Technicals: I received two technicals this season. That is unbelievable to me. I am a coach that tries to talk with the officials, I rarely get upset with them and I try to treat them in a way I would want to be treated. I officiate a little bit myself, so I know how hard of a job it can be. So, I will tell you what I did this year to get the technicals that I received. I did not use profanity at any time. #1 vs. Borden this year, I believed that one of their players committed a foul at mid-court in front of the official. After watching on tape, I could see that I was right, however, what I didn't see was our guy nudge him first....definite foul on HHS. As I told the official right in front of me that there was a foul (I did it with a lot of emotion), he turned and with equal emotion said "on both of them". I responded with "then call it on both of them then"....again with probably too much force. I was t'd up. The second one came at the sectional final. I felt the game wasn't being called consistently which it probably was being done so. I don't think officials can decide a game, but.....anyway. Out of my frustration, a foul occurred right in front of me and the ball bounced my way. What I was thinking of doing would have gotten me t'd up immediately, but after thinking about it, I flipped it to another official. Then I let the official know what I thought, again, with no profanity. He was talking back and I told him to give me a T. The off official asked me if I really wanted one, I said yes, and turned to sit down and then I heard the whistle blow.Winding down: When a season ends, other teams still are playing. I get inundated with coaches asking for copies of game tapes as they prepare for Regional. I do that, I stat the last few games and get the awards ready for awards night. Also, I then organize the players stats into the record book that I have accumulated through the years and built on from former coach Terry Rademacher. I will post these changes on our website if any are noticeable. Also, I love to go and watch games at this time of year. I will attend the 6th and 7th Region final in Louisville, I will attend the Regional at Seymour, the semi-state and State Finals, and I will go and watch one day of the Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. If we aren't playing, I love to watch games at this time of year. Finally, there are two coaching clinics/conventions that I will attend. Each Spring, the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association (the largest h.s. coaches association in the country) has their annual clinic at Lawrence North H.S. I will also attend the National Association of Basketball Coaches convention in Indianapolis which is held in conjunction with the Final Four in Indy.
Winding up: As everyone else turns to Spring sports and summer, I will begin almost immediately scheduling for Spring and summer. I will schedule some type of camp for our younger basketball players, and I will schedule where we will be going to play this summer. Already, I have tentatively scheduled trips for us at Purdue University, Indiana University, and Olney Central Jr. College in Illinois.
Odds and Ends: I will be heading to Europe this summer. After we finish with what we are doing, I will travel by plane (first time in my life) to Serbia to work a major camp there in Zlatibor. While there, I will visit with my friend Tane Spasev in his home country of Macedonia. I will also speak at another basketball camp at Lake Ohnid, Macedonia. I look forward to the experience because that is what life is about. Risk, getting out of your comfort zone.....
Coaching in Indiana is so much more than just the season, it almost never stops. There is always something to do, and when I feel that I don't enjoy that, I will probably step down. As of now, if they want me back next year, I will be there. I have changed so much throughout life as we all do, but the changes the last two years have made me a much different person. Maybe not as good of a coach, but a better person.
