When I left Mesa Community College, I didn't necessarily consider it a "retirement". It was just time for me to move on. I didn't think I wouldn't ever coach again, even though I knew it was a possibility. Almost everyone I have talked to since has asked me if I am enjoying retirement and I have the same answer that I just gave you in the first sentence. I just moved on from Mesa because we didn't have the same direction in mind. They really wanted to go Division II and I didn't. As soon as I left, they went Division II. Even though we have some very large community colleges in the Metro area, we now have no Division I junior college basketball program. That tells you something about the commitment to excellence in athletics by the Maricopa County Community College District. Mesa can use the excuse that they had no choice or tell you that the district would not fund a Division I basketball program at just one of their colleges. Neither of those would be accurate. It just isn't that important to them and that's where we had to part ways. If I am meant to coach again, then it will happen. If not, I am OK with it. Basketball has been good to me either way.
It gives me a lot of pleasure these days to follow former players and assistant coaches as they continue their careers in coaching. Mike Grothaus is the head boys coach at Basha, Ernest Shand is the head women's coach at Glendale Community College, Ty Wimbish is the head girls coach at Casteel, Jeff Bonner is the head boys coach at Fountain Hills, Kevin Torres is the head girls coach at Coronado, Mark Carlino is the head boys coach at Westwood, Josh Rosenbaum is an assistant boys coach at Sunnyslope, Cory Hoff is an assistant coach at New Mexico Military Institute, Ben Dalton is an assistant coach at Mountain Pointe, and Jimmy Herrera is an assistant boys coach at Coronado.
Social media has given me a lot of opportunity to follow basketball and basketball issues, so I still feel pretty connected. I actually joined a NFHS-Basketball Officials group to read and discuss current issues in officiating. When I got my master's degree in 1990 at Arizona State, my major was in Educational Administration and Leadership. People asked me if I got it because I intended to become an administrator, but I said no. I wanted to learn what made administrators tick, because they are the most important element in program success. That's why I joined the basketball official's group- I wanted to read what referees are thinking about and talking about, and maybe join in a discussion or two. It is very interesting, and I would advise other coaches to join in.
I have also gotten into a couple of basketball coaches groups- one is Basketball Coaches (Basketball Coaching), and the other is one run by Scott Fields, the head coach at Salt Lake City East High. Scott has coached in college and overseas and is in the Indiana Sports Hall of Fame as a player. Both sites have great discussions, and I would recommend them.
In the previous 62 blogs, I have tried to discuss as many issues about basketball as I could but am certainly willing to give my thoughts on anything related. Just reply to this blog and we can get something started.
Have a wonderful holiday season...
It gives me a lot of pleasure these days to follow former players and assistant coaches as they continue their careers in coaching. Mike Grothaus is the head boys coach at Basha, Ernest Shand is the head women's coach at Glendale Community College, Ty Wimbish is the head girls coach at Casteel, Jeff Bonner is the head boys coach at Fountain Hills, Kevin Torres is the head girls coach at Coronado, Mark Carlino is the head boys coach at Westwood, Josh Rosenbaum is an assistant boys coach at Sunnyslope, Cory Hoff is an assistant coach at New Mexico Military Institute, Ben Dalton is an assistant coach at Mountain Pointe, and Jimmy Herrera is an assistant boys coach at Coronado.
Social media has given me a lot of opportunity to follow basketball and basketball issues, so I still feel pretty connected. I actually joined a NFHS-Basketball Officials group to read and discuss current issues in officiating. When I got my master's degree in 1990 at Arizona State, my major was in Educational Administration and Leadership. People asked me if I got it because I intended to become an administrator, but I said no. I wanted to learn what made administrators tick, because they are the most important element in program success. That's why I joined the basketball official's group- I wanted to read what referees are thinking about and talking about, and maybe join in a discussion or two. It is very interesting, and I would advise other coaches to join in.
I have also gotten into a couple of basketball coaches groups- one is Basketball Coaches (Basketball Coaching), and the other is one run by Scott Fields, the head coach at Salt Lake City East High. Scott has coached in college and overseas and is in the Indiana Sports Hall of Fame as a player. Both sites have great discussions, and I would recommend them.
In the previous 62 blogs, I have tried to discuss as many issues about basketball as I could but am certainly willing to give my thoughts on anything related. Just reply to this blog and we can get something started.
Have a wonderful holiday season...
