Dreams becoming reality

Now that my basketball career as a player has ended, I can't wait to begin using basketball as a tool in other kid's lives. Being a coach has always been a dream of mine and now it's sort of surreal that I'm "grown up" enough for that dream to become a reality. My favorite team growing up has always been the Tennessee Lady Volunteers and the only coach that they have had since I was born was my coaching idol, Pat Summitt. I have followed and loved the Lady Vols since I can remember. My favorite players are former Vols, Candace Parker, Chamique Holdclaw, Tamika Catchings, Michelle Marciniak, Kara Lawson, Sidney Spencer, Shanna Crossley (Zolman), just to name a few. I have probably every book that Pat Summitt has written and books about Tennessee womens basketball. You could say I'm a pretty big fan. My family won't watch a Tennessee game with me because I yell at the tv too much. But needless to say, when I become a coach, there's no better model to me than Pat. She has more victories than any coach in the history of college basketball, men's or womens. Her intensity is what I love most about her. She gets some of the best players in the country who have probably been able to play however they've wanted for all their lives to buy into her system and do it effectively. It was interesting this year seeing a Cincinnati basketball player that I played with and against for two years in high school, Amber Gray go to Tennessee. She did a great job for the Lady Vols even in a struggling year where the team's roster included one senior, four sophomores, and seven freshmen. I've looked now into becoming a coach in a lot of different venues, not having decided which one I want to be exactly yet. The high school level brings talented, skilled players that I can then hone their skills and prepare them for the college game. I loved the high school level the best as a player because the freedom and fun that existed in the game. There wasn't as much stress on classes, schoolwork, making money and the real-life struggles and headaches experienced when you're growing up. It's sort of their last years as a child before they enter adulthood and as a coach, I can be a part of that maturation and a mentor to the girls. Then, there's recreational teams, elementary age girls that need fun, spirited coaches that can teach them skills but make it fun and enjoyable. I would enjoy doing this because the kids are so cute and still want to be molded and taught. I know it can be sometimes hard to change skills and habits of 16, 17, 18 year old girls in high school who have done the same things the same way for a long time. Coaching little kids is something I know I would be good at and would definitely enjoy. It would definitely teach me some patience too! The other area of sport that I have looked into is coaching and helping with the Special Olympics. At the YMCA where I work, I have had the privilege of working with some amazing kids. One of them is my buddy Ian who is 9 years old. Ian has cerebral palsy and cannot talk but boy that doesn't mean he doesn't let you know what he's feeling! I spent an entire summer with Ian, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Every day, we learned more and more from each other. He amazed me with things he could do and the way he interacted with other kids and the way they responded to and embraced him was really special to see. That summer brought me the most joy I have ever felt. Even in his wheelchair, throughout the summer, Ian and I played kickball, water dodgeball, went bowling at a bowling alley, and went swimming. The joy and passion that I felt that summer for work, especially working with Ian has never been forgotten and I think about getting involved as a coach with the Special Olympics and meeting all kinds of kids and people just like Ian. It excites me because I know that it's something that I am good at, something that I enjoy immensely and I get to serve and help others. Regardless of where I end up coaching in the near future, I am determined to become involved with special needs children and give back to them the love that I felt when I was growing up from my parents, my coaches, my teachers and everyone that has shaped me into the person I've become today.