Opinion

Give Coaches Support They Deserve

I’ve been enjoying reading the book Moose: The Legacy of Beloved Lakeland College Legend Duane Woltzen Lives On, since the book was released shortly before this past Christmas.

I attended Lakeland and Moose played a key role as a role model in my life. There’s even a chapter in the book about my relationship with Moose. It’s a pleasure reading about the great influence the men’s basketball coach had in so many people’s lives.

But what I never realized after reading the book was that Moose didn’t last very long in his first coaching assignment. After leading a boys’ basketball team at a high school in Illinois for two years, the school board there voted not to re-hire the future legend. After all, he had the poor judgment of not playing a school board member’s son enough. The following year, Moose was hired as the athletic director and men’s basketball coach at Lakeland, a small college near Sheboygan, Wis. By the time he was done, he won 11 conference championships, a NAIA district title and compiled a 536-229 career record. He is a member of the NAIA national Hall of Fame.

Yet, there were some parents and school board members at that high school in Illinois way back then who apparently didn’t feel that Moose could coach the game of basketball.

It makes a person wonder how many extremely poor decisions regarding coaches are made at this time of year when parents start “hunting” to remove coaches from their current positions. Moose was fortunate that he was hired quickly at a college. I’m sure there are other individuals who have the potential to be great coaches, but they don’t get a second chance after a “witch hunt” is completed by complainers.

I remember one eastern Montana coach who made her program one of the best in Class A. Season after season, her team qualified for state tournaments. No person had more dedication to a program that she had for her girls’ basketball squad.

She wasn’t safe though from the “hunters” who felt they knew basketball much better. Since the decision, success has been very rare for that program. Sadly, some people couldn’t leave a good thing alone.

I hope our area doesn’t get involved in this sort of “hunting” season this year. Parents should have more of their minds than worrying about their children’s court time. Years ago, a very successful coach told me that very few parents have ever approached him to talk about his government class, but many parents have given their advice of what plays to call in a game.

A lot of dedication has been made by coaches in our area. Don’t make the mistake of not giving them the support that they deserve. We all want the students and program to succeed, so let’s work together and be great instead of trying to bring a program or coach down.