Interview with Coach Ellis of Mount Baker High School
For this assignment I interviewed my old basketball coach at Mount Baker HS. She is still the varsity girls coach there, and is doing a wonderful job. I asked her a series of questions and she answered them wondergfully.
Q 1: What made you want to be a basketball coach, let alone a coach? Did you have anyone who inspired you, or someone who guided you?
A 1: I wanted to be a basketball coach because I LOVE the sport. I have played since I can remember and I enjoy being around others with the same passion I have for the sport. I started coaching because an AAU program was getting started in Ferndale and I volunteered to help get it started.
Q 2: Did you go to school to be a coach, or do you have a degree in the health, or physical education or sports field?
A 2: I did not go to school to be a coach and have never had any interest in being a teacher.
Q 3: Why did you choose to coach at the high school level, and why did you choose Mt. Baker HS? Do you ever want to coach at a higher level?
A 3: I coached at the 7th and 8th grade level before running into an old teammate of mine at a basektball game. She was coaching for a local team and it made me think it may be something I would like to do. We coached for several years together until I decided that I wanted to have a program of my own. I actually applied for Mount Baker and then withdrew my name because of the distance it is from where I live. When I called to withdraw my application, the AD asked if I would just come to the campus for a visit. I did and as soon as I walked out of there I totally wanted to be a part of basketball at Mount Baker. I don't think I chose Mount Baker - it sort of chose me - it just felt really good to be there. When I was younger I thought I may want to coach at a higher level but as I get older I am not willing to make the changes and sacrifices it takes to move on. I would not be willing to move for a coaching job and I love Mount Baker!
Q 4: What do you find the hardest thing about coaching, and what do you find is the easiest thing?
A 4: The hardest thing about coaching is trying to motivate kids to reach their potential. The easiest thing is to find a reason to show up every day and give it my best - I love the sport I coach and the players are great.
Q 5: How do you deal with the parents of your players, or if the players have any issues?
A 5: I have not had a lot of issues from parents in my career. I have had one season where things were super tough. I don't know that I handled things well - if I had it to do over, I would have kept less players and made teams smaller. When you have a long bench & kids that are not participating it is tough for everyone to feel like they are important.
Q 6: Are you happy with your career choice?
A 6: I have no regrets in regards to my choice to be a basketball coach. I have had so many great times and am encouraged by the opportunity to make a difference in a girls life through sports.
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Comments
I love the answer to the last question. All of us who are coaches or are desiring to be coaches should realize that we are and will be making a difference in the players lives, either good or bad. I believe once we recognize this we can be even better coaches, because we are putting the players needs first.
I like how she feels like the school chose her. I was very surprised to see that she was never interested in teaching, I find that to be odd because all of the coaches I think of were also teachers for the most part, or if they were, it was when I was younger and playing so they were more of parents. I just found that to be interesting because sports are like coaching. Great answers overall, and great questions. Nice work.
The questions you asked her made me feel like i know what kind of coach she is.Like the question are you happy with your career choice and what made you want to be a coach? Very good interview a good variety of questions as well.