zxcvxzcv wrote:
Some of the complaints I read about just indicated that college athletes, like college students in general, are often not mature enough to be taking care of themselves, apart from their parents and home environments, at that age. You see constant bad decisions by college students and with some of these athletes, there was just no ability to handle adversity, to get enough sleep, to eat well, to not party, and to be ready for practice.
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Yes.
NCAA coaches develop humans. They launch HS teenagers into adulthood. This is college coaching. Yes this includes life skills and guidance. Grades tanking? Coach needs to know and refer you to academic resources so you remain eligible. Feeling suicidal? Coach needs to know and to refer you (or physically take you) to health care. Parents divorcing? Roommate on heroin? Pregnant? Cheated on your bf/gf on the team? Feeling unsafe being gay? Eating disorder? This is college coaching.
And generations change... they reliably get soft and needy compared to “when we were 18.” Also part of college coaching. NCAA coaches willingly adapt or they can move on.
NCAA coaches need to have the ability to coach 14 males and 14 females to have a combined cross country program. Not 3. Yes, obviously focus on the elites, but the whole team includes the also-rans.
Transfers. Coaches accepting transfers are also accepting the associated baggage. What happened that those athletes are transferring? Did they fail to evaluate their fit with the first college program? Did they fail to connect? Are they getting it right this second time? The answer is sometimes yes, sometimes no. Recruit well. Ensure the fit. “OMG you coach Legat? Then I will definitely do well here [as a transfer walk on]!” Mmmm no.
Coaches who just want to train self-motivated, mature athletes should coach elites.