April/May 2020 - 8

EDITORIAL between the lines
why i COACH
By Matt McCallum, CEO, Great American Media Services
After more than 20 years coaching
basketball, many people ask me why I still do
it. Long hours, parent issues, running youth
camps, spending much of the summer in a
gym and seldom hearing " thank you " all take
a toll on coaches after many years.
Growing up my parents divorced when I
was 12 years old and I lived with my father,
older brother and sister. My brother was into
drugs and a lot of other bad things, while my
sister moved away to Australia as an exchange student to escape
the craziness. My mom moved about 20 minutes away and wasn't
really ever a part of my life.
My dad was a minister and was never really home much. Most
of the time I was without rules or supervision. We communicated
by leaving notes on a legal pad he'd leave on the kitchen counter.
I had to do my own laundry, get my schoolwork done and cook
many of my own meals.
Luckily, I loved sports and the coaches knew my situation. They
really looked over me - not that I knew it at the time. They made
sure I kept up my grades and was home for curfew every night, and
they would call to make sure I was at my house. They knew my dad
was doing the best he could, but my dad didn't really cook - so the
coaches told the lunch ladies to give me doubles for free every day
so I would have enough to eat. I didn't appreciate it at the time, but
my coaches helped guide me in the right direction.
I could have easily chosen the wrong path - there was no one
to really stop me from making poor choices. But I didn't - my
coaches taught me how to work hard and not make excuses for my
mistakes. They would help pick me up after a loss, kick me in the
butt when I needed it and encourage me when I was down. They
were real with me at a point in my life when I needed it most.
When I had the opportunity to get into coaching, I jumped
at the chance, and began with starting a girls youth basketball
program at our school that hadn't had a winning season in 34
years. I coached my three daughters and son on AYBT and AAU
basketball teams. Soon I was coaching middle school basketball,
and would then become the varsity girls coach 11 years ago.
Helping out with the youth of this world was immensely
enjoyable, enriching and rewarding.
I chose coaching because the coaches chose me.
Over the past two decades players in my program have also had
to face the harsh realities of life. Divorces, troubled home lives,
struggles in the classroom, serious mental and physical health
issues, the constant bombardment of social media and the pressure
put on the kids to live up to their parents expectations as an athlete.
One of my player's father committed suicide, another's died of a
sudden heart attack, while others saw parents battle cancer, brain
tumors and MS. The list goes on.
As a coach, you always think the kids need you more than you
need them.
Three years ago, that all changed when my 19-year-old son took
his life in the middle of the season. It was the most difficult time I
have ever faced. Many days I didn't know how I'd make it through
the darkness.
The overwhelming blanket of support from the players, parents
and coaches from other schools helped me through the lowest
time of my life. To this day, players and opposing coaches still
periodically check in to see how I'm doing, especially near the
anniversary of his death. I have received far more support and love
than I have given as a coach.
So the next time someone asks me why I am still coaching, my
response will be, " Why wouldn't I? "
6 APRIL/MAY 2020
MANAGING EDITOR
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COO & DIRECTOR OF
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VICE PRESIDENT &
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Wesley Sykes, 616-520-2149
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EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD:
TOM BASS, Former NFL Assistant, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
& San Diego Chargers * DR. DAVID HOCH, Retired Athletic Director, Baltimore
County, MD * ABE WEHMILLER, Director of Athletics, Charlotte Country Day
School, Charlotte, NC * ALAN STEIN, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach,
Nike Elite DeMatha Catholic High School, MD * PETE KITTEL, Principal, Brillion
High School, WI * DARREN FENSTER, Minor League Manager, Boston Red Sox
& Founder/CEO, Coaching Your Kids, LLC, Neptune, NJ * JOSH HILS, Soccer
Coach, Coe-Brown Northwood Academy, NH * DR. BRANDEN LIPPY, Athletic
Director, Lampeter-Strasburg High School, Lancaster, PA
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April/May 2020

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