Does your assistant coach have your back? You better hope so. I just got off the phone with a colleague who quit coaching last week. The final straw was sabotage by the assistant coach. Granted, the entire season was fraught with challenges and upheaval – difficulty with a star player, an unsupportive administration and more than the usual amount of complaining by players and parents. Despite all that went on, the team was successful on the court and the head coach earned conference coach-of-the-year honors for the second year in a row.
One of my coaching mentors, Rolland Todd always warns head coaches that “there’s often more mischief with assistant coaches than with players.” What does sabotage and mischief look like? Holding team meetings and not telling the head coach, not backing up the head coach in front of the team, going to the administration behind the head coaches back, siding with players and calling the head coach out in front of the team.
I know all too well the “tight rope” an assistant must walk between supporting the head coach and being there for the athletes. I was an assistant coach for a good portion of my coaching career.
So what should a head coach do to avoid the potential pitfalls with assistants? Do the hard work on the front end in order to minimize hassles down the road. This includes the following:
• Spend time evaluating your own strengths and weaknesses.
• Look to hire folks who are strong in areas where you’re weak.
• Write a detailed assistant coach job description.
• Do your due diligence before hiring someone. Talk to coaches the person has played for and worked for. Talk to athletes who have played for them.
• Have prospective assistants submit a written coaching philosophy as part of the screening process.
• Give a copy of your coaching philosophy to all potential candidates.
• Write out and ask thoughtful interview questions. Here are some samples:
1. What qualities would you look for if you were hiring an assistant coach?
2. What are your strengths and weaknesses as a coach?
3. What is the role of the assistant in building a program?
4. Why do you feel you’re the best person for the job?
5. How would you deal with a player that came to you complaining about the head coach?
• The day you hire someone, ask them to articulate their expectations of you and of themselves. Then explain your expectations of them and of yourself. This way you are on the same page from the beginning.
• Have your assistant(s) introduce themselves in person to the team. Have them discuss their philosophy and their role as an assistant.
• Clearly define roles and responsibilities on the coaching staff.
• Make it very clear where and when “the buck stops with you.”
• Meet with your assistant(s) on a regular basis to make sure everyone is on the same page.
• Implement an evaluation process at the end of each season where you produce feedback to your assistants and vice versa.
Yes, there’s a lot of work involved. Remember – the more you do on the front end the less you have to do on the back end.
