This weekend, Cara and I will move into a house in Denton, after three years in Abilene.
It was a tough decision for me. I was the head basketball coach for a team that is young and will be good the next two years. I only lost one starter, and one backup, and the most talented players are 9th and 10th graders, with varsity experience already. I had an AD that supported me, great kids (I can't emphasize this enough, no punks or attitudes), an easier basketball district, and almost everyone back with experience and knowing my system very well. Several coaches sent me emails or told me at track meets that by the end of the year, we were playing very good ball and were the most improved team in the district. Tough to consider leaving that kind of situation, when it was your own elbow grease that got it to that point.
However, Cara is about to have our first baby, and we did not have family within 3 hours of us. This is an issue for someone who works my hours, and more difficult given Cara has a great job in Grapevine (she had been driving up and working on weekends).
Here is the catch. My whole program is based on building men for others. Our motto is "A man cares for those around him...a child cares for himself." So how could I continue to preach that and put Cara and our baby in a less than ideal situation?
I interviewed at a fast growing, very high tax bracket district near Denton. It was for a junior high job, so I was looking at it as a practice interview or to make an impression and perhaps get a high school job. I did not want to work my way up to a head coach only to go to middle school.
However, when I saw the facilities, the facilities on the way, the salary, and since they are growing, they are adding positions all the time, so many chances to move up (either as a coach or administrator), I realized I had to take the ego hit and do what was best for my family.
The good news: I will back in Denton, close to family, and building a family of my own. I will be at many more NT events. I can bust my butt and work my way up just like I did at Hawley. The pay is much better and Cara can work where she is happy. My primary job will be middle school, but I will get to help plenty with the high school in both football and basketball. My star 8th grader is a very talented son a prominent professional athlete. I am excited about getting started there.
The bad news: I get to watch another coach step in and take my team, now with experience and in an easier district, and look like a genius.
I realize he is going to be Phil Jackson, I just can't decide if I am Doug Collins or Del Harris.
Favoured: 0
