Thanksgiving Part 1
I had a plan for a Thanksgiving day blog post. However, my original plan went to hell in a handbasket when I woke up to a text this morning. The text was a thank you from a friend. It was so well-written and so appreciated I decided to offer some over-due thanks to those who profoundly positively impacted my life during 7 years called college. I know what you are thinking, most people who go to school for 7 years are called Doctor. I was just called Coach. But, I would not trade titles for even a second. To this day, perhaps no sound is sweeter than when former players and colleagues still call me coach. It's not because I want to be back in athletics (at least not at this point in my life). It is because of the respect I have for those who mentored me. It is because coaching is not something you do, but rather who you are. It is not so much a job or title as it is a way of life.
This is my humble attempt to say thank you and to motivate those of you who may read this to do the same for those who have coached you in your life. The text or phone call from you means more than you know. Simply put, It is why coaches do what they do. They enjoy making a positive difference. So please get out your phone and call or text them TODAY and consider sharing on social media. Sometimes, a simple thank you from a player keeps a volunteer (or paid) great coach doing what they do and creates a positive ripple effect.
I am so thankful for key people who positively changed my life during my time at Central Methodist College and Northwest Missouri State University. (I split these into two separate posts) I will leave out more than a few but wanted to say thanks and share exactly how these key people changed my life for the better.
Central Methodist:
Steve Phipps was my baseball coach in college, but it was my time with him in the classroom that allowed me to change the way I looked at myself academically. He made me think of myself as an intellectual. I wanted to do well in his classes in large part because I craved the positive feedback he gave me and I felt he expected it from me. My wanting to achieve excellence in his classes grew into more. He gave me the confidence to go from a kid who was an under-achiever in high school to a 3-time Academic All-American. Thanks, Coach!
Bill Sheehan changed my life when the Dean of Students decided not to throw me out of school for having a keg party in my room during my first semester on campus. Not only did he not throw me out, but for some strange reason, he gave me a job as a resident assistant about two semesters later. Then, he went on to select me for an additional academic scholarship. Next, he allowed me to live in the very-limited-supply of off-campus housing offered at CMC. All those things helped me come out of school debt-free but also helped me realize that a second chance can be a powerful opportunity. Thank you, Bill Sheehan
Jeff Sherman, thanks for giving my first-ever college coaching job (student assistant Men's basketball coach) and igniting a passion in me for marketing and entrepreneurialism. You always took an interest in my life even before I worked for you. You always seemed to have time to talk with me and offer advice. Thank you!
Mike Davis, Kevin Bucher and Darren Pannier (Women's basketball)thanks for allowing me an opportunity to recruit, coach and feel a part of something. You guys gave me responsibility, listened to my ideas and suggestions and allowed me the opportunity to grow. You invested time and effort into my development as a coach and made me feel like an important part of the team. There was no doubt I wanted to coach in college by the time I finished working with you three. Thanks so much!
Jim Ray Kluck gave me advice on how to get started in college coaching and so much more. Coach Kluck taught me how to see the best in others, how to genuinely engage in conversation with others in a way that built lasting relationships. Coach Kluck taught me how to genuinely care for others in the way he handled what some may consider benign every-day interactions. He was the first one who taught me the importance of looking out for the young coaches who came after you. Every stranger was a friend-in the-making. VP of Sales and Marketing or VP of Player Personnel, the titles and industry are different, but the jobs are the same. Many of the lessons learned for success in both were learned from Coach Kluck! Thanks for being both a friend and mentor Coach!
I had a plan for a Thanksgiving day blog post. However, my original plan went to hell in a handbasket when I woke up to a text this morning. The text was a thank you from a friend. It was so well-written and so appreciated I decided to offer some over-due thanks to those who profoundly positively impacted my life during 7 years called college. I know what you are thinking, most people who go to school for 7 years are called Doctor. I was just called Coach. But, I would not trade titles for even a second. To this day, perhaps no sound is sweeter than when former players and colleagues still call me coach. It's not because I want to be back in athletics (at least not at this point in my life). It is because of the respect I have for those who mentored me. It is because coaching is not something you do, but rather who you are. It is not so much a job or title as it is a way of life.
This is my humble attempt to say thank you and to motivate those of you who may read this to do the same for those who have coached you in your life. The text or phone call from you means more than you know. Simply put, It is why coaches do what they do. They enjoy making a positive difference. So please get out your phone and call or text them TODAY and consider sharing on social media. Sometimes, a simple thank you from a player keeps a volunteer (or paid) great coach doing what they do and creates a positive ripple effect.
I am so thankful for key people who positively changed my life during my time at Central Methodist College and Northwest Missouri State University. (I split these into two separate posts) I will leave out more than a few but wanted to say thanks and share exactly how these key people changed my life for the better.
Central Methodist:
Steve Phipps was my baseball coach in college, but it was my time with him in the classroom that allowed me to change the way I looked at myself academically. He made me think of myself as an intellectual. I wanted to do well in his classes in large part because I craved the positive feedback he gave me and I felt he expected it from me. My wanting to achieve excellence in his classes grew into more. He gave me the confidence to go from a kid who was an under-achiever in high school to a 3-time Academic All-American. Thanks, Coach!
Bill Sheehan changed my life when the Dean of Students decided not to throw me out of school for having a keg party in my room during my first semester on campus. Not only did he not throw me out, but for some strange reason, he gave me a job as a resident assistant about two semesters later. Then, he went on to select me for an additional academic scholarship. Next, he allowed me to live in the very-limited-supply of off-campus housing offered at CMC. All those things helped me come out of school debt-free but also helped me realize that a second chance can be a powerful opportunity. Thank you, Bill Sheehan
Jeff Sherman, thanks for giving my first-ever college coaching job (student assistant Men's basketball coach) and igniting a passion in me for marketing and entrepreneurialism. You always took an interest in my life even before I worked for you. You always seemed to have time to talk with me and offer advice. Thank you!
Mike Davis, Kevin Bucher and Darren Pannier (Women's basketball)thanks for allowing me an opportunity to recruit, coach and feel a part of something. You guys gave me responsibility, listened to my ideas and suggestions and allowed me the opportunity to grow. You invested time and effort into my development as a coach and made me feel like an important part of the team. There was no doubt I wanted to coach in college by the time I finished working with you three. Thanks so much!
Jim Ray Kluck gave me advice on how to get started in college coaching and so much more. Coach Kluck taught me how to see the best in others, how to genuinely engage in conversation with others in a way that built lasting relationships. Coach Kluck taught me how to genuinely care for others in the way he handled what some may consider benign every-day interactions. He was the first one who taught me the importance of looking out for the young coaches who came after you. Every stranger was a friend-in the-making. VP of Sales and Marketing or VP of Player Personnel, the titles and industry are different, but the jobs are the same. Many of the lessons learned for success in both were learned from Coach Kluck! Thanks for being both a friend and mentor Coach!
