Many young athletes dream of becoming the next Michael Jordan or Serena Williams of their sport. They will dedicate hours of their lives to practice and games in pursuit of this single goal.
Although few college athletes will continue on to play professionally after graduation, some athletes turn to coaching so they can stay involved with the sport they love.
Coaching allows graduates to pursue their love for a sport without playing.
Football and track and field coach Carleton McGrady said participating on the University of Findlay’s football and track teams allowed him to clear his mind.
“Sometimes sports are a way to escape reality, whether it’s from an academic setting or something going on outside of school,” he explained.
Volleyball coach Kim Ranft said playing on The Ohio State University’s volleyball team gave her access to resources she wouldn’t have had otherwise.
“At a school as big as OSU, you can get lost pretty easily, especially coming from a small town like Bexley,” she explained. “The athletic department makes it super easy to navigate how to schedule, what to schedule and arranging study tables.”
Ranft said her coaches were involved in the team’s academics and emphasized maintaining good grades.
“If we didn’t turn in an assignment, they knew about it before it hit the gradebook,” she explained.
Boys golf, tennis and basketball coach Will Gingery also said being a student athlete motivated him to do well academically because of Wittenberg University’s strict eligibility requirement.
“If I didn’t have sports, I might’ve let my grades slip because I wouldn’t have had any desire or need for my grades to be decent,” Gingery explained.
He said the minimum GPA at Wittenberg was 2.0. If his grades dipped below that, he would be placed on academic probation and assigned mandatory study tables, Gingery added.
McGrady said he almost lost the eligibility to play because he fell behind on assignments.
“I came close to that point in college because I procrastinated,” he said. “I knew I’d ace all of my tests, so I didn’t do my homework.”
Gingery said creating and following a schedule in college was challenging, especially because he didn’t have his parents’ guidance.
“In college, you’re on your own,” he explained. “You could go to a party, hang out with friends or play Xbox. It was definitely harder to get on a strict schedule because you are your own boss at that point.”
Since he had a great relationship with his college football coach, he hired Gingery as an assistant after graduating from Wittenberg, he explained. He was thrilled to accept the position, Gingery added.
Similarly, McGrady said he also has a tight bond with his coach and frequently talks with him since he works close by.
“He’s like a second father to me,” he said. “He looked out for me when my father had to go overseas for war.”
Gingery said becoming a coach allowed him to see the game through a new perspective.
“As a player, you’re worried about yourself for the majority of the time; however, as a coach, you have to be in charge of everything in the game,” he explained.
Healthy relationships between coaches and athletes are vital when constructing a cohesive team, he added.
“It is very important to be able to relate to your student athletes,” Gingery explained. “I see a lot of older coaches who may know a lot about sports but aren’t necessarily as personable with their kids.”
McGrady said having trust in a coach and teammates is one of the most important qualities for a team to be successful.
“Every coach should have an open-door policy,” he added. “Athletes should feel like they can go to their coaches and be able to talk about anything.”
Ranft said there are many benefits of participating in a team sport at all levels, and she enjoys being part of a team more than anything.
“I love everything that a team gives young athletes: dedication, loyalty, teamwork and sportsmanship,” she said. “All of that stuff you can’t teach in a classroom.”
