I’D LIKE TO THANK MARK POLSGROVE WHO IS AN ASSISTANT COACH FOR BETHEL UNIVERSITY PILOTS IN MISHAWAKA, INDIANA IN THE CROSSROADS LEAGUE IN NAIA COACHED BY STEVE DRABYN FOR SHARING ADVICE FOR YOUNG COACHES WITH THE CANNON NETWORK. HE SHARED, “GETTING YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR AS A YOUNG COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACH CAN BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, HOWEVER ALL YOUNG COACHES NEED TO KNOW A FEW THINGS WHEN THAT OPPORTUNITY COMES. 1) TIME COMMITMENT: IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS A YOUNG COACH, KNOW THAT YOU NEED TO PUT THE TIME IN. EARLY MORNINGS, LATE NIGHTS, LONG DAYS. EXPERIENCE IS CRITICAL FOR ALL YOUNG COACHES TO GAIN, THE MORE TIME YOU PUT IN THE MORE EXPERIENCE YOU WILL GET. 2) ASK QUESTIONS: ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS TO YOUR BOSS AND TO YOUR COACHING BUDDIES, GATHER AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN TO LEARN AND HEAR ABOUT DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHIES AND WAYS ON HOW TO DO THINGS. ASK YOUR BOSS, “WHAT CAN I DO TO TAKE OFF YOUR PLATE?” THIS WILL HELP YOU GROW AS A COACH AND GAIN MORE EXPERIENCE. 3) DON’T BE AFRAID OF DOING THE DIRTY WORK: IN LIFE WE ALWAYS WILL HAVE TO DO THINGS THAT WE DON’T WANT TO. SAME GOES FOR COACHING, YOU MAY HAVE TO DO THE LAUNDRY, SWEEP THE FLOOR, DRIVE PLAYERS TO THE AIRPORT, ETC. DO THIS STUFF WITH A JOYFUL HEART AND ATTACK IT. THIS CAN SET YOU APART FROM OTHER YOUNG COACHES WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO DO THINGS THAT ARE “BELOW THEM.” 4) RELATIONSHIPS: THIS, IN MY OPINION IS THE ABSOLUTE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THIS PROFESSION. IT IS VITAL THAT YOU BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH COACHES AND CONTINUE TO GROW YOUR NETWORK. CHECK IN ON THOSE COACHES REGULARLY, CALL THEM, TEXT THEM, GET TO KNOW THEM. WORK CAMPS IT IS INCREDIBLE THE NUMBER OF COACHES THAT YOU CAN MEET AND GET TO KNOW WHEN YOU DO THIS. RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADMINISTRATORS IS IMPORTANT AS WELL. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN SOMEONE MIGHT GET A JOB LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD AT A SCHOOL THAT HAS AN OPENING THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN. HAVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADMINISTRATORS CAN HELP YOU ALONG THE WAY. RELATIONSHIPS WITH PLAYERS IS ANOTHER HUGE THING. YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR PLAYERS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. TAKE THEM TO LUNCH, CHECK IN WITH THE REGULARLY, ASK THEM PERSONAL QUESTIONS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF BASKETBALL, TRULY CARE ABOUT THEM!”