistently beat me to the gym during early
morning practices. “Early is on time, and on time is late,” a coaching phrase
he took to heart.
“Self-evaluation is the greatest thing athletics can teach you,” a common
thread we stress. The end of each practice comes with the question, “What
did we do good today, what do we need to do better?” Senior Brian many
times would lead the charge and innately see the practice with a coaches lens
and nail the question. At half time I would ask the team, “What do we need
to do better?” The seniors became productive contributors to our halftime
adjustments and that meant powerful ownership to the process.
“How you practice is how you will play in a game,” another thread that
comes up often. Seniors Adrian, Charles, Anthony, and Igor came to the
gym each day with a workman attitude. They collectively raised the energy of each practice and challenged their teammates to match. Consistency and
persistence oozed out of their souls and we became better as a result.
“Care more about your teammates success than yours,” yet another nugget
they are spoon fed. Senior Vito took this to another level with a text message
that gave me chills. “Hey coach, is there anything I can help you with or do
for you. I know something must be really wrong for you not to come to the
game. I am here for you if you need me.” On Friday of last week, I tested
positive with Covid, forcing me to miss practice and Mondays district
opening game. Vito did not know this and was genuinely concerned about
my well-being.
Monday night I spent staring at my phone getting updates from the game
from several people. The game was back and forth with the Crusaders down
7 at halftime. Austin made a run in the 3rd quarter to take a 6-point lead into
the 4th quarter. My heart was pounding and the delayed updates put me into
an emotional tailspin.
“We won!!!” the message received at games end. Obviously, I was proud of
the assistant coaches and the team for succeeding in my absence. The next
text received created an unexpected cascade of emotion. Senior captain
Ethan, “We pulled through coach, how are you feeling?” Call it Covid
delirium or an older man getting sentimental, this text caused me to gasp and
quiver with a tearful rush. He had just played one of his best games, yet his
mind focused on his coach.
The Crusaders finished the season with a 10-11 record. Ten wins is the most
an Austin team has accomplished since the opening of the school in 2015.
Yes, I am extremely proud of that, but it pales in comparison to the pride I
feel for what the Crusaders set out to accomplish on Friday, March 1st.
Seniors Adam, Adrian, and Brian for their senior project have connected
with Rising Stars Academy to run a “field day” for students with special
needs. The entire basketball program is headed to the school to help run the
day. This project was entirely created and implemented by those seniors.
Adam stated, “we thought about what we enjoyed and wanted to incorporate
that into our project.”
Never in my coaching career have I experienced such a wonderful reflection
of what we hope to mold in these young men. Basketball was a huge influence on these young men, but it simply adds to the foundation that great
parents and a strong school culture have created. Trust, unity, and love are
the three pillars of the school mantra that are now being expanded into the
real-world led by some amazing seniors.
As I process this whole adventure and reflect on this year’s
accomplishments, I can’t help but allow a prideful tear to form in my eye, and that’s a good thing!