Why Coaching Is Harder Than People Think (A Holiday Reminder)…
Because coaching isn’t just about plays, drills, or game nights.
It’s about people.
It’s about walking into practice every day and managing emotions you didn’t create but are responsible for.
Your own.
Your players.
Your assistants.
Parents.
Administrators.
Fans.
It’s about teaching kids who are all at different stages.
Different maturity levels.
Different confidence levels.
Different home situations.
And somehow holding them to the same standards while still meeting them where they are.
It’s about decisions that look simple from the stands but feel heavy from the sideline.
Who plays.
When.
Why.
How you communicate it.
And how that decision might land on a 16-year-old who ties their identity to minutes.
It’s about losing sleep over kids who won’t buy in.
Over conversations you need to have.
Over mistakes you replay in your head long after everyone else moved on.
It’s about being judged by people who see the outcome, not the process.
The scoreboard, not the hours.
The result, not the relationships.
And yet, you show up again.
You plan. You teach. You model. You care.
As the season slows and the holidays arrive, this is the reminder:
What you do matters.
Even when it goes unseen.
Even when it feels heavy.
Even when it’s hard.
Coaching is about influence. And influence lasts longer than any season.
That’s why coaching is harder than people think. And also why it matters so much.
As the year winds down, I hope you find a little rest, a little perspective, and a lot of pride in the work you’re doing.
🎄Happy Holidays, Coach.
Mike Elko said, "When you get into this moment, you can’t just want it."
"You've got to pay a price to earn it."
Success is earned not given.
• It's earned through hard work.
• It's earned through sacrifice.
• It's earned through daily commitment.
The 10 Truths Parents Rarely See
1. Coaches lose sleep.
2. Decisions aren’t personal.
3. Playing time is complex.
4. Culture matters more than stats.
5. Accountability is care.
6. Coaches invest emotionally.
7. Development isn’t instant.
8. Hard feedback is intentional.
9. Wins don’t tell the whole story.
10. Coaches remember kids forever.
Perspective matters.
Some are interested in winning.
Others are committed to doing what winning requires.
Interest looks for a way out when it's tough.
Commitment finds a way through.
That's the difference between a good team and a great program.
Coaches do not choose your playing time - your choices do.
Playing time isn’t politics.
It’s proof.
It's proof of your habits, your work ethic, and your sacrifices.
There's a price to pay before you earn the right to play.
Thank you to @PrepHoopsIA for having me today in Des Moines. Thank you to all the coaches and staff for making it possible today. Had a great time against great competition and can’t wait to see where I stand.
Correcting isn’t criticizing.
Discipline isn’t demeaning.
Standards aren’t personal.
Great players want to be coached. Great coaches know how to deliver it.
High school sports can mean very different things—chasing a scholarship, competing, or just being part of a team. But beyond the scoreboard, it’s about life lessons, growth & maturity. Sports teach kids how to be productive adults while pushing them toward their full potential.