I’D LIKE TO THANK GODFREY DRAKE WHO IS THE HEAD COACH FOR GREEN RIVER COLLEGE GATORS IN AUBURN, WASHINGTON IN THE NWAC FOR SHARING ADVICE FOR YOUNG COACHES WITH THE CANNON NETWORK. HE SHARED, ADVICE FOR YOUNG COACHES: “DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE LEVEL YOUR FIRST COACHING JOB IS AT. WHAT’S IMPORTANT IS JUST GETTING IN AND LEARNING THE BUSINESS. COACHING IS ALL ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO RELATE TO PEOPLE THAT ARE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THIS BUSINESS. LEARNING HOW TO RELATE TO THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN HOW YOU MUST RELATE TO THE OTHER COACHES AND THE HEAD COACH ON YOUR STAFF. LEARNING HOW TO RELATE TO THE CURRENT PLAYERS AND PLAYERS THAT YOU ARE EITHER RECRUITING (COLLEGE) OR DEVELOPING THROUGH A FEEDER SYSTEM AT THE LOWER LEVELS IS VITAL TO YOUR SUCCESS AS A YOUNG COACH. LASTLY, FIND THE GAPS IN THE PROGRAM THAT THE HEAD COACH CAN’T SEE. DO THIS WITHOUT EXPECTING RECOGNITION FOR IT. THE HEAD COACH WILL APPRECIATE HAVING SOMEONE THAT JUST GETS STUFF DONE WITHOUT HAVING TO BE DIRECTED TO DO IT. HAVE YOUR FEET PLANTED FIRMLY WHERE YOU ARE AND LET THE FUTURE TAKE CARE OF ITSELF BY THE GROUNDWORK YOU LAY AT THE PLACE YOU CURRENTLY ARE. NEVER FORGET TO SMILE. LIFE IS SHORT AND WE GOT ENJOY WHAT WE GET TO DO!”