Great high school coaches are quitting because they don’t want to deal with all the nonsense that has nothing to do with basketball.. hard to blame them
As an AD, one of the hardest things I witness our coaches deal with is a parent wanting it more than their child. Coaches use offseason work ethic, skill, athleticism, and what is most valuable to the team when determining playing time.
Parents often hear from their child that the coach does not like them, that it is unfair, or that favorites are being played. In many situations, the harder truth is that the child simply does not love the sport as much as the parent does.
That can lead to parents fighting battles with coaches that their child should be learning to handle themselves. One of the most important lessons sports can teach young people is how to communicate, compete, handle adversity, and advocate for themselves.
Playing time is rarely about one conversation or one moment. It is usually about consistency, effort, preparation, attitude, and trust built over time.
This has become an ongoing trend in sports today. The athletes who grow the most are usually the ones who learn to accept coaching, respond to challenges, and take ownership of their role instead of relying on others to fight their battles for them.
A good high school basketball team doesn't need 5 scorers.
It needs a floor general, a lockdown defender, and somebody who knows their job is to rebound everything in sight.
Roles win games. Superstars are built out of teams that commit to those roles.
Sadly, many parents wouldn’t agree. Reason….in HS, little Johnny has to compete for a position. In travel, you pay for one. That’s the difference and most parents will never admit that.
Kids raised in coaching households learn things you can’t teach in a classroom.
Resilience. Teamwork. Sacrifice. Character. Problem-solving.
They don’t just watch you coach games. They watch you lead people.
And that lesson lasts forever.
If you want to be a coach in 2026, you need to become versed in the following careers:
- Coach
- Teacher
- Psychologist
- Tech Specialist
- Custodian
- Uber Driver
- Marketing
- Financial Planner
- Groundskeeper
- Mediation Specialist
- Psychic
- And many more...
Coaching is a thankless job, with little appreciation given. Long hours, constant criticism, you win it is all the kids, you lose it is all your fault. Thank you to the coaches out there rocking it. We do not hear that enough. Bless you all.
As an AD, nothing bothers me more than seeing a kid post highlights within an hour after a loss. I get it, that is the world now, but nothing screams me over team louder. Winning matters. So does how you handle losing.
I don’t know if I’ve seen a coach get more support after a firing than Tyler has gotten today.
I don’t know Tyler well, but I do know he’s a class act and a great coach. A guy who went all in to make Blake a strong program in MN.
I also know coaching is a real tough job.
And unless you’ve done it, you really don’t understand. Yet too many parents think they do.
And when parent voices start influencing coaching positions, it can destroy a program for many years.
Because it doesn’t stop with one position.
Leadership matters.
Joe Mazzulla on the Coach of the Year Award 😭
“I think it’s a stupid award. You shouldn’t have it. It’s more about the players and the work the staff puts in. It’s that simple. I really don’t want to be asked or talked about it again.”
High school coaches are expected to be champions, recruiting consultants, film scouts, & relationship managers — on top of teaching 6 classes a day. For pennies on the dollar. Some good ones are walking away. That’s a problem nobody’s talking about.
From the SI documentary…..I get frustrated at times during the season, but then I see videos like this and know that this guy at least understands and embraces the expectations here. That’s half the battle!
If you are a HS basketball player watching the tournament and think just playing AAU and doing skill work for the next 5 months without touching a weight 2-3 x a week is going to prepare you for this level of physicality, good luck!