As a coach, when I won, it was because of the parents’ kids’ massive talent.
When I lost, it was because I was a knucklehead.
I coached 15 seasons of baseball and my record was a winning one, but we never won a state championship. Even though we made the playoffs every year, we had trouble in the postseason.
I retired from it when I was good and ready.
A colleague of mine, on the other hand, the football coach, stayed with us for 30 years, developed one of the greatest programs in the nation, won more state championships than anyone ever has in this state, and, now that he’s left for another school, will probably sit atop the leader board for all-time wins.
He could’ve written his own ticket, and had the community eating out of his hand. But he maintained a nice humility; his public persona was that way.
Meanwhile, parents often MUSED about their kids’ talents, privately; but in their hearts, everyone knew it: no one has superior talent year after year. Sooner or later, people have to admit that the coach and his loyal staff are just pretty darn good.
And to your point, the secret to success is that there is no secret to success.
“As a coach, when I won, it was because of the parents’ kids’ massive talent.
When I lost, it was because I was a knucklehead.”
That about sums up coaching.
I coached youth ice hockey for almost 30 years, from atoms to high school. Only a handful of those seasons were “winning” seasons. Was I a bad coach? When you consider that I usually coached the kids nobody else wanted. Most years, even in high school, I had kids who had to be taught to skate properly.
Every year, regardless of talent or level, I always told my kids that my main job was teaching them to be adults. They had to learn to accept defeat and be gracious in victory. Small things mattered, like putting on the team jersey for the first time or cheering the smallest/slowest player’s first goal.
The hardest part of coaching all those years was dealing with parents - either their unrealistic evaluation of their child’s talent or the meddling in coaches decisions. One year I had parents of 6-9 years old who: a) tried to schedule a 3 AM game; b) scheduled a 6 AM game in VA followed by an 8 AM game in MD; and c) told me that their son had played THREE SECONDS less than another boy.
The most satisfying part was the letters from parents and players and the thanks. One player from my first year is in his 50’s but still calls me Coach.
Would I trade it all for a state or league championship? Never!