[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

From a historical perspective, the Head Coach have very little standing in the game. It is the Captain of the team that is important. The rule allowing the coach to talk to his players during a timeout and the intermissions between the first and second and third and fourth quarters have only been around since the later 1940's. The most important thing that I want the captains to know is that they and not the Head Coach is in charge of the team, i.e., the players on the court, as well as everybody (From the Head Coach to the Priest, Rabbi, and Nun sitting at the end of the bench.) on the bench. If I have a problem I am going to come to them for help.

Captians do not have realize how much power over the team they really have. I have a true story to prove my point. I am the R in the 1993 Michigan AAU Girls' 14U Championship Game, the winner goes to the National Tournament. The Head Coach of Team B is starting to become a real pain in the neck. As the Team B's Captain is dribbling the ball up the court, I tell her that she needs to get her Head Coach under control. Without missing a dribble she yells loud enough for everybody (about 200 people) in the gym to hear: "Dad, shut-up, you are embarassing me." I nearly swallowed my whistle. But we did not hear a word from him the rest of the game.

MTD, Sr.