Interview with Nick Gross Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization VP  Saipan 2/1/10

1.  How long have you been coaching organized sports?     15 yrs.

2. How long have you coached here on the Island?     7 yrs.

3. What sport/sports have you coached and currently coach?

Football, baseball, basketball, wrestling, track & field, outrigger canoe, & volleyball.  Over the course of the last 7 years I have coached flag-football, track & field, volleyball, basketball, and outrigger canoe.  I am currently the VP of Marianas interscholastic sports organization (MISO), est. 2007.  The board and myself organize all of the interscholastic athletic programs offered through the public school system, so unfortunately I’m unable to do much coaching.

4. Where have you coached and at what level (elementary, middle, high school, college, club, national teams, etc)?

I began coaching in high school in eastern Montana in the 90’s.  Mostly, baseball, basketball, and wrestling for the elementary and junior high age kids.  While attending college at Dickinson State University I worked as a student assistant coach my 5th year working with the running backs for the football team.  Since moving to Saipan in August of 2003 I’ve coached numerous high school athletics.

5. What ages do you work with in Saipan?  

 MISO organizes athletics for the junior high and secondary school level.

6. What things do you enjoy most about coaching on the island?     

The “laid back” attitude of the athletes, parents, and community.  Most of the athletes haven’t been coached very much so they are very “raw”, making the coaching a challenge as well as very rewarding.

7. What do you find most frastrating about coaching on the island?

The “laid back” attitude of the athletes, parents, and community.  Most of the athletes haven’t been coached very much so they are very “raw”, making the coaching a challenge as well as very rewarding.  The idea of “interscholastic athletics” is still fairly new as the creation of 2 of the 3 public high schools on island only came about in the year 2000, so building the programs in such a way that they don’t disintegrate the following year has been a real challenge.

8. What is your coaching philosophy?  What things are you hoping the students can learn from you?

At the level I deal with on island it is important to always remember that our student athletes are just that, STUDENT athletes.  I always stress the importance of education over the activity.  Other than that the consistent reinforcement of qualities such as positive self-esteem, character, discipline, sportsmanship, teamwork, mental toughness, and physical toughness are addressed both directly and indirectly in everything I do with my student athletes.

9. What involvement do the parents have here?

Some are better than others, but for the most part they stay very detached from the activity.  It is very difficult to get parents involved.  Not always, but typically.

10. What are the top two suggestions you would give to someone to be successful coaching here on Saipan?

Take most of what you’ve learned in the states and cut it in ½.  Then work on tiny bit and pieces for the next 5 years before you quite.  Then look back over those 5 years and figure out if its worth your time and effort to continue.  I think most will if they’ve given it everything they have.  Incredibly moving experience…at the pace of a snail.