Teaching is an insanely stressful job on its own, so coaching on top of that is a lot to handle. The ability to multitask takes skills most people are unable to master, but the coaches of Lake Highlands High school are not most people.
Coaching is a great opportunity for both coaches and players because it allows them to connect with each other, learn brand new skills, and enjoy the sport they participate in.
“I love getting to build relationships with students that I wouldn’t normally get to know,” said volleyball and basketball coach Averi Adams, who teaches Art.
“I really enjoy watching my players make new friends with their teammates, push themselves to do hard workouts, and grow as an athlete.”
When you add teaching to the equation though, things could get a little more tricky.
“I think at times it can be difficult balancing the two when we are in season and not home a lot to work on school things. It takes a lot of discipline to manage our time in order to make sure we are taking care of our teams and what we need to do to prepare for the season as well as taking the time that is necessary to prepare for class each day,” Adams noted.
On the bright side, there is an overlap between the two.
“Coaching is teaching. I see myself as a teacher first, but coaching is the same thing. You are teaching the game of football and how to play it. There is no difference,” stated James Tackett, a track and football coach who teaches digital media and engineering.
To add to that, parts of one job help with the other. This allows teachers to further excel in both career paths.
“I think coaching has helped with my teaching because it keeps me in a routine, kind of like practice,” said Cory Tucker, softball coach and ESL World History teacher. ”You have to come up with a practice plan to have an efficient practice and it is the same in the classroom. You need to have a plan before class starts so you can get the most of your time with the students.”
That doesn’t mean double duty doesn’t have its downsides. Because tennis season is in the fall, coach Sunny Carroum has to be absent during some of her math classes, which she expressed is hard for her.
“The tennis seasons in the fall required me to be absent quite a bit and that is hard when I miss so much class time with my math classes,” added Carroum.
These teachers make their best effort every single day whether it’s in the classroom or on the field. There is an important lesson these coaches are teaching without even realizing: even when it seems stressful, anything is possible with perseverance and effort.
