Excited about todays article. Some of the things detailed in here are common to many former athletes. Fortunately, Colin found his way to coaching and took the leap! The risk he took a few years back has paid off. You can’t talk to a smarter coach who is living what he preaches everyday.
“Why I coach” is a question I asked myself long before getting into the profession. I was a standard person - played sports in high school and college, and graduated with an Accounting degree. Once my playing career was over and I moved into the standard 9-5 desk job, I always felt like there was something missing. I was used to being up at 5:30 for morning lift, practice, meal check, or cramming some studying in before a big exam. With work ending earlier than practice used to, and not having study hall or homework to worry about, I felt as if I was lost for the first time in my life. I kept trying to put my finger on what was missing. Was it the competition? Was it the structure? Or was it the locker room environment? Trying to figure it out, I decided to volunteer my time as a High School Football and Strength Coach. Right away it all started to come back - first and foremost, the structure. I felt like I had a purpose and a desire burning inside of me once again. It was not necessarily the competition (that’s where the kids get to have fun) or the long days of being busy that were the solution. But more so, it was the athletes, the mentorship, and the challenges that I had been missing in my time away. Finally, I made the jump and took an unbelievable opportunity at the University of Maryland to intern under the tutelage of Rick Court. Yep, I was back!
From day one, I knew I had made the right choice. Everyone involved in sports has their story, whether it be interning or being a GA, and mine was no different. There are some struggles along the way, but being in this environment is unlike any other. Everyone is going through something, and the beautiful thing about this profession is there are people there to pick you up on the days that are harder than others. Being back with a team involves so many roles: from the head coach, staff, support staff and most importantly the players. Every day I realize what a great opportunity I have in front of me. I am around a group of 17-23-year-old athletes who are smart, funny and competitive, just like myself. As a coach, I am on the other side of things because I am the professional, but I am blessed to have the daily interactions with these student athletes.
When it comes to coaching, the more you are around the athletes, the relationships you can build are better. Not long ago I was in their shoes making similar mistakes, asking similar questions and stressing about the same things they currently face. Having the ability to be a support system for these athletes and help them to grow over their four years in college is truly an unbelievable profession. It is not always myself giving out the lessons; I learn just as much, if not more, from my athletes. They keep me young; they keep me involved with the culture, and they allow me to be a part of something bigger than myself. For that, I am forever thankful.
Another reason why I love the title of being a coach is the ability to have mentors, and hopefully be a mentor. Always playing and being around sports, I had a slew of coaches and some really good ones along the way. Every coach has their own style: loud, quiet, reserved, tough. No singular style is right or wrong, but I was able to take certain attributes from each coach and apply them to my own mold. Growing up, I was fortunate to have a coach from the beginning until now. My dad was one of the best coaches. He may not have been the best X’s and O’s coach, but I was able to take a lot from him. Some things that my dad displayed were consistency and great relationships.
Being young in the profession, those are two things I really pride myself on. Yes, there is a science that goes into everything, but the saying, “people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care,” really resonates with me. Our profession is one littered with turnover, making consistent changes the norm in the coaching profession. Like I mentioned earlier, the more time spent with the athletes, the better the relationships. When you first meet an athlete, they aren’t going to trust you. But, over time, they will start to see how much you care for them. These qualities lead to lifelong relationships. The athlete knows that you are there to not only make them better athletes, but to help mold them into well-rounded men and women. As a coach, I admire the mentorship and hope that I can leave a lasting mark on each of my athletes now and for years to come.
Next comes the challenges. We all have them- on and off the field. But, this is what helps us all grow. Without stress, the body would not grow either. Are stress/challenges good or bad? That is for you to decide. I see the situations that sports present us as good challenges. Examples: (attend or skip lift/ attend or skip class/ competitions/ win and losses). There are numerous challenges that athletes and teams will be faced with in a calendar year. These challenges are what have helped mold me into the person I am today. Working as an accountant in my first profession, I did not feel as if I was being challenged, but coming back to sports, I was presented with them daily. The ability to make decisions when challenges present themselves, either right or wrong, and live with those decisions, is a skill that is learned. Being involved as a small part of a team, you know that you are never alone in your decision. When the relationships with your team are strong, you know that they have your back. Knowing this is truly a powerful feeling.
All of these reasons are why I coach. It is not because of the paycheck or the logo on the chest. It is because of the athletes and the mentorship. I have come to learn more about the aspects of mentorship and can hopefully provide this to my athletes. It is also for the challenges that we are fortunate to go through together. It is a rewarding profession, and I think you need to be in it for the right reasons to be able to feel that way.
Colin Masterson – Villanova Sports Performance Coach
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