Coach Garrett Daniel wakes up before dawn, way earlier than most West Ottawans. He doesn’t have a sick child, he doesn’t have trouble sleeping and he doesn’t have to drive far to school. He’s the only one awake in his household. He’s got plans to make for his varsity rugby team and his classes. This is the only time he gets.
Teachers who are also fulltime varsity coaches love what they do. They get to know their students on a personal level when they are on the same team with them. Showing the same interest, they get to see the growth of their students not only academically but also in terms of character, teamwork, and resilience. Plus, they get to stay involved with a sport they love.
Chris Knoll has been a well-respected teacher at West Ottawa for thirty-nine years, and a coach for twenty- eight. His way of balance is quite simple. “An old coach told me long ago explaining that ‘Coaching takes the edge off of teaching.’ and he was right! Coaching HELPS my teaching by giving me insight into students’ lives. I balance the responsibilities by delegating to my captains and my assistant coach,” Knoll said.
He shares that it’s really just a matter of organizing everything and balancing the time involved. “Grading student work takes priority over planning workouts, but if there is time, then both are possible,” Knoll said.
Coach Rick Becker has been part of the WO family for twenty- eight years. He’s coached football and basketball during those years, and lacrosse for twenty. He says that balance is the key to success, but learning that balance may be difficult, especially when in season. “Many HS coaches are in 6-7 days a week in season and varsity coaches are busy with workouts, camps, clinics, meetings, etc. out of season,” Becker said.
He goes on to say that another key is good partnerships and support. “In season, I rely on many to help me keep a good balance, especially since teaching is my primary job. Colleagues and administrators are crucial partners in assisting me and being flexible to accommodate any special circumstances that arise with coaching. Although having a supportive wife and family is imperative,” Becker said.
Becker says that his biggest step is to keep his priorities in order, and that’s how it helps him maintain balance. “I guess another way to say it is I try to keep the main thing the main thing- and that’s teaching. Then my passion for educational athletics, love of the game, and gratification from establishing relationships with student-athletes fuels me to bring more energy, and time, to the athletic arena,” Becker said.
Coach Sean Bateman coaches varsity boys baseball. He’s been teaching at West Ottawa for twenty-two years and has coached baseball for ten. This will be his first year as varsity coach. He shares that it takes a lot of work and balance to be successful. “Being a teacher and a coach has many challenges. It is vital to have great time management skills and maximize the time you spend in the classroom and on the field without wasting time. Therefore you need to be organized and prepared and ready to teach and coach each day,” Bateman said.
Bateman also agrees that a key to achievement is the people you include yourself with. “You also have to have an amazing group of coworkers at school and an incredible coaching staff to divide and conquer. Surrounding yourself with great people will push you to be your best and the results will show with your students and players both in the classroom and on the field. It is also important to balance time with your family and the things that you love to do. Blocking out time for your family and self is positive for your mental health and gets you recharged to be at your best for your students and players each week,” said Bateman.
Dan Blake has been teaching at West Ottawa for twenty- two years, a cross country and track coach for twenty. “It does take quite a bit to balance teaching and coaching. With coaching, I have to leave right after school most of the school year. In order to get done with my school work- I often show up early to school (7 am) to prepare for the day, stay late after practices, and come into the school at home on Sunday afternoons,” Blake said.
A supportive partner seems like the key to most. Blake shares that his wife is one of the reasons why he is successful as both a coach and a teacher. “I also have a wife who is quite flexible with plans and it takes good, consistent communication between the two of us as we manage dinner time, our kids’ events, and time together. There’s a lot to balance, but I enjoy the ebb and flow of it all,” Blake said.
Brent Wyckoff started teaching thirty- four years ago; this spring will be his thirty- six season (he started coaching during the 1988-89 school year). “Well, it’s much easier now than it used to be – for over 20 years I coached both the varsity boys soccer in the fall and the varsity girls soccer in the spring, plus this was at the same time when my kids were growing up, from elementary to high school.” He informs that during these years, he coached both of his sons’ soccer club teams.
“So I would have varsity practice until 5:00, practice with one son’s team from 5:15-6:15, then practice with my other son’s team from 6:30-7:30…CRAZY! This was my schedule two nights a week, then on 2-3 different nights I would be coaching games. During this time, and even now, I promised myself not to bring work home (except during busy times of the semester, progress reports, end of semester, exams). To accomplish this, I went to school very early (5:30-6:30 am) every day to grade, plan, etc. This allowed me to actually be with my family after school/practice/games and give them my fullest attention. This is a habit I still practice (for the most part) today, even with my son’s being grown, out of college, and living their adult lives (so I make the most of the time I have with my wife),” Wyckoff said.
As most teachers already said, it takes a lot to do both coaching and teaching. Wyckoff says “Without question, balancing being a teacher and coach is difficult – both aspects take a lot of time, planning, commitment, relationship building, worry and are often full of surprises, ones that frequently bring more work, more responsibilities, etc.”
When asked to share a memory that was created along the years, he has much to share. “It’s very difficult to pick a favorite memory as most of them are one to one breakthroughs that athletes have. But, from a team perspective here are a few: Girls Team – Winning the District championship in overtime off a ridiculous head ball, winning another district title in penalty kicks on our 15th kicker, making it to the state quarterfinals after starting the season with 3 consecutive losses. Boys: Having the chance to coach my kids, winning a district championship and advancing to the regional finals after finishing the regular season with a 6-8-3 record,” Wyckoff said.
This dual engagement allows for a unique harmony, as coaches instill discipline, teamwork, and resilience in their athletes. The symbiotic relationship between teaching and coaching contributes to a well-rounded educational experience, fostering both intellectual and physical development among students. The commitment of these multirole educators illustrates the essential connection between academics and athletics in shaping well-rounded individuals. Varsity coaches have a tough job balancing coaching and teaching. To make it work, they delegate tasks to assistant coaches and find ways to adapt and manage their time efficiently, aiming to create a balanced environment where both teaching and coaching can thrive and contribute to their student’s overall development.
