Curly’s varsity basketball high school coach, 'Mirco' met with the girls Wednesday (this is a few weeks ago now, as I drafted this and then other stuff happened and this went on the back burner - life, it's the way it goes, am I right?).
Micro had news that had been circulating. It wasn't a total shock.
*Choosing the nickname Micro because he's a very small man and because he micromanages his players at nauseam. Mini and Curly always said they could tune him out, but his constant speaking: Loose ball, dribble, shoot, bang bang, rebound. I get that coaches call things out, but it was like they were robots and they couldn't make a move without him. Coach and I enjoyed watching opponents' parents' faces. They were always SO confused, bewildered even. How could a man say so many words, such constant babble?
So, the news: Micro accepted the job as the new varsity BOYS' coach- taking the spot vacated by Idiot, since Idiot was fired. Just when I was relieved to be done with the turbulent boy b-ball program at the hands of an AD who doesn't know how to hire a coach. Curly is upset. Micro's motto was ‘family'. After the girls came together and had an amazing season and took 4th in state, this feels so wrong.
Micro begged us not to send Curly to a Catholic high school when she was in 8th grade. She started talking to him about b-ball when she was in 6th grade, and he was coaching Mini.
Hopefully the fact that the girls finished 4th in state will attract decent coaching candidates, but shockingly the AD still holds his AD position. How is this possible? I’m at a loss. As the AD, he'll be hiring the new coach. I texted both of my brothers and asked them to apply. No takers.
When we drove home from St. Louis, Curly told me that she wishes her travel b-ball friends lived closer. They are spread out. One lives in the south loop, like in the city.
“I never tire of them. They’re more like sisters to me than friends. We’re really close.”
2 of the 3 girls attend the Catholic high school that we considered sending Curly to when she was in 8th grade. I told her I would transfer her somewhere if we could figure it out (eligibility rules make transferring tough for athletes, yet people do it. It’s a mystery to me, because when we suggested that in the fall at the start of Reg's issue, we were told they wouldn't allow him to play elsewhere).
Are you surprised that there is more uncertainty and stress afoot in terms of b-ball at the high school?
More current updates: I've been glued to the computer all day (thus pulling a draft out to post) making Reg's video. We have some amazing tidbits that we've uncovered. I can barely see straight and I hope to get it done this week. Coach wants me to go to KC with him on Friday. Long story.
Reg and I visited the b-ball program in Indiana on Thursday. We were pleased. After talking it over, he and Coach and I - think that since playing basketball in college is his dream, that this program will give him the best chance of doing that. Juco had a b-ball program, but this is ALL basketball. He reached out to the guy who runs it this afternoon and accepted the open spot. Fingers crossed that this is the right path. (we still need to figure out if he wants to take some community college classes, or if he just wants to work with a tutor to test his retention, etc.)
Anyone else finalize a big decision recently? Work tirelessly on a project? Have a great week. The girls made the swim team and we have 2 meets this week, thus my race to get my video D.O.N.E.
Too bad sbout the coach. I can't see the district risking another lawsuit by hiring Ego , but who knows?!? Your district seems to have administrative/turnover issues, so at this point, the AD might be the only one left standing...
ReplyDeleteI hope Indiana works for Reg. I'd probably stick with a tutor rather than taking classes for Reg- get the meds and memory under control before stressing him out with classes. And would classes affect his eligibility to enroll as a freshman somewhere new next year? This program probably can help figure that out.
I'm waiting on something to finish up- once it's done summer vacation planning can occur. Too many stresses right now, so I need one thing to be done/decided.
I'm not good about doing summer things now that all my kids are bigger. I'm awesome with the under 8 set, but as my youngest aren't into sports or a specific activity, we have boring summers. A little recreational swimming and a library reading program, that's about it.
I hope the video came out well!
I’m so sorry you have yet more stress about b-ball coaches! I cannot imagine them re-hiring the guy? No one is that dumb…or are they?
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that all this stress over youth sports is unfamiliar to me. But I can't imagine how betrayed Curly is feeling right now. Hugs to all of you and hopefully you can figure a way through this difficulty.
ReplyDeleteThat is frustating that Curly bonds so well with girls that she would be going to HS if you had enrolled her in the Catholic high school. But she'll learn early on how to form bonds over the distance which is a really crucial skill to learn if you don't want your friendships to be limited to your neighborhood/school. I learned that in HS as my HS boyfriend went to a school an hour away and I fit in so much better with his friends so many of my HS friends are from his school, not mine.
ReplyDeleteI hope the AD makes a good decision about the coach but I am sure you have no faith in that being the case. When I was growing up, the hiring decisions in my teeny tiny town were always driven by finding the best coaches and then what they would teach felt like an after thought. I was not athletic so that annoyed the sh*t out of me!!
As someone who's [almost] never had any personal experiences with team sports, I'm fascinated by the drama of it all. In our high school coaches weren't usually the brightest bulbs in the chandelier, but seemed to stick around forever. Yours seem to shift around, different times maybe.
ReplyDeletembmom11 - I agree, working with a tutor and figuring out how to study with his new situation seems like the best plan. I'm a little nervous about him being out of town - although, I do think he'll be coming home quite a bit, maybe weekends or every other? I dreamt last night that I had to convince people to fill his RX for his epilepsy meds. Clearly this is weighing on me. I need to get all the adults in the program aware of seizure protocol.
ReplyDeleteOur kids started caddying or babysitting around age 13, add in dance or sports and reading and friends and summer was a great time. There was down time, but plenty of things to do. Also, they always hung out together, the more the merrier.
Curly's new coach is NOT Ego or Idiot. I was worried. The jury is still out on the guy they named. It is really frustrating that she lost her coach as a ripple effect of the whole nightmare. Can't help but think the AD hired him in part to tick us off. There are lots of good coaches in the world. Her coach was good but far from perfect. We had no complaints other than his constant dialogue which was just weird. Fingers crossed this guy is decent.
Pat - We did wonder if they could be THAT dumb. Ego dressed in a suit one day towards the end of the school year and told his class it was because he was interviewing for the boys' varsity coaching job. So strange that he would admit that, because did he really think they'd rehire him after EVERYTHING? We are hopeful that this new coach does a good job.
ReplyDeleteEngie - If I may call you that. ;) Betrayed is a very good word for how Curly felt. She saw her old coach the other day when she attended a meet and greet with the new coach. The old coach asked the girls how they were doing and he said he sensed they were mad at him. D'ya think? Curly told him that he begged her to stay at our high school and now he quit the team. He was speechless and she was glad that she got that off her chest. Like, THINK!
ReplyDeleteLisa - She spent the weekend with her b-ball buddies at a lake house. So fun. I do like that she has friends outside of school as a good option. I love it when their world widens like that.
ReplyDeleteI went to a Catholic HS - girls on one side of the building, boys on the other. We always believed that the boys had it so easy because they were taught by their coaches and those coaches were often like HEY MAN, SEE YOU AT PRACTICE and it appeared that their work in the classroom was less of a focus. Meanwhile we were held to very high academic standards (which of course is ideal in the long run, but in the moment we felt like they had a way easier path).
Ally - I agree. When I was growing up, coaches seemed to stick in their role for so long. I'm not sure if it is a sign of the times or just our miserable district. Our school has great academics, but the board is a mess and has been for so long. We are widely known for the nonsense and disputes between board members. Our district is split into a high school with entitled mentality and a high school with lots of diversity. Two very different schools with very different issues. We cannot seem to keep a principal more than a few years. I think we've had a total of 4 principals since Lad started there in 2012. About to start our 5th principal. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteOur high school has had a lot of coach turnover in the past. Not a lot of careful resume checking, either. They once hired a guy who claimed he was a varsity basketball coach for X number of years. Well, yeah, he was--but it was for the girls' team. They hired him for boys' varsity. Didn't find out until halfway through the season when he was being investigated for misuse of funds, and that was because some anonymous caller tipped off the local press.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it so hard for the higher-ups to JUST DO THEIR JOBS?
Nance - I can totally relate to this. What on earth? Checking on a new hire PRIOR to the hiring seems so essential. The guy they hired for Curly's team came from the other high school in our district. I think he has been an AAU coach in the past. The first day of camp he tried to tell a really short girl to stop jumping when shooting 3s. Huh? Fingers crossed that he's a decent coach.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! More basketball stress. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteGlad that at least it sounds like Reg has made a decision about the fall. On one hand I’m sure there’s a lot of new stress over that/how he will do/the medical and memory things, but at least the weight of making a decision is past and now you can focus on how to make this as great as possible and a smooth transition.
Boooooo on more basketball stress but Yay on getting everything in place for Reg! I know that's a relief!
ReplyDeleteBummer about Curley losing her coach! EGO can not come back. NOPE.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad Reg has made a decision, well, at least most of it. Can you even picture another five years when you won't have basketball in your life? Maybe four years?
Oh, but now we are swimming! HA. Hopefully that will be drama free!
Joy marie - It is good to have a decision made. Reg drove to IN yesterday for a mini b-ball camp. He drove on Tuesday but Coach went with him. He did forget to text me to say that he got there without any trouble, but I decided that no text was better than a call that he'd been in an accident. So far he likes the camp. The coach also lives nearby and works out with Reg whenever he can.
ReplyDeleteBeth - I'm behind in responding to comments, but so far Curly's new coach seems decent. She said it's hard because she was knew the last coach/was comfortable with him, etc. I've asked her if she wants to change schools, but she says no.
ReplyDeleteSuz - I'm late getting back here. Curly thinks her new coach is decent. So far. Reg has done a few days of a mini camp in Indiana and so far so good. His new coach lives minutes from our house - so I can always send dinners to him via his coach. Plus that coach is meeting him to get some workouts in over the summer, which Reg is very excited about.
ReplyDeletePretty sure the swimming will not take a path that leads to college swimming, if you know what I mean. The girls have gotten a few ribbons and they are enjoying it, which is awesome. (since they fought and fought about doing it).
Hard to imagine no b-ball in 4 or 5 years. Curly hopes to play in college too. It'll be interesting.