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Monday, March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024

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Paul Valencia: Coaches need room to grow

Commentary: Paul Valencia

The Columbian
Published:

Kaitlin Johnson got a win in her first match as a varsity head coach last week, guiding the Columbia River Chieftains to a volleyball victory.

That was win No. 1 of what Johnson hopes will become a lot of victories.

Of course, it helps that she took over an established program, one that always has high expectations, always expects to compete for district crowns and trophies at state.

Whether a coach takes over a perennial power or a struggling program, one of the keys to success for any high school sports program is supportive parents and fans.

Now two weeks into the 2014-15 school year, there are, or there will be, 13 new head coaches in the traditional team sports in the Class 4A and 3A Greater St. Helens Leagues.

Some, such as Johnson, are head coaches for the first time.

Others, such as Stephen Short, were head coaches elsewhere. Short, who led Woodland to the Class 1A state championship game in baseball last spring, now is the head coach at Camas.

At Fort Vancouver, there are four new head coaches in team sports this school year.

“As AD, it’s my job to get the best possible coach in our building, a coach who creates a program that is good for the kids, puts relationships first,” said Dirk Hansen, Fort’s athletic director.

He is looking at good lifelong memories.

“These kids don’t remember the scores long after they’re gone. They remember the experiences,” Hansen said.

They also will remember how their parents supported — or in some cases did not support — the program and the coaching staff.

Only one team in each league can win a league title. Only one team in each classification can win a state championship.

Expectations are different at every school, in every program. But a win-or-bust attitude is detrimental to the goals of high school athletics.

“Parents can really help if they attend the games, support the kids, support the coach in a positive way,” Hansen said. “Cheer them on in victory and defeat. Keep your perspective about things. These are kids battling and doing their very best.”

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The expectations at Fort are different than, say, at Columbia River. The Chieftains — athletes, coaches, and fans — expect to be on top of the standings in just about every sport they play.

Still, when a new coach takes over, even a “power” program, the new coach deserves time to find her or his footing.

Every first-year coach I have talked to through the years say the same thing: Coaching is coaching. As head coach or as an assistant. It is the myriad other things associated with the program that is the real change for a new head coach. Preparing a practice schedule. Making sure of transportation. Fundraising. And the unexpected things that come up daily. The head coach has a say in all of these matters.

Johnson, for example, has been an assistant with River for a few years. Quickly, she learned there is so much more to do as a head coach.

She said she is fortunate to be at a school with parents who do believe in their coaches.

“This year has been really awesome. I’ve had a lot of support from parents. ‘How can we help you? What about fundraising?’ That has been really helpful in the transition.”

The key, Johnson said, is communication.

There are 13 new coaches this year in the 4A and 3A GSHLs in football, volleyball, girls soccer, boys basketball, girls basketball, baseball, softball, and boys soccer. More in the smaller schools, too. And even more when adding the “individual” sports.

Not all of them can win it all this season. But all can provide a quality education and fun experience.

A positive support system would go a long way toward that.

Paul Valencia covers high school sports for The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-735-4557 or e-mail at paul.valencia@columbian.com. Follow him on Twitter @360paulv

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