BleacherCoaches.com

Here's a question.
Would you rather become a head coach at a program that is already established in its winning ways or would you rather become a head coach and build a program from the bottom up.

Can't wait to hear H-woods answer.

Well stated, HR.

Hollywood, I respect your athletic accomplishments and your knoweldge and experience of D1 football, but you're CRUSHING your character and credibility by posting the arrogant drivel that appears in this thread. C'mon, man, you can't be serious and you can't really be this cocky in real life.

Perhaps, W~T, you would like to share where Howie (your head coach) could be right now and has been at, yet he prefers the stability, benefits, etc. of the HS Head Job he has now in Basketball...I think that makes it perfectly clear.

I would rather coach at a program that has talent there Mr. Old School. I just prefer College because of the maturity level and competitive play. HS kids don't know how to do many things. I surely don't have to explain things to all of you. If you think I am a bad coach or what not just say so, doesn't hurt me any at all. I am doing fine and have many connections that none of you know about so I will be fine! Just don't hate, that is all I am saying

Just don't hate???? I think that's what you did to CHS and a bunch of other HS coaches...

No one is saying you are a bad coach. You haven't coached yet...how is anyone to know?

A good friend of mine, Howie Ruppert, is currently the head boys' basketball coach at Shaler Area HS.

Here's his chronological resume:

Assiatant HS boys hoops coach, St. Peter's Academy on Staten Island (2 years)

Head HS boys basketball coach and SS teacher, St. Peter's Academy, Staten Island (12 years)

Restricted earnings assistant, Seton Hall University under PJ Carlesimo (2 years)

Assistant coach with full responsibilities, Seton Hall University under PJ (4 years)

Head Coach at D3 Staten Island College (3 seasons)

Associate Head Coach, Duquesne University (under John Carroll, who, BTW was the Celtics head coach this past season) (6 seasons)

Head Coach, SS teacher, and AD, Northgate HS, Pittsburgh, PA (3 years)

Head Coach, SS teacher, Shaler Area HS (6 years)


According to Howie, who obviously has coached in the big time (one of his teams at Seton Hall made the Final 4), coaching "big time" isn't all its cracked up to be. Your livleyhood depends on 18-22 year olds who are less skilled athletically than hs kids as you say, but unfortunately sometimes less skilled socially, academically, and behaviorally than even hs kids.

As a college coach, the players that you recruit determine your fate.

Heck, Howie has had several opportunities to coach in the NBA under his friend PJ while PJ was at both Portland and at Golden State (as both an entry level advance scout where he'd make around $100K plus all travel expenses AND as a bench assistant where he'd be closer to $150-175K), but didn't want all the "stuff" that Hollywood thinks is "big time" Oh wait, Hollywood is talking D1 football, NOT the NFL...My bad!!!

Howie loves his job at Shaler and says its the best job he's ever had. Job security, no recruiting "games", no NCAA regs, etc. He's making around $80-85K, if you count his teaching salary, coaching salary, and money made on camps. True, the players aren't as skilled or talented as the players Howie had at the colleges he coached at, but it's sometimes even more rewarding to work with young kids and help them to be successful and to help them become D1 players. Howie has coached a dozen or so D1 players in his hs career.

D1 is not all its cracked up to be, Hollywood---The stark reality for you is that you'll likely be starting at the bottom charting plays, buckling chinstraps, and getting water for RichRod or one of the other "connections" you say you have for maybe $30-40K per year plus some free tuition for grad classes if you're lucky.

Then, IF you do well at that or if one of your "connections gives you a break, maybe you'll land a position coach in a few seasons for a whopping $50-60K per year only IF you're at a major D1...

...All this with a HUGE risk where you'd be a 2-9 season away from getting canned and starting all over again.

Sounds pretty glamorous to me.

If your "connections" can take you right to the top, all the power to you. If not, a head coaching job and teaching job at a District 5-6 school doesn't seem all that bad now, does it???

WT

Just think Hollywood...if you get a D-1 job you'll have to put up with people who think they are Gods gift to the world.....wait a minute you would probably enjoy that.....you would fit right in

Hollywood must have an evil twin because the guy I used to watch play -- selfish as he was -- couldn't possibly be as obnoxious, arrogant, and insensitive as the knave that's using his name on BC. To be honest, I don't think he should coach at any level until he has a few years of ego-reduction therapy.

That's what I'm trying to say, foghorn...Holly could never be as cocky in real life as he sounds on this board.

...AND Coach thinks I'M cocky??? Holly makes me look like Mr. Humble Pie!

WT

To me it just sounds like sour grapes- this whole thing around CHS.
Hollywood will be sure to cool off and come back to an adult level of maturity. He will coach somewhere. He will be successful. But, he will realize that we all need to start somewhere and work our way up. I started as a JH Volunteer, at 2 different schools, to my current position as a top Assistant. I am not ready for a "big time" HS HC job, been coaching for 8 yrs. Hollywood, you have a good pedigree, but what is your coaching experience? You can play the game, no one can doubt that, but can you teach the game? At some point, those kids need to learn how to play the game. Who will teach them? That is the true essence of coaching. Not just winning games with talent that is so rich, you have to try to lose with them. Get some coaching experience, then tell us in 5 years what you think.