Hire The Right People

As the adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Taking the time to hire the right coaches is critical to lessening conflicts. You need to find someone who is a good fit with your program. A bad fit, like a tight shoe, will chafe until it blisters. Then you will have larger issues to deal with.

Once a new coach is on board, clearly establish your expectations. One important area to go over is behavior. Be really specific. Another topic to talk about is vision and philosophy. At the University of Indianapolis, our goal is to create a positive experience for the student-athlete. The ideal we embrace as an NCAA Division II school is to maintain a balance among scholarship, athletics, and service. We accept no less than integrity, good sportsmanship, respectful behavior, and professional conduct from staff and athletes alike. We are very clear and consistent about expressing those expectations right from the start.

We also explain to new hires that everyone here is valued equally. All of our athletes are important, which means that no team, player, or coach is above the rest. We charge admission for all competitions, not just basketball and football, because it sends the message to our student-athletes that their sport is valued as much as any other. 

It is important that the new coach be in alignment with that attitude up front.

—The Coaching and Leadership Journal

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