A Season of Growth — For All of Us

Over the past two and a half months, I’ve had the privilege of coaching my daughter’s basketball team. Coaching has always been something I enjoy, but this season in particular reminded me just how meaningful it can be — not only for the players, but for me as well.

I’ve been fortunate to coach many of these girls since they were much younger. As they’ve grown, so have their skills, confidence, and understanding of the game. Naturally, our biggest rivals have improved as well, and what used to be evenly matched battles have, in recent years, tilted slightly in their favor.

This season tested us in many ways. We lost a game early that we shouldn’t have, and we fell twice to our rivals. Still, the team stayed committed, worked hard, and earned a spot in the playoffs. After finishing third in the regular season, we faced a tough semifinal matchup against a team we had split with earlier in the year. We built a big lead heading into the fourth quarter and managed to hold on for a two-point win — but the celebration didn’t go quite as planned.

During that game, I let my frustration get the best of me and delivered a message to one of my players in a way that disappointed her, her parents, and myself. It wasn’t what I said, but how I said it. My tone — not my words — was the problem. I left the gym that night knowing we were heading to the finals, yet instead of feeling joy, I felt the weight of how I had handled that moment.

I knew I had some work to do — not on the court, but within the team’s chemistry. My first step was accountability. I immediately apologized to the player face-to-face right after the game. I then sought out her parents. I spoke with her mother and arranged a time to talk with her father the very next day. When we met, I explained that my delivery had been wrong and offered a sincere apology. What followed was a great conversation — not just about that moment, but about basketball, competition, and growth.

Later that evening, I addressed the entire team. I’ve always tried to lead with transparency and honesty. When I make a mistake, I own it. I expect accountability from my players, and I believe they deserve the same from me. Once I cleared the air, we turned our focus back to basketball.

With two days before the finals, I decided to shift our practices. Instead of scrimmages or competitive drills, we worked on fundamentals — skills, timing, and execution of our offenses, defenses, press, and press breaks. More importantly, I wanted the girls to enjoy being together and to play loose and confident. To end practice, I added something fun: long-distance shooting contests from about 30 feet out. The girls loved it. It lightened the mood, sparked laughter, and reminded everyone why we love the game.

Two days later, we played for the championship — and we won.

Looking back, I’m proud not just of the victory, but of how we got there. This experience reminded me that coaching is about more than X’s and O’s; it’s about relationships, trust, and leadership. I learned that admitting mistakes doesn’t weaken a coach’s voice — it strengthens it. By addressing the issue head-on and bringing positivity back into the gym, I believe I helped our team reconnect, refocus, and rise together.

In the end, this season taught me as much as it taught them. And that, to me, is what coaching is all about.