Watch: Kelton Copeland Press Conference 11-9-22
- Thread starter RobHowe
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Fryowa
Administrator
Frickin love that he calls out bitchy parents.
As a coach there is nothing--and I mean nothing--worse than some entitled dickwad parent who either never played a sport or is some washed up JUCO pine rider complaining about how you're doing your job. At the P5 level it has to be even worse. Even though I hate it, I can at least understand the stupidity at the HS level. When you get to the pinnacle of the college world can you imagine being a parent whining to a coach like you know something they don't?
As a coach there is nothing--and I mean nothing--worse than some entitled dickwad parent who either never played a sport or is some washed up JUCO pine rider complaining about how you're doing your job. At the P5 level it has to be even worse. Even though I hate it, I can at least understand the stupidity at the HS level. When you get to the pinnacle of the college world can you imagine being a parent whining to a coach like you know something they don't?
HawkGold
Well-Known Member
The comment about the double TE and recruiting was funny, though I wish Iowa had actually done that with Fant and Hock.
About parents, come on. This is D1. Even at JC is shouldn't happen. That said, in recruiting coaches also recruit parents so it's fair game. That said, Iowa set a bar back with CJ and several other parent/player situations. I have no compassion for the poor Iowa coaches getting beat up by parents. I will never understand what happened with CJ. Made sense to play him. The road to that occurring was bizarre.
About parents, come on. This is D1. Even at JC is shouldn't happen. That said, in recruiting coaches also recruit parents so it's fair game. That said, Iowa set a bar back with CJ and several other parent/player situations. I have no compassion for the poor Iowa coaches getting beat up by parents. I will never understand what happened with CJ. Made sense to play him. The road to that occurring was bizarre.
Fryowa
Administrator
I get that to a degree, but thinking about it…you said you’ve coached before.
You probably know from the HS level that all parents are your buddy at the preseason parent meeting, but as soon as playing time shakes out there are parents that turn on you. I have it every year.
MikeyLikesIowa
Well-Known Member
The juicy bit about the parents starts at about the 17:05 mark. I definitely applaud his transparency on that. I feel like there's something bigger wrong with Keegan Johnson that we don't know about based on how he answered Kennington's question about him.
Fryowa
Administrator
I'm wondering (not really) which receiver's parents he's talking about.
hawkdrummer1
Well-Known Member
So without listening was it about parents that actually expected their WR son to be thrown passess? Rather than to be turned into perimeter blockers?
Fryowa
Administrator
It was about getting phone calls from parents of more than one receiver asking why their kid isn't getting more targets or touches. Talks about during Big Ten championship week last year having to spend 40 minuets on the phone one day listening to parents bitch.
SwirlinLingerie
Well-Known Member
I think I've mentioned this before, but I have a buddy who is an associate AD at the U of Washington. I couldn't believe it when he told me how much the athletic department has to deal with crazy parents. He said parents show up all the time on campus and expect to have access to the coaches, and if that doesn't work or they don't get the answers they want, they inevitably take it up the chain of command to the athletic department. Sounds like how we think of high school sports and parents.
And he said it is both revenue and non-revenue sports. Sometimes the interaction between parents and coaches is worse with non-revenue sports because the parents can more easily access the coaches.
He was telling me more and more long time college coaches are getting out of the profession because of it, at least for non-revenue sports. Crazy to think that's true at a Pac-12 school. They make decent money, coach a sport they probably love, get to work with college kids every day, not a ton of outside pressure like in football or basketball...and just not worth it in some cases apparently.
And he said it is both revenue and non-revenue sports. Sometimes the interaction between parents and coaches is worse with non-revenue sports because the parents can more easily access the coaches.
He was telling me more and more long time college coaches are getting out of the profession because of it, at least for non-revenue sports. Crazy to think that's true at a Pac-12 school. They make decent money, coach a sport they probably love, get to work with college kids every day, not a ton of outside pressure like in football or basketball...and just not worth it in some cases apparently.
HawkGold
Well-Known Member
I never had a big problem. I built teams differently. You are only as good as your worst player on the field. Injuries happen. Anyone on my roster was expected to contribute. We spent a lot of time on conditioning and team building. Unlike KF I want backups to have experience. That said, the situation with parents has changed even over the past 14 years or so. I did find that direct communication goes a long way (HS and lower). If a parent asked me I was brutally honest about strengths and weaknesses and what could help playing time. I also would allow parents to give critiques of their own players and overall game strategy. We had a makeup big game coming up and the dad bought Cardinal game tickets. One of my better players. I told the player that he had a choice and it was his choice. But he would miss several games for going. The dad came roaring into the school. AD backed me, the kid went to see the Cards, missing a few games and that was that. The kid's dad
I never coached football. Soccer, baseball, and basketball. In soccer and BB, my teams aggressively attacked on both D and O. No plays off. We rotated a lot. Baseball we would swipe 135 bases per season. We'd be picked off more than was thrown out. You have a marginal athlete, you can teach him to put the bat on the ball. If they can run, they can pinch-run. Players had to work hard and listen which weeded out some. I benched 2 players for not listening. Their moms were buddies. I got an earful from one, let her finish and explained about why they were benched. They promptly quit which solved the problem, but both had a lot of potential...once they learned to listen. I never had an AD not back me up. All players knew coming in that conditioning was going to be stringent. Weeds out some.
A British kid was a good kid and understood the game. He only wanted to play fullback for which he was too slow and didn't fit what we were doing. I managed to get him in a bit each match. The first time I didn't, I got the call after the game from dad. I explained to him why he didn't play in that game. I needed speed and that he didn't want to play anywhere else. Next practice he said he'd try forward. The way we played, I need at least one who could pass and play physical with the other teams defender. They also needed to drop back and play D in certain overloads on O. It gave him a bit more playing time and I never heard about it again.
I can't stand coaches that isolate themselves from parents. Drives me nuts.
In soccer and BB we wore teams out. We were always competitive when we didn't win a lot. I've had overachieving winners and winners that were just plain good. I enjoy the overachievers, but coaching talent is a lot of fun.
I would love to watch you work a baseball game as an ump. I imagine you are pretty good. Not sure if you talk to players or not as you haven't tipped that hat.
One of my fav moments was when my team was undefeated (Baseball) late and we played the other conference team that was also undefeated. We were up 3-1 in top of 4th. Tried to score a player from first and he tripped going over the bag but still tried to get up and run to the plate. I knew better but I reached out and grabbed him and put him on 3rd. The other coach had been riding the umps all game, complaining about everything. The HC came storming out, screaming about it. I just stood there. The ump turned to me and said, "Did you touch that player?" I just turned about with my back to both of them, smiling of course. Ump said, "PLAY BALL!" It was great.
They walked the next batter. Two outs. There was a player who was a physical specimen and quite athletic (but had some cognitive deficiencies) if he could ever get all his limbs working together. Reminded me of Dave Kingman (Ok, before your time". I'd been working with him (I stress fundamentals like nobody else), and thought he was ready. This kid earlier in the year I was teaching to steal as a pr and had a beautiful lead and dove back into first like he was coached just ahead of the throw. I hollered for him to raise his hand and call time out. I forgot to tell him which hand to raise.... Anyway in this game he pinch-hitting for the pitcher he rocketed a line drive off the center field wall, clearing the bases.
I admit that team was really good. But, I do think coaches today fail to build a team spirit where they root for each other. When the kid came back to the dugout, you'd have thought the rest of the team was congratulating him on being the World Series MVP.
I have to admit that every dad is a baseball genius. What I like about futbol is that parents leave you pretty much alone being afraid to show their ignorance of the game. If you ever came to a soccer game I'm coaching in, they aren't boring with a lot of physical, high speed, and attacking play. We didn't spend much time working on juggling and much of anything that can be done at a slow speed. We practice doing it like the Road Runner. No cones. Full speed manuevers and control. I just never had many issues with parents. Not saying I'm a coaching guru. I'm into psychology, conditioning, and fundamentals.
Fryowa
Administrator
Then you wouldn’t like me or @99topdawg.
I don’t isolate myself from all parents. I’ve coached my current sophomore class (my son’s) since kindergarten. I know all those parents real well and there is only one bad apple mom/dad in that bunch. Of the current 4 classes I have 9-12, there are only 2 other sets of parents that are pains in the ass. Everyone else is great. But the bad ones can and do make things miserable so I avoid ‘em. Different strokes for different folks.
As far as umpiring, I chit chat with the catchers before their first half innings but I’m pretty quiet during the game. The one exception was a West Sioux game I worked a few years ago…my varsity plate and Dekkers was on the hill. Hunter Dekkers is an absolute peach of a kid and unbelievably respectful, but he threw nothing but 98 mph fastballs that he had ZERO control over. Lefty throwing to all righties so I had no protection in the slot, and the only thing between me and God was that catcher. I wanted that kid to be my best friend in the worst way. We got to know each other pretty good and if he was old enough I woulda bought him a beer afterwards. No way did I want broken ribs or a broken jaw and concussion for a $130 check.
