Coach Garrick was my high school basketball coach and has had a very successful career in coaching. He has been involved in coaching for over 20 years. I played for him, have coached with him and have learned a lot from him.  

1) Why did you become a coach?

Coaching allowed me to continue to be involved in athletic competition and to teach life lessons to young people through high school sports.

2) How do you motivate your players?

I challenge my players to work harder than their opponents in their preparation for athletic contests.  They are taught that hard work and attention to detail are the most important components to being successful not only in athletics but throughout their daily lives.

3) What does success mean to you?

Improvement through proper preparation and work ethic is the greatest success that athletes can achieve.  As a coach, if your team has adopted great practice habits, game preparation, and a willingness to be coached, you have been successful.

4) What is your proudest moment in your coaching career?

My proudest moment occurred when an ex-player was struggling in life after high school.  He was having difficulty with his job and financial situation.  He told me that one of the things that helped him through the tough times was the lessons he learned while playing for me.  He remembered how as a team we went through tough times but continued to work hard and fight through it.

5) What is the most difficult part of coaching high school sports?

The most difficult part of coaching is balancing the success of the team with the individual egos of the players and their parents.

6) Do you have any advice for a younger coach?

My best advice to a young coach would be to always try to do what you think is best for the team, never sacrifice your principles, and keep the criticism of others in perspective.