This past year I volunteered with the local rec league to coach boys 14-15 year old basketball. I personally just thought it would be a fun time and really just a way to play a little ball and be around the game a little bit. The result was that I literally had about as much fun doing anything as I ever have in my life. I had an absolute blast, and I think my enthusiasm carried through to the boys. I have already received several pleas to coach again next year. It really was one of the easiest and most enjoyable things I have ever done. A learning experience for sure, when isn't working with teenagers educational...
I never really ever thought about myself as a coach. I never thought it would be something I would even remotely be good at, or that I could even do it without making a fool of myself. The question I am now faced with is, what do I do with this new found knowledge that not only can I do it, but I really love doing it and I actually did it pretty well? I don't know really.. about the only thing I can do is keep volunteering, or try and get a job doing it. The second one is the tough part.. I don't really want to be a school teacher.. too many family members have chosen that life and while socially rewarding, it is a profession that makes you more and more jaded the longer you do it, and lets not even get into the pay scale of it. So no, coaching high school, while it would be fun.. the school teacher part may be too much to ask of me. College coaching is about 100X harder to get into, with good reason.. the money is better and it is just a more desired type of position. So anyway, if any of you would happen to know a coach out there that could use a good assistant (volunteer or otherwise) for next season, let me know.. It is definitely something I would like to try and pursue if possible.. Otherwise I will just keep volunteering and enjoying the hell out of that. I mean.. getting paid to do it might actually ruin it for me. I doubt it, but it is a distinct possibility.
