Speaking of stdt mgrs: As head coach in xc and track at Hogan High vallejo ca, I had just such a "cracker jack" student manager: Sean Melton, quick witted rambunctious undersized "leprachaun" of a guy. Bright-eyed and bushy tailed, this little guy managed what little equipment we had, followed me around like an eager puppy, helped individual team members w any of their needs, took notes, set up hurdles, and many other tasks. Underappreciated and overworked, but this kid loved it! One time at our meet with cross town rival Vallejo High, a powerhouse of sprinters and relays! Sean kept a literally running score after each event and updated me to the minute. In the closing minutes, lil sean raced up to me with the news that it was "all tied up, and depended on the last event, the two-mile""!. Because of that info I could talk one of my 800 guys to jump in the two--a sub 2 guy. For the points, because big V only had a couple mediocre guys on deck. With our three, two sub 10 guys and our last minute 800 recruit in his first ever 2-who beat both their guys w about a 10:10. We won the meet on that. Thats a manager!
so heres the thing: a couple years later Sean was accused and convicted of raping and murdering a 6 year old boy, Jeremy Stone and hauled off. I was shocked and confused. It just didnt feel right--fora lot of reasons! I got nowhere advocating informally for him. And it was only years later that the case broke and th real creepy culprit was identified and apprehended. Sorry for the long story, but I just wanted to mention this fine young man, unjustly punished. And to say my reason for believing in him was based on my relationship w him as coach-to-student manager. And that was enough: his performance, heart, feet, and sharp brain, made him every bit as valuable and praiseworthy as any coaching assistant I ever knew or worked with. Apologies and respect to him. Coach E.