[A Pennsylvania Coach]

Quick background for those of you who have never heard of me:

I registered here about five years ago, and at one time posted somewhat regularly. I was back for a few months last winter then disappeared again.

I have been a basketball coach since 1996. My friend's father got the varsity girls' job at my alma mater and drafted me to be a volunteer assistant. Midway through the first season he had to fire the JV coach and I got thrust into the role. I kept that job for two more years, then did my last year there as varsity assistant.

From there, I took a head coach job at a neighboring school. We did some good things there (quick brag: We got the first ever playoff win at that school, and I'm the winningest coach in their history) but I thought I was ready to take a break from coaching, so I resigned after four years there.

I passed the officiating test that June (97!) with plans to go that route for some undetermined period of time, but one of my good friends talked me into an assistant coach job that I've had for the last three years instead. He hung it up this spring with his second child on the way. I got engaged and work has gotten busier, so I decided to exit too. I'm sure I could've had that job. The job at my alma mater was open also, and that got consideration, but I decided the time was right to take some amount of time away from it. The passion definitely faded a little, and being in charge of a program isn't something that can be done with 80% desire or effort.

So after 11 years of coaching, I'm out for now. I realized I was going to miss the money, especially with the wedding coming up next summer, so I decided to give officiating a real go. I had to wait until October to take the test again, so by the time I got in the chapter, assignments for the HS season have been made. However, I've picked up quite a few turn-backs (one guy broke his ankle a couple weeks ago so I got some more games) and my schedule is starting to fill up. I have about a dozen each JV and JH games so far. I've got quite a few 5th/6th grade travel league games, and I expect to get a decent CYO schedule as well.

I'm pretty anxious to get started. I've been working out. I have all the gear. I've been to one chapter clinic and to our first meeting of the season which is mostly rules review. I've got two V/JV scrimmages on upcoming Saturdays. Of course, one of them is the team I coached last year, so that will be sufficiently weird.

Anyway, thanks to everyone here for all their thoughts over the years. I've been lurking for a few weeks and I'm glad to see so many of the same folks frequent the board. Wish me luck!