Everyone needs a mentor.
Having someone to share ideas with, seek advice from, and tap into their experience is INVALUABLE.
Being a young coach, I have a lot to learn. I try to better myself as a coach in order to better my program. My team does not get better, If I myself do not put the time and effort into becoming a better coach. I was not ready to do this on my own 3 years ago and Im still not ready. I try to keep strong relationships with people because with out people the learning is limited.
There have been two men most influential in my life, if you know my father you would know I am the spitting image of him from my mannerisms to my personality and even my hand gestures. Then there is Jasper.
Jeff Jasper my HS coach has been around the game over 30 years. He is a vet and a proclaimed name in Bergen County. But most important he is full of knowledge and always willing to share. This relationship already existed from when he coached me 10 years ago, we don't have to work on developing the relationship because its already there. Though the roles have changed from athlete to coach, to colleagues it was a natural transition. I consider Jasper a major influence on my basketball world. His door is always open, a phone call away and always willing to answer my pages of emails!
My mentors are effective in helping me and my team become better. Im always willing to listen to people, even if they have something negative to say. I rather have the opportunity of knowing, than of not having known at all.
Assistant coaches, or at least mine serve as MENTORS as well. I share the same vision, goals and ways of doing things with my assistant coaches; Janet Muller, Jill Muller and Nicole Pacciani. They are coaches I respect and whom I enjoy working with. We usually get together for coaches weekends, or take our graduated seniors out to dinner before they are set off to college. We do a great job micromanaging practice plans, scouting reports, tape and we can all be ourselves with one another.
I am great full for all the mentors in my life. They are the make up of my tactics and personality.
