Bad Blood: what the coaches say

By JOEY KNIGHT
Published June 12, 2007

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The Times contacted 18 longtime bay area prep coaches and officials (those who have been head coaches or officiated at least 20 years) and posed this question: Are parents tougher to deal with these days, easier to deal with or about the same? Here are the results and some coaches' comments:

-- 8 say parents have become tougher to deal with

-- 7 say they have never had a major problem with the parents they deal with

-- 3 say parents are "different" nowadays

-- 0 say parents have become easier to deal with

*** 

Randy Dagostino

Berkeley Prep volleyball

"I think volleyball is probably a little different than a lot of the sports where parents may have played it or at least been around it growing up as athletes. I still think volleyball for most parents is still something they enjoy watching their kids do, but are still removed from the intricacies of the sport. They may not question moves or decisions because they're just not familiar with it."

Jack Coit

Clearwater boys basketball

"I think the thing that's changed the most is that most of the kids in the past used to play the game because they loved it and the parents accepted that. Now I think the parents are expecting to get more out of the game, like a scholarship."

Earl Garcia

Hillsborough football

"My theory is, when I got into this game 33 years ago, parents were appreciative - generically speaking - that there were coaches out there working with their sons and helping them learn the facts of life off the field. Now if their kids don't get scholarships or major-league contracts, we haven't done our job. Parents have become player agents."

Craig Milburn

Zephyrhills athletic director, softball

"I consider myself to be a fair coach and by that I mean conscious of getting all the kids to play. It just seems no matter how you do it anymore, you don't please people. I want to win, but I'm conscious of making sure people get playing time."

Frank Permuy

Gaither baseball

"They're more interested in their kids' future, I would think. Back in the old days, because there were less scholarships and stuff available, there wasn't as much interest. ... Now with AAU and stuff, they're more involved. Because they're more interested in their kids' future, it's a little more difficult. They think we pass out the scholarships."

Joe Fenlon

Tampa Prep boys basketball

"I think 20-some odd years ago, when I started, parents were just really happy their kids were getting exercise and playing. I don't think parents really looked at their kids as they were going to be a college athlete at the end of their senior year. I think more and more families, because they've invested so much time and money up to this point, would like to see some bang for their buck."

John Crumbley

Ex-Jesuit baseball, Jesuit boys golf and AD

"I just think that, without giving specific examples, people sue for the craziest things. People transfer students because they're not playing enough. People transfer for whatever. There's a lot less commitment to beating somebody ahead of you. There's a lot less commitment to sticking it out and being a part of a team."

Ernie Chatman

Hernando boys cross country, local umpire

"A lot of times parents really don't care if (their child) is the best player or not, they just want them on the field playing. Because if you're not playing, you don't get a chance to be seen by somebody."

John Sedlack

River Ridge boys basketball

"Maybe pretty soon we'll be like Europe where we have to put cages around the fields or around the courts. ...But I always try to keep in mind, parents love their kids."

Sue Vien

Ridgewood girls track and field

"I have to say in the sport that I coach, I really don't have a lot of situations where parents get involved in a negative way. ...The reason being, I think, is that my sport is not one that is subjective. You and I step up to the line to race, if you beat me you're going to be starting because you're obviously the faster runner."

Those surveyed

Hernando - Ernie Chatman (Hernando boys cross country, umpire); Hillsborough - Doug Aplin (Chamberlain boys basketball), Russ Cozart (Brandon wrestling), Randy Dagostino (Berkeley Prep volleyball), John Crumbley (Jesuit boys golf, AD), Joe Fenlon (Tampa Prep boys basketball), Earl Garcia (Hillsborough football), Bonnie Hess (Bloomingdale volleyball), Frank Permuy (Gaither baseball), Billy Turner (Chamberlain football); Pasco - Eric Arens (Pasco County umpire), Craig Milburn (Zephyrhills softball, AD), John Sedlack (River Ridge boys basketball), Sue Vien (Ridgewood girls track and field); Pinellas - Dave Bintz (Calvary Christian boys basketball), Jack Coit (Clearwater boys basketball), Phil Hayford (Shorecrest football), Sam Roper (Seminole football)

[Last modified June 12, 2007, 10:18:33]