Coach Ashen

Believer, Husband, Father, Head Baseball Coach at Corrigan-Camden ISD. 2018 and 2019 2A State Champion at Big Sandy ISD. #HW7

[William Payne @TweetsbyCoachP]

One of the biggest misconceptions in high school sports is that coaching is primarily about practices, games, and wins.

The reality is that coaching has become one of the most challenging roles in education because coaches are expected to wear dozens of hats while being evaluated from every direction.

Every parent, player, administrator, and community member often has a different expectation of success.

One family wants college recruiting to be the priority.

Another wants playing time.

Another wants winning.

Another wants player development.

Another wants discipline.

Another simply wants their child to enjoy the experience.

The challenge is that those goals frequently conflict, and coaches are often expected to satisfy all of them simultaneously.

Most coaches are balancing far more than what happens between the lines. They manage team culture, player conflicts, parent concerns, academics, transportation, fundraising, budgets, equipment, scheduling, eligibility, social media issues, and the emotional needs of teenagers.

At the same time, every roster includes athletes with different abilities, goals, motivations, and commitment levels. Some dream of college athletics. Some are trying to make varsity. Some simply want to belong. Building one program that serves all of them is incredibly difficult.

Perhaps the greatest challenge is decision-making.

Who starts?

Who plays?

Who sits?

Who travels?

Who gets moved up?

Who gets cut?

Every decision creates opportunity for one athlete and disappointment for another. Even well-intentioned decisions can be viewed as favoritism or politics when seen through the lens of an individual family.

Recruiting adds another layer of complexity. Coaches are expected to help athletes pursue college opportunities while also managing the needs of an entire team. Supporting one athlete can sometimes raise questions from another family about their child’s opportunities.

Social media has amplified many of these challenges. One lineup decision, one difficult conversation, or one emotional moment can quickly become public discussion, often without the full context.

There are also pressures many people never see.

Pressure from administrators to represent the school well.

Pressure from parents to provide opportunities.

Pressure from athletes to help them achieve their goals.

Pressure from communities that often measure success by wins and losses.

Pressure to retain athletes in an era of increasing transfers and movement.

And all of this occurs while coaches are trying to develop young people, not just athletes.

What makes coaching difficult is not that people don’t care.

It’s that everyone cares deeply, but often about different things.

Parents focus on their child.

Players focus on their opportunities.

Administrators focus on the school.

Communities focus on results.

Coaches must somehow balance all of those interests while making decisions they believe are best for the team.

As a former college coach, athletic director, and high school administrator, I’ve learned that most coaches are not trying to hold athletes back, play favorites, or make life difficult for families. Most are simply navigating competing priorities, limited resources, and difficult decisions while trying to do what’s best for kids.

Because at its core, coaching has never really been about managing games.

It’s about managing people.

And that’s what makes it both incredibly challenging and incredibly important

[Coach Ashen @CoachAshen]

@Coach_Mickles @Seth_3773 Rural school in east Texas. 4,000 stipend.

[Coach Ashen @CoachAshen]

@LayneCoach @BradyLayneQB28 @Coach_Ashley1 Thanks for trusting us with your boy! He’s going to do great things! #competitor #dude

[C⭕️achK43 @SanJacRaven43]

Players who respect their current role, fight like dogs to improve that role and give their heart and soul to the opportunities they get tend to shine the brightest. Do those things and make us coaches say your name in discussion. You’re not owed anything but an opportunity.

[Kyle Wagner @GowagsKyle]

There’s something sacred with a coach and his field. Not sure if all the other sports can experience this.
#Grateful
#BaseballInTheNortheast

[THSB @TxHS_Baseball]

This is Texas High School Baseball

[Caleb Salers @SatyBarefoot]

Murray State head coach Dan Skirka after leading the Racers to their first-ever College World Series appearance: “God is great … We try to lead these guys through this great game. We try to be the example.”

Nothing like seeing leaders of young men giving God the glory!

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

Do you like to be Coached?

- Mediocre players do not want to be coached.
- Good players welcome coaching.
- Great players seek out coaching.

Be Coachable.

Be Great!

[Gage Tolar @tolar_gage]

🚨COLLEGE COACHES❗I would be honored if you would check out my 356 College Prospects recruiting profile! https://t.co/QoQ5InE9r2
@TheVilleEagles @TxHs_baseball @3ATxhsbaseball @bench424nmore @ascholarsbrand @playsbigger @CoachJW356 @CoachRob4Realz @CoachD_Hayes @HeathClawson

[ACU Baseball @ACU_Baseball]

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬 👇

https://t.co/ducsxmFCkN

[Coach Ashen @CoachAshen]

@JAMcCollum09 @ConnorFenley could be a guy for you!
LHP 2 seam 84-86 slider 74-77 change up 72-74. 62.2 IP, 101 Ks, .670 ERA this season.

[Coach_B_Layne @LayneCoach]

Hemphill ISD is looking for two female coaches. One spot is CTE/business and one spot is SPED. 3 sports with stipends for each. Email [email protected]
@AustinTGCA @THSCAcoaches

[Ricklan Holmes♠️ @RicklanHolmes]

💯

[Coach_B_Layne @LayneCoach]

Hemphill ISD is looking for a high energy, team player girls assistant coach. Coming off a great year with a ton of varsity freshman across the board. Teaching field is SPED or Business. Email resume to [email protected].

[Coach_B_Layne @LayneCoach]

Hornets win. On to round 3!!!

[Coach_B_Layne @LayneCoach]

Hornets win game 1! @CoachAshen

[David Klein @CoachDavidKlein]

My son walked off the field crying last game.

He said, "Second game in a row and I haven't gotten the ball!"

Honestly, it rips my heart out.

He's obsessed with baseball but is having trouble loving his coach pitch games where all almost all outs are strikeouts. 31 of 36 outs were strikeouts.

The rule is the coach stands inside pitchers circle and kids get 5 pitches to put it in play or 3 swing and misses.

So if coach throws pitch 5 behind the kid by accident, the kid is out!

Expecting a parent volunteer to connect with a barrel when throwing from 40' feet to 6-8 year olds in just 5 pitches is not a fun, developmental structure.

Can we please get better universal coach pitch rules and design for rec baseball?

This is the exact reason why kids are quitting baseball.

[2-Year Baseball @2YearBaseball]

Southeast wins a tight one against Hutchinson. Southeast keeps the offense rolling in a close 12-11 victory. It was tied at 11 until Cole Carter came up clutch with a 2 out RBI single to give the Bobcats the lead. The top of the lineup was knocking them in as 1-4 scored all 12 of their runs. Kam Arrington came up big with a 3 run HR and driving in a total of 4, along with Jack Hogan, who also drove in 4 and left the yard. Southeast wins their 20th game of the season and continues conference play against Lamar on Thursday.

@SCCBASEBALLNE #2YearBaseball

[SCC Baseball @SCCBASEBALLNE]

GAMEDAY
🆚 @LamarCCBaseball
⏰ 2 pm
📍 Beatrice, NE
🏟️ christenson Field
💻 https://t.co/GSCftns1mD

@jucoroute @The_Noah_Sharp @SccBobcats @2YearBaseball

#SCC25

[End Wokeness @EndWokeness]

SAY HIS NAME: Austin Metcalf (17)

High achieving student, athlete, 4.0 GPA. KiIIed in cold bIood by Karmelo Anthony.

Zero national outrage.