Excuses vs. Facts?

I think I know why you've been thinking about this. I am doing that type of reflection on the job I've done.

I am in a no-win situation. I know it's not my fault, that I've done above and beyond to make it happen. I haven't been perfect, I know there are some things I could've done better, but I have struggled with second guessing my entire time here to come up with a solution to why it isn't working. Is it me? Am I just being a cry-baby, excuse maker? Why don't I just put my big boy pants on and suck it up? Am I just gonna sit around and blame everyone else? What will my peers think of me if I 'give up' and move on?

But I've come to the realization that no matter what people say, there are places that can't be helped. They don't want to be successful, and no matter what I do, that's not going to change. It's just not important to the people here. I am absolutely positive that nobody wants success where I am at, so they aren't going to do the things it takes to get there. I am willing, but no one else is. I knew when I took this job that may have been the case, and it is.

I gave it my best shot at a place that I knew coming in might not be able to be saved. I'll move on and be confident in my abilities and continue to coach young men. I hope someone comes in and changes things here, but its not gonna be me.



I don't know if this was the kind of thing you wanted to hear, but you gave me a chance to get that off my chest!!!

IMO..Many times its up to the person that you are speaking to whether it is an excuse or a fact..something that is hard for you to control...I usually get mad..simmer down..and as an old football coach told me (Larry Ciotti for those of you in CT) FIDO...F##CK it DRIVE ON...that has helped soooo much

I have also been wondering this. I took over a program that in the past would have 5-10 kids lifting in the off season. We have that number consistently up to 30 over all of last summer and this winter/spring. This is good right? The problem is they're all young kids, and some of our better players will not show up. On top of that, the top 2-4 athletes in the school keep telling people they're not going to play b/c they don't want to put in the work. I'm not going to beg them to play, it's just frustrating. I want to say piss on them, but at some point you need some athletic ability. It's a battle with myself of sticking to my guns, and having enough kids to do team stuff in practice.

I keep trying to be positive and "keep swinging the hammer", but the doubt creeps into my mind constantly that we will never get over the hump. I know what you mean though, it's hard not to think of yourself as a whiner when that doubt creeps in. Wish I could offer better advice, but I guess I'll just offer support instead

Great point by olcoach53. As a hc my staff and I have taken over 2 struggling programs where the culture was in bad shape. We focused our energy on the players that were willing to rise to our expetations. The others either eventually stepped up or decided not to be apart of it. For the first two years our numbers were low but at both spots we happened to win big during year two. The third year was even better at both schools. Build around your highest character kids. Teach them to lead and you will have no regrets, excuses or reasons. The school and community will be proud of your program even if you don't win the title or league. At the end of the day you will find much more enjoyment in your situation. I believe in these situations you will also make a bigger impact on your troubled kids. Some will leave but those that stay will grow because of the leadership of their peers.

A while back our staff attended a clinic at a private high school. Their coach gave us a tour of their brand new field house. Beautiful facility. $16 million. Their coach, however, was bemoaning the fact that paying all that money for the building meant that they had no money left for scholarships so that they could get players for their $13,000 a year school.

Everybody has problems.

I've long believed that most schools are in similar situations as their competitors within their league. Sure there are situations that are a lot worse than others (CBs is one. It's a tough spot) but I believe that those are rare. Every program has problems. They hired the HC to solve, or surmount, those problems.

Every program has problems.

The successful programs are just different than the struggling ones.

City schools are different than suburban and rural.

Etc. etc. etc.

When you are the head coach - you are the problem solver.

There are no "Golden Situations", if there ever has been.

Here is the difference between an excuse and a reason. An excuse is when you fail due to a factor created by you. A reason is when you fail due to a factor out of your control.

This is a great and comforting thread for me...

I have worked my way up in my 18 years now. For 6 years I was at a great program with great kids who worked hard and would show up at 2 am if you asked them to. We won a state title in my first year as oc and in year 5 the program was slipping we moved up class to be the smallest school in our classification. The HC retired and I took over a tough situation with unrealistic expectations but with tough kids. We went 4-6 with 4 losses of 6 points or less. We made progress from the previous year. Well we went through a great offseason, great spring, moved back down classification, dominated our spring game, then the principal and myself find out the next day at noon that the board fired me that morning at 7 am without consulting the principal/AD. There was no doubt we were a state contender after spring. Why? The board member did not like the fact I did not graduate from the school I was HC at. Kids protested but it didnt matter.

I then got a job at a school as an assistant that does not take football seriously like they do at the previous school I was at. The HC left the week before practice started and I got the job by default. We made the best of a bad situation won 2 games and lost 4 others by one TD or less and are now focused on a new definition of success. Our goal is to try to be the best we can be in everything we can do. Whether on the field, in the weight room, or in the classroom. I think in any situation that is all you can do.

The football power I worked at was great but it had a lot of negatives. The place Im at now I am making headway and we are improving. We will probably never contend for a state championship here. But the kids I feel appreciate the job we are trying to do with them. I think as a coach all we can do at the end of the day is to look in the mirror and be able to lay our head down at night knowing we are doing all we can for the kids we have.

If you are doing that then there are no excuses it is just facts. If you arent doing all you can do then you need to reevaluate yourself..The rest doesnt really matter.

Getting the right fit is the most important thing. Like you, I've seen it both ways. We had a guy come in from a rural background to take over the most downtown school in the league. It didn't work, of course, but when he went back to his element he had playoff teams.

The AA state champion in VA was a local team. For years they were horrible. They brought in guys-good coaches, some were- but oh-fers and 1-9 was the norm. They finally hired a hometown guy and have been good since.

Coaches would be well-served to remember that when pursuing HC jobs. Not every job is a good fit for everybody.