Honoring Our Coaches
Dear Friends,
Recently, a guest speaker in the department of athletics described our coaches as part of the “five percent.” He explained that only five percent (or less) of college student-athletes go on to make a profession of their sport. You don’t get into coaching unless you are gung-ho about sports, just as you wouldn’t dream of being a doctor unless you were keenly interested in medicine. This fact is key to understanding the passion of our coaches for Oberlin athletics, and how their mindset differs from the majority of our student-athletes.
Coaching is a frequently misunderstood profession. Many observers of college athletics and even some participants do not fully appreciate all that goes into being a successful coach. During my time as a student-athlete, I remember thinking that my coach probably spent his day planning our workouts before showing up at practice, then making a few recruiting calls, and heading home for the evening. When I went to work for him a few years after graduation, I began to understand the extraordinary administrative responsibility coaches bear, and that as athletes we likely saw no more than a third of what really went on with the coaching staff.
At Oberlin College, the head coaching duties also extend far beyond practices and games. Our coaches hold high standards for their programs, and they perform several duties beyond what is typically seen by fans, student-athletes, and parents. Let me give you a few examples.
Oberlin coaches are expected to spend a significant amount of time each week recruiting prospective student-athletes. One of our coaches described a typical week as follows: once practice ends (about 6:30 each night), he heads home to have dinner with his family and put his children to bed. Four nights per week, he phones 10-15 prospects from 8:00 to 11:00 to promote Oberlin and answer their questions about the college and the team. This process repeats itself over and over, as once one recruiting class deposits for Oberlin, another one must be recruited for the following year.
Why is recruiting important? The competition for top high school scholars with athletic talent is fierce. Many of the top liberal arts colleges in the country also support the best competitive programs in Division III athletics, and we want to follow that tradition. If Oberlin is to maintain (and improve) its position among the leaders of liberal arts education, it must compete with top institutions for prospective students, many of whom are passionate about athletics.
Coaches are also expected to have a working understanding of the NCAA Division III Manual. The manual is 308 pages of philosophy statements, rules, bylaws, and interpretations that govern NCAA-member institutions. Our coaches are tested on the material in the manual each August, and they must take this examination to be certified by the NCAA as a coach and recruiter.
The 14 head coaches for our 22 sports share responsibility in managing a significant operations budget. Team travel arrangements, equipment purchases, and recruiting trips are among the expenses incurred by each sport. Coaches must plan for these expenses, reconcile their budgets, and submit expense reports for each activity. We believe strongly in our fiscal responsibility to the college, especially in times of economic stress. Our coaches are asked to stretch each dollar and make wise choices with their budgets so that our department can play the proper role in helping the college manage its money.
Our head coaches also teach nearly 60 percent of the physical education activity courses offered at Oberlin, while our assistant coaches, staff, and adjuncts teach the remainder. Teaching is a vital component of the liberal arts and Division III model. Head coaches typically teach 3-4 courses per year, in addition to the teaching that occurs on the varsity practice field.
I probably could go on for pages about what our coaches do each day – meeting with and mentoring student-athletes, engaging alumni, serving on college committees, providing game management at our varsity contests, and all of the prep work for practice and games – but I think you get the idea.
Next time you see one of our coaches, take a moment to thank them for the service they provide to the college. Much of what they do is unseen but essential to the long-term success of Oberlin, and many of them work extremely hard in an effort to improve their program. Such commitment deserves your respect … it sure has mine!
Have a wonderful spring – we hope to see you on campus for a game, a workout, or a reunion. Go Yeo!
Joe Karlgaard
The Delta Lodge Director of Athletics and Physical Education
Previous Director's Chair Articles
June 2009
May 2009
January 2009
June 2008
August 2008
