Evaluating the Season’s End

Most had tears in their eyes and that’s a good thing. Tears meant they understood the finality of Wednesday’s district basketball game’s 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 its win/loss record. Experience has taught me that this 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?” I then bombarded them 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 eight seniors who have given this old soul 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’ is a common thread we stress. The end of each practice comes with the questions, “What did we do good today?” and, “What do we need to do better?” Many times, Senior Brian would lead the charge and innately see the practice with a coach’s lens and nail the answer. At halftime 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,” is 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 the whole team, including myself, became better as a result.

“Care more about your teammates success than yours,” is yet another nugget athletes 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 Monday’s district-opening game. Vito did not know this and was genuinely concerned about my wellbeing.

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 by seven at halftime. Austin made a run in the third quarter to take a six-point lead into the fourth quarter. My heart was pounding and the delayed updates put me into an emotional tailspin.

“We won!!!” was the message received at games end. Obviously, I was proud of the assistant coaches and the team for succeeding in my absence. But the next text received created an unexpected cascade of emotion. Senior Captain Ethan wrote, “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 was 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!