SPEAKER_00 0:00

Coach Donnie Ott is currently the head girls basketball coach at Alito High School. Coach Ott graduated from Coppress Cove High School, then attended Angelos State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree. This May, he earned his master's degree in sports administration from southeastern Oklahoma State. Coach Ott has been on both the boys' and girls side of coaching. He was the head boys' basketball coach at 2A Grapeeland for four years, 1A Walnut Springs for four years, then 3A Quero. He served as the associate head boys coach at 6A North Crowley before taking over as the head girls coach at North Crowley. He has been a head girls coach ever since, making stops at 5A Cedar Park and 6A Summer Creek. During his time at Cedar Park, he won back-to-back state championships, including an undefeated season, then followed it up with another state tournament appearance at Summer Creek. Coach Odd has compiled over 450 wins with 35 of those wins coming in the playoffs. During his 19 years as a head coach, he's only missed the playoffs two times. His wife Carissa is also a teacher, and they've been married for 14 years and have two daughters, Siena and Haven. Coach, thanks for being on the podcast.

SPEAKER_01 1:20

Man, looking forward to it. Man, I was excited about it.

SPEAKER_00 1:23

I'm glad to always glad to share. So talk talk to us a little bit about who or what played, you know, the biggest role in you becoming becoming a coach.

SPEAKER_01 1:32

That's wild. You know, I uh I graduated high school and I had no inclination of wanting to be a coach. Uh I actually went to college to be a computer programmer. And then my first semester in college, my brother was going to Angeles State as well, and uh he was in teaching and coaching and uh he had an opportunity at a local YMCA. They needed a coach for a football team. Their coach left uh right before the season started and uh they my brother was like, hey, you know, you play football, you know, like you think you'd be good at coaching. You you need to come out and help these kids, you know, they don't have a coach. And and so I just kind of uh went out there and it was strictly a volunteer thing. I I did it for a semester up through football season, and after it got done, I was like, man, I I kind of can do this coaching thing. I kind of like it, you know, and kind of really fell in love with the process, seeing the kids gradually get better throughout the year and just kind of seeing the impact you can make on it. Uh and so I I continued to do the coaching in the spring at the basketball league, and then I decided that summer that I was gonna change my major. So I changed my major to kinesiology and uh minored in English so I can come out and be a teacher and a coach.

SPEAKER_00 2:35

So you've you've been around a while and you've coached in a lot of places, other than the Alamo Dome. What's your favorite gym or some of your favorite gyms that you've coached in?

SPEAKER_01 2:43

Man, when I read this question, I was I was really kind of trying to process it because I, you know, 27 years, I've I've been in a long time. So and I've been in some really cool places just because um I've been at small schools all the way up through big schools. So I just kind of I try to gather a list of just you know every sort. One that came to my mind early was uh Phillips Fieldhouse in Pasadena. That's where they play the Texas McDonald's Invitational. That's a really cool uh fieldhouse area, Pasadena. It's got a lot of history in it, it's uh a lot of old school history. Another one that's down in the Beaumont area, which is really cool. Uh Beaumont Westbrook was a really cool stop when I was at Summer Creek. Great environment to play a basketball game in. Really cool area, uh lots of lots of history, old school. They had one gym running this way, two running this way, like it was cages around there. It was it was pretty neat. Uh Waco High School was another one, Central Texas. Really good environment. You can get some real good noise level in that gym. It's kind of a smaller kind of feel. And then I took it back a little bit with my old school stops. I was in Walnut Springs. Uh, Cransfield's Gap is a cool little small school, Huckabee, the teepee. Uh, I really enjoyed playing there. That was probably one of the louder environments I played in when I was a younger coach or coached in when I was younger. Uh Meridian High School was another cool little old school gym. Uh, and here recently, um, I had the opportunity we played a playoff game this year in Godly's new arena. And uh, if you've never seen it or never heard of it, it it is they they did a phenomenal job setting that arena up. So Godly High School has a beautiful new arena there, and it's it's a really cool gym to play in.

SPEAKER_00 4:18

Yeah, I I saw some some godly pictures when it was done, and it does look pretty impressive what they what they did.

SPEAKER_01 4:24

It is they they did not uh skimp anything, man. They put every it is first class, it is something else. That's awesome. That's a really beautiful gym.

SPEAKER_00 4:31

So you you've coached at a lot of different classifications throughout your career, 1A through 6A. Each classification in school obviously has pros and cons, perks and challenges. So walk us through what are some of the main differences between coaching at a small school where there's an enrollment of 100 kids and a big school where there might be an enrollment of 4,000 kids.

SPEAKER_01 4:52

Man, I really liked this question when I saw it uh and I put a lot of thought into it because I I started at a small school, I just kind of worked my way all the way up. And so I I've kind of seen it all from the 1A to six-man football. Like I've kind of been everywhere. So in 27 years, I've had that opportunity. And, you know, the rules, the court, the ball, all that stuff, you know, stays the same. Obviously, nothing changes there. Uh but the surrounding things in the program do greatly change. Um for instance, I think I I made a list of seven. Uh the talent and the player development is big difference. Uh one a schools, the talent pool's limited just because of the number of kids. I mean, you're you're talking about maybe 10 to 25 kids in the entire program. So it's just it's not that they're not talented, it's just limited in what you can draw from. Uh and a lot of them are multi-sport athletes because they're in a small school, so they have to do everything. A big part of what we do as coaches is development. And I think teaching the fundamentals and building confidence and turning those athletes into basketball players is more prevalent at a 1A school because you have to coach a lot more skill development, a lot more fundamentals. At a 6A school, you're selecting from like a large pool of kids that are mostly already trained. Like they've been through skill trainers, they've been on the select circuit, uh, they played AAU year-round. So you're more so of selecting uh from a talented pool of kids that have previously played year-round and stuff like that. So to me, like in 5A and 6A, especially 6A, uh, you're more refining talent than you are building it from scratch. Uh when you're in 1A and 2A, you're you really have to build a lot of your talent from a very minimal source at some at some stops. Like when I was at Wallet Springs, I mean, it was a we really had to work hard to build things at that level. Whereas opposed at Summer Creek, you know, we had kids that were super ultra talented. It was more so just kind of picking and refining the talent. I think a second thing that I thought of that that's different is the coaching role and responsibilities. Uh, you know, at 1A, uh, the head coach, I mean, they're they're everything. I mean, you know, they're bus driver. I mean, I'm driving morning routes in the morning, you know, like I mean, you're you're doing everything. You're the custodian, you know, your your time is very limited because you you take on so many additional duties uh at a small school. You know, transportation, facility requests, I mean, everything. Whereas 6A and 5A, you can kind of become more specialized. Like, I'm just a basketball coach. I'm not having to coach a second sport, I'm not having to run around and do a third sport, you know, like I'm not having to, you know, coach junior high football, you know, like so there's a it's a lot more specialized. I think a third thing, and this is one I really thought about uh that's interesting that I think a lot of coaches will will appreciate, and that is roster depth and substitutions. Like uh when you're in a 1A school, your your roster depth is limited. You're talking about five to seven kids and and you're pretty much maxed out. So you have to be really strategic with your uh rotations, injuries and foul trouble really come into play and they can dramatically change your season. You know, big schools, depth is a major advantage. You know, I mean you're gonna have eight to twelve players that are capable of coming in and contributing at any given night. And so you can uh you can do more specialized substitutions like offense for defense, you know, things like that. Another thing, another one I thought about, the fourth one was a practice structure and focused. I think uh in 1A, you're really doing a lot of repetition fundamentals, uh teaching the game like step by step by step. Six A, you know, you can have faster pace segments, you can you can do a a lot less teaching the basic skills and more time focused on like scouting reports, film work, you know, executing like detailed game plans. So I I think that's the difference there. Another thing, uh the fifth one I was thinking of was school culture and visibility, player visibility. You know, in 1A, basketball players are like gods and goddesses. I mean, they're like well known across the entire school and the whole community. I mean, you can't go anywhere in a 1A or 2A sound and people don't know who you are. You know, uh the team is like a central part of the school identity. Like it's like the identity of that school. Whereas opposed to 6A, it's larger, 5A too, you know, it's larger. Athletics are larger and they're more divided across multiple programs. Like I can go out in the hall here in Alito and not know half the kids that play volleyball, track, soccer, football, lacrosse, baseball, softball. But in in my time at Quero, you know, Graplin, shoot, I walked down the hall. I knew that kid played football, soccer, basketball, baseball. You know, you you know all. And so players are not always uh in sixth A, players aren't always known throughout the school. Um, whereas opposed to small schools, they are. Uh another one is resources. You know, when you're in a bigger school, you have a lot more access to resources like, you know, uh an in-depth training staff, you know, like where you got multiple trainers that can handle injuries, you know, you've got uh bigger booster club to access to more money, to more uh sponsorships and things like that. And the last thing that I thought about trying to help younger coaches understand this was the pressure and expectations. Um, because at the 1A level, uh, pressure, like 1A and 2A level, what I felt like is the pressure is often more community-based and political and personal, like because everybody knows each other. And so it becomes really kind of political and personal, uh, and it's community-based, like uh pressure, like you feel it. Success is measured in smaller schools, like with development and effort and like playoff runs because they appreciate it because you don't have a lot of resources. So, like, man, this is great. What a great job, you know. In my experiences at 5A and 6A in bigger schools, what I've noticed is the expectations are significantly higher and they're more public, like everybody knows about like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, like I mean, it's it's out there, you know, and college exposure, you know, all those things. So there's a there's a different level of pressure that comes with the the higher classification. It doesn't devalue either one. I mean, I I loved my time at small schools. I mean, and I love my time at big schools. Like I don't really see a a difference in the game as much as I do. There is a difference in the pressures and the expectations for sure.

SPEAKER_00 11:02

So I I think that was kind of like the things that I I really see like as differences and and stuff in Yeah, so you you hit on at the start there, you know, those are those are those are big differences, but you hit on at the start of similarities. You know, you you play with the same ball, the rules are the same, the courts the same size. So what are some similarities, you know, not necessarily basketball-wise, but you know, from school to school, program to program, what are some things you've you've taken from your your 1A basketball to your 6A basketball? What are some things that you still do the same, whether it be drills or how you coach your kids or your you know, what are some similarities that you still have with you from the time you started?

SPEAKER_01 11:38

You know, it's funny. I I was trying to think like coaching guys and girls, like differences, things that did. You know, girls, like you always heard that saying, like girls have to feel good to play good, guys have to play good to feel good, you know. Another thing with girls and guys is like, you know, you can yell at guys and like and they'll forget about it in like five minutes. Like you have a meltdown on girls or you yell at girls and stuff, it sticks for a long time. So you gotta be really careful with how you say things when you coach girls. And Gino used to say this, I I heard him say this. Uh he said, coaching women is different because they hear everything you say. And guys tune some things out, you know, because they think they're too cool. But I will say, like, some of the same things that are the same that I really feel like that I've been able to do and apply to both is the effort and competitive toughness are the same. I mean, it's consistent. You you have to have that in all levels, no matter what gender, in order to be successful. I mean, you it's a non-negotiable. I mean, your teams have to be able to compete and they have to be able to play hard. Like, if you don't have those two things, no matter what level, no matter what gender, it's hard to, it's hard to win. Another thing that I think is the same, uh, that I think is a foundational piece of success is teamwork and chemistry. Like you know, you've seen it. Like, successful teams, they move the ball, you know, they play as one unit. They they trust their teammates to understand their roles. Like if they're not a shooter, they're not gonna get out there and crank a whole bunch of shots. They're gonna do the dirty work, you know. So just understanding the roles and stuff. The one thing that I've always preached of, and I think it's it's allowed my teams to have a lot of success in the past, and and and to this day too, is defense is a constant. I mean, you know, it's the one thing that does not depend on size, speed, or system. Like, I mean, you can take a a group of kids from all walks of facets, and if you can teach defense good, your teams are gonna play good defense. I used to always it bothered me when I'd come to some smaller schools and I'd hear this, coach, you're gonna have to run zone. I mean, they they they can't guard a soul. You're gonna have to run zone. No, I I don't not me. I mean, I'm I'm 85% man. It doesn't matter where I've gone, um, my team's a run man. From Walnut Springs, six-man football all the way up to Summer Creek, 6A. I mean, we're we're gonna run man because because I feel like I can teach good man defense. That's I feel like that's what my coach and staff and what and what we have the ability to do. And so they, you know, teams will defend at a high level. That that allows, you know, both genders to be successful. Fundamentals, you know, obviously, the the more fundamental teams traditionally can have better success, you know. And boys' basketball, though, it's kind of weird because athleticism can sometimes mask the weakness of fundamentals. Like, like you can get a freakish athlete out there and boys, and it it kind of masks their limited skill set a little bit. But ultimately, I think that fundamentals still determine long-term success. I think discipline and decision making are the same. You know, if you're turning the ball over all the time and you have bad shot selection, teams aren't going to be successful no matter what level you're in, 1A, 2A, you know, 5A, girls, boys. And I think the last one that I thought about was like coach and buy-in, like just believing and trusting your coach, uh, you know, trusting the system, not doubting what the coaches are are preaching and what they're saying. Just having that trust and that buy-in, I think, is another big thing that stays consistent in both.

SPEAKER_00 15:04

Yeah, that's that's good stuff. So you hit on in there coaching different classifications, but also boys and girls. So I want to I wanna shift now to not necessarily, you know, classifications, boys and girls, but more so the game itself. The the question I sent you said says the game that you grew up playing is probably much different game than what you're coaching now. Um every even since you've been coaching, you know, the game of basketball has changed. It's shifted from low post, mid-range, fundamental skill work to you know, half-court things to now it's kind of spread it out, shoot threes, play fast. Also, you know, you have different teams each year. And you you hit on, I'm playing man-to-man 85% of the time, which I I love, but you also had different teams and you have different players. And so my question is what part of your coaching philosophy from X's and O's to coaching style stays the same from year to year, team to team, even era to era, and what changes?

SPEAKER_01 15:56

Yeah. Uh man, you're right. Uh the game has shifted so much. Even when I started coaching back in 2000, you know, I mean, it it is or 99 actually is shifted. You know, back in the day, it was like very half-court specialized, bunch of little quick hitters and sets, and and you know, work it through the post, you know, space out a little bit here, you know, emphasize and transition. Now it's all of a sudden everybody wants to run and gun, shoot threes, dribble drive. Like I'm gonna run the dribble drive, you know, and like it's just kind of evolved to this fast paced, get downhill, kick it and shoot threes kind of thing. But the one thing for me that's that's a core of who I am, and that's the foundation of defense. I mean, everything that we do is defensive predicated because I think that no matter what error or personnel that you have, like defense is not gonna change. It's gonna help you win games. The style of offense may evolve. I mean, I've changed some of the offenses that I've run and and and developed over the years and kind of you know morphed into like this this year we started running five out circle motion, you know. Like, I mean, you you evolve as a coach uh offensively, or at least I have a lot. But I still believe that guarding the ball is important, protecting the paint is important, closing out under control is important, you know, rebounding is important, communicating on defense. You know, I think those things translate year to year regardless of who's on your your roster. And and so I think, you know, obviously that would be something that I feel like sticks with me a lot. Uh, you know, I think that if you can defend at a high level and control the effort and discipline, like you're always gonna have a chance to win. Like, and so I think that's where I feel like I've I've stayed the same. Uh, you know, offensively, I think that you almost have to grow as the game grows. Uh, you have to kind of look at those things and be able to adjust a little bit. And I think that also, too, like with this change of pace and in offense and everything now, you almost have to be a better defensive team. Like, you have to be able to defend that stuff. So I think it it really falls heavily on that defensive idea. So uh, you know, I I think that's where I've stayed consistently the same.

SPEAKER_00 18:03

So in today's world, it seems like coaches are leaving the profession more and more, and even and maybe not even just coaches, but public education in general, you know, teachers are even getting out as well. A couple of questions with that. What has kept you in the profession so long? I know you hit on how you became a coach and why you why you're our coach. So, what has kept you in it so long? And what would you say to a young coach that's kind of struggling, you know, going through the struggle bus of, I don't really know if this is what I want to do anymore.

SPEAKER_01 18:33

Man, I'll tell you, I I hate it so much for our business that this is happening because I see it, you know, and it it's upsetting. A lot of it, you know, is people feel like there's opportunities to make more money quick, you know. I think a lot of it is the today's coaching comes with a lot more pressure, a lot more time demands, a lot more outside noise, you know, like like back in the day, we didn't have to coach in the summer. You know what I mean? Like we had summers truly off. And then they started getting into this strength and conditioning, you know, skill stuff in the summer. And so you almost feel obligated that you have to be working in the summer, or else you're gonna get behind. And so there goes our summers, you know. So so what once was a good caveat of having no summers has become now you're working in the summers. The pressure. I mean, you've got constant pressure from parents and from outside noise, and and there's a lot of people that are just like, you know what, I'm over it. I ain't gotta deal with all that. And so they walk away from it. Um and it and I hate it because I'm so passionate about trying to grow the game and trying to grow this profession. And to see these things kind of happen, it it's upsetting. But I think the the things that have kept me in it, number one, is relationships. I I mean, the wins and losses are are what people are gonna see, right? Like they're gonna see that on your record, your rap sheet. They're gonna be like, oh wow, this guy won this many games. And but but I think for me, what makes it wanting to keep doing this for the 27 plus years I'm gonna still in it is those lasting connections that you have with players and families and assistant coaches and former players who come back and say, Coach, man, can you come to my wedding? Hey, coach, I want to send you a picture of my first newborn. You know, I mean, those are the things that I just feel like they outweigh anything else that's going on. Um the second thing that kind of keeps me is man, I love the process. I I love the process of building a team. I love the the process of looking at a personnel sheet and saying, these are my freshmen, these are my sophomores, these are my juniors. Okay, when these kids graduate, here's my next week. I mean, I I'm I'm like I'm constantly adjusting my personnel sheet and just looking at the next year in the year. Like, I just love that process. I love the process of seeing kids under your tutelage get better and grow. You know, that's why I I felt like both of our state championships were so special to me at Cedar Park because those kids we had all from sixth grade on up. Like we didn't have any move-ins that came in as sophomores and juniors that made us better. I mean, we we had all those kids from junior high all the way up, you know, and so it was special. And I think that process is something that uh keeps me in it and just like watching them grow up. Uh, I think also you have to be able to balance and have perspective, right? In order to stay in it this long. Uh early in my career when I was younger, uh, I felt like everything was urgent and and had to be done right now, like heavy, like, oh my God, I gotta get this letter else I'm not gonna win. I'm not gonna but over time I think you realize the game is important, but it's not everything. It's not everything. Like relationships, you know, volunteer work, community service, like getting your kids out in the community, doing things for other people, serving other people, like those things are more important. Um and so bottom line is I just I still enjoy it, man. I enjoy being in the gym, I enjoy teaching the game, I enjoy competing, like I enjoy prep work. Um and so as long as those things don't leave, I can handle. All the pressures and the rest of the job and stuff. I mean, because I go home to a beautiful wife and a family every day. Like, so I mean, all that other pressure stuff, this doesn't change me. I mean, my family's still gonna be there to love me and support me. So, I mean, it is at the end of the day, coaching is not an easy profession, but it's meaningful. So to those young kids that are that are debating that, like you were saying, like, just think about the meaning and the purpose that you serve in what we do as opposed to other jobs. Like, there's a there's a greater meaning and a greater purpose in coaching and teaching. And it's not easy, but that purpose and that reward and that meaning that you can have in people's lives, I think is invaluable.

SPEAKER_00 22:38

Yeah, uh a couple of things you said in there. One is, you know, the the relationships you build with players. I think that's why um, you know, speaking from experience, I I've only been in it five years. And so as a young coach, we we haven't seen that, you know, hey, come to my wedding or hey, this is my kid, because the the kids that we're coaching are five years younger than us. You know, it's not it's not, you know, we haven't been in it long enough to to see the the fruits of our labor, I guess you could say. Um and then there at the end, you you mentioned your family, which is fantastic that that that's your perspective because I think a lot of coaches lose that perspective at times. They they do think, you know, this game is very important, and it is the most important thing. And if you lose that perspective and and you don't focus on you know what it what the most important thing is in that family and that wife and those kids, then it will tear you apart and it will make you want to get out of it.

SPEAKER_01 23:29

There's no question. Like two things uh to to add on to there, because uh you brought up some great points. One thing that uh happened to me a couple weekends ago, I'm at a select tournament. I had some of my former players from Walnut Springs. Now, I was in Walnut Springs probably 15 years ago, 20 years ago. They came up to me recognized they're coaching a select basketball team and they introduced me to their wife, their kids, and I mean, I was like, wow, I can't believe. And he and he was like, Yeah, you can ask my son. I talk about you all the time, about what you did for us. And I'm like, so it puts all that as perspective. And then the last thing that you were talking about, and that we talked about was the family piece. Man, I I I was at Summer Creek for one year, okay, and I loved every minute of the basketball side of it. I mean, man, we we lost four games, played in the state championship game or state semis against Duckville, lost overtime. And I sat there and I knew that this team, my JV was undefeated, freshman was undefeated. Like, I'm like, man, we're gonna win state titles for the next two or three years because we're we're going to split division and it's a little easier in split division. So like I'm like, man, this is gonna be great. But then I'm sitting there, my father passed away. I'm sitting there looking at my wife and kids, and I'm like, what are we doing in Houston? Like, what are we doing down here? Like, the only reason why we came here was for the money. Like, they they offered me an unbelievable contract, no teaching responsibilities, and the talent was unbelievable. And I was like, am I seriously sacrificing my family's well-being to be down here in Houston to win a couple state championships? And I'm watching my kids struggle with connections in the community and with friends, and I'm watching my wife just not enjoy her job and and me too. Like, it was tough. Like the my job wasn't easy. And so collectively, I'm like, this is not what's best for me personally or my family. Because for me, the athletic side of it, there was a lot of things going up in the in the upper admin that was just a lot of tough things going on. And um, it just wasn't for me. So when this Alito opportunity came, it was a no-brainer because this is where like we can raise our kids from kindergarten through 12th. We have family that live down the road, so my wife can be with her sister and and and dad and mom and so. So it really put things into perspective. And so, and guess what happens? You know, after I leave, they go back-to-back state titles. And, you know, I mean, was I upset? No. I talked to those kids. The coach there was who was on my staff. Like I brought her in. So I'm, I mean, I'm fired up. I go to the state games, I'm watching them win state. I love it. Like, because we're in this for the kids. And ultimately for me, I'm in it for my family. And getting here was the best thing for my family. So I I think that's what coaches have to really keep in perspective when they because you can get caught up in the winning. It's easy. It's really easy. You can get caught up in winning, and you can get caught up chasing the jobs, you can get caught up in money, you can get caught up in all that stuff. But at the end of the day, you you got to really stay grounded and keep that perspective in mind about what's really important.

SPEAKER_00 26:26

That's good stuff. So every episode, I'm trying to trying to give a shout out to coaches' families. And so you and your wife have been married for 14 years. You have two children. As a coach of any sport, there are days where you leave the house before your family wakes up and you get home after they've gone to bed. There's even days where you don't you're gone for a few days, you know, for tournaments and things like that. Basketball coaches specifically, you know, you spend some Christmas breaks in a gym in a tournament. You miss some summer times. You you plan your vacations around leagues and and select tournaments and all that stuff. So, how have you and your wife worked together during those times to raise kids and still stay strong in your marriage?

SPEAKER_01 27:05

You know, man, I I basketball is the longest sport that runs over like every freaking holiday. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Valentine's Day. You know, I mean, I I can't remember a Valentine's Day where my wife and I were spending together because we're playing a playoff game, you know, and so it it runs over every major holiday. So it's tough. Um, but I I will tell you, uh I've been able to do this so long because I just have an amazing wife. And I'm really glad that your podcast, you're taking the time to do something like this, because I think that's important, that goes unnoticed. I mean, I mean, you have to really have the right spouse, the significant other to do this coaching job. I was lucky because my wife grew up in a coaching family. Like her dad was a coach, college coach. So it kind of made that adjustment easy. She understood the lifestyle before we we got into it. So instead of it having to be something that she had to adjust to, it was something that she understood and she embraced before we even got into it. She didn't have to adjust to anything, like she was used to that. And that makes a huge difference. Now, I'm not saying that you have to marry somebody that has that kind of experience or background, but it it certainly helped our relationship because it was there was no big adjustment. With Carissa, she's not so just supportive in words, but she's in supportive in the investment too. Like she's at all my games. She comes to our Saturday, like she'll bring breakfast to the kids on Saturdays. Like she's done all those little things that just um where you can tell she's really invested in the journey and she just doesn't speak words. Like she's really invested into it, you know, she dresses up every game and the basketball earrings, you know, and the all the the nine, you know. So I mean, it's just like she's really all in on it, right? And I think when you have that steady foundation at home, then things aren't as chaotic during the season. And that's where she's helped so much is because there's days, like you said, when I leave in the morning, the kids aren't even up sometimes, you know. And then I get home and they're already asleep. And she handles everything during the basketball season. I mean, everything, doctors' visits, you name it. Um, and she does it with grace and strength, like it's no problem. Whereas suppose if you leave me alone for three days with the kids, I mean, I'm like, okay, babe, where's this? Where's that? Oh my god, what do I do? Like, where's their insurance card? How do I do it? You know, it's like a a complete meltdown. I mean, so she keeps her home life stable, uh, positive and grounded during the season. Um, and it's just it's just that teamwork that helps, you know. Like I don't look at it as me having like I don't I don't just have assistance per se. I have an assistant at home too. Like my wife is not only my wife, but she's like my assistant coach. She does everything. Like, so I I think that you know, it's huge. And you you have to have that and you have to have that understanding because it gets tough, man. It gets tough. Like there's there's times where, you know, you're want to go to this place for Thanksgiving and you can't, because you know, like we play in the McDonald's tournament, you know, like I mean that's right before Christmas break. So you know you can't take those long extended breaks. So it, you know, it's a lot, but I'm I'm very blessed with with the situation I'm in with my wife and kids.

SPEAKER_00 30:09

It is one of those behind the scenes things that a lot of people don't realize you gotta have this. This is great. Uh I'm excited for your podcast.

SPEAKER_01 30:16

I'm excited for growing this. Uh, you know, I I think giving an outlet for coaches to speak to help younger coaches and to help even older coaches. Like I love listening to the podcasts and stuff and pick ideas and things to help me put things into perspective. You know, you you're never too old to learn. You know, when you think you're know everything and you're you're old enough not to learn and you're going downhill and I'm like, I I continue to want to learn. I think another thing that is worth mentioning to younger coaches if they're listening is try to get connected, whether that be TABC camps, whether that be Hardwood High, but try to get connected because I cannot tell you the blessings that have happened in my life because of the connections that I've had in this business. Uh I've had some great mentors, Josh Fostell, for example, you know, I mean, uh Jamie Boswell, Dean Edwards, Jonathan Norman, Kenny Man. I mean, I can just go down the list of just people that have been so influential in my life that have helped me along the way. And had I not made those relationships and connections when I was younger, it wouldn't have put me in the position that I am today. No question. And so I think that if there's young coaches out there that are listening, that that would be my biggest thing, man, is just call call a veteran coach. Like, like if you if you hear some people there, you're like, man, that guy's he's got a lot of success. It's been a long time, yeah. Shoot him an email, you know, pick his brain, like try to make a connection because that's that's man, it's just it's been invaluable to me. I I can't I can't even begin to tell people like I wasn't the smartest basketball coach in the world when I first started. Like I didn't know a lot. I didn't I didn't have a great basketball background. So I drew a lot on connections and resources when I was young and growing up. So I would just really encourage people uh to try to try to do those connections.

SPEAKER_00 32:02

Yeah, I mean that's that's that was my main thing behind this podcast was I'd I'd like to talk to a lot of these coaches and have a lot of success and and why wouldn't I want to share it with with everybody else too? So um that's good stuff. I like it. I appreciate it. Just let them know whatever you need, man. I'm here for you. Yep. Thanks, Coach Harbor. We'll see you later.

SPEAKER_01 32:19

Yes, sir. Thank you.