A Private School Coach Living in a Public School World

By Jerry Mayes

Not since the long-ago battles of the Hatfields and McCoys has there been such a furor over public and private school differences. President Bush cries out for vouchers and public schools laud their improvement under the watchful eye of the media and a curious public. State accountability tests put public institutions on notice to raise their standards while the private schools go unchallenged.

In athletics, the battle lines of public vs. private have waged war for decades. Claims of unfair advantages for private institutions such as funding, facilities, staffing and, of course, recruiting, have all been the target of public scrutiny. Likewise, the unseen by the public is the pressure for private schools to fill their class rosters, maintain a budget without public funding assistance, and the expectation level of parents who have a vested financial interest in the outcome.

For some states, the solution has been simple: have a private league and a public league. A number of state associations have resolved the problem by requiring private school members to comply with the guidelines designed for public schools. Some states have opted to end the conflict by not allowing their public schools to play private schools at all. Others continue to compete against each other as animosity builds just below the surface.

So how does a private school coach live in a hostile situation and maintain his or her perspective? How can a private school or school-of-choice coach stay focused? Can a public school environment ever accept a private school coach's plight? The answer is, "Yes."

For definition purposes, a private school coach is anyone who is not supported by public funding or a coach dealing with a student enrollment with the capacity to draw students from any area within the community.

Observing some of the great programs over the years and watching systems that were compatible, there have been a number of successful co-existing programs. Each of these successful ventures had people in the center of the controversy who understood their position in the pecking order. These individuals were master communicators with sensitivity to convey the proper message to their community, colleagues and, above all, their students.

Observations and thoughts
-- Have a Strong Philosophy: A strong philosophy is still the cornerstone of all successful coaches. For the school-of-choice coach, it is even more important, given the pressures that exist beyond the normal realm of challenges. Does your philosophy take into consideration the uniqueness of the private setting and will it withstand the scrutiny of public criticism?

-- Be Open and Honest: C.J. Hall is a freelance sportswriter for the Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper. After a three-year investigation into our public and private schools in the state of Kentucky, his first recommendation for the private or magnet school was, "Private institutions, within their guidelines, need to be as open and honest with their activity as they can be."
It's time for the shroud to be lifted on private school activities. Unlike their public school counterparts, private schools draw suspicion to their credibility due to the nature of their institution. Don't try to project one image while underneath the perception is not fitting the reality.
For instance, if your school or league allows one to attend certain activities or to market your school, don't try to deny your participation – be accountable. It's time to put the cloak and dagger away. You don't have to compromise the mission of the private school environment, but don't try to hide your actions.

-- Don't Cheat: If there is one thing that the private school coach falls prey to is the perception that each coach cheats. When this project began, Alan Donhoff, athletic director of St. Xavier High School in Louisville and former private school coach, commented, "The basis of your article is the assumption that every private school cheats to gain an edge." As much as his statement points out the fallacy of that view, it is no secret that this perception does exist, like it or not. The answer to this one is real simple! Don't give the viewpoint any fuel – don't cheat!

Longtime coach and athletic director Jim Watkins of Louisville once said, "You can't legislate ethics." If your league has certain rules, make sure you are clear as to correct interpretation, then stay within those guidelines.

If a rule states that a coach may not discuss his or her athletics program with a prospective athlete, then don't do it! However, if the rules state that you can talk about your academic program, don't pass up that opportunity. Who knows, you might even pick up a few more fans from your faculty when you brag about your program.

-- Educate and Communicate: As educators, we believe in the process of education. The school-of-choice coach must constantly be on the offensive to paint a picture to his counterparts as to the challenges that he or she faces in their setting. While this still may not stop the villagers of your community from speaking out, at least it will keep them from lighting their torches as if they were pursuing the Frankenstein monster of old.

Issues that generally surface are funding and recruiting. If you are ever looking for a conversation starter at your next athletic meeting, just bring up the ethics of recruiting in the private sector. When the idea for this article was discussed, retired high school and collegiate coach, David Hoch, now athletic director at Loch Haven High School in Baltimore, Maryland, said, "Jerry, you are going to open a whole can of worms." David's comment reflects a general feeling across the community.

Now we can call it recruiting, marketing or whatever you would like, but attracting students from across school districts is always a challenging and delicate issue. It's important to let your colleagues know that you have to pursue students to fill your classrooms. While this may upset the general public, it's important for them to know this is the nature of the private school business. Likewise, it's important that in the pursuit of student-athletes, that the student side of that equation is emphasized.

-- Be Creative and Reach Out: Find ways to promote your program by working with your public school counterparts. If your league has all-star contests, offer your facility. Be active in your coaches association.

Terry Ennis of Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy High School in Everett, Washington, has won championships at all levels. Throughout his career, Coach Ennis has had great success in both the public and private sector. He has positioned himself to be an active participant of the coaches association and the community at large. Through a wide variety of community-service programs that integrated his programs with public and private schools and his active role in the Washington Coaches Association, Coach Ennis has built bridges from both sides of the ledger.

Have a Strong Philosophy
Be Open and Honest
Don't Cheat
Educate and Communicate
Be Creative and Reach Out

It is important for the private school coach not to be isolated and exclusive in his or her approach. Find ways to market your program without the emphasis on athletics. In corresponding to students, emphasize study habits and include tips on improving study skills. Search for opportunities to support public school initiatives or the community at large. We are all a part of the same community. By sending that message, you will position your programs apart with a different mission.

While these few suggestions are nothing different from what any successful coach must do to promote his or her program, private school or school-of-choice coaches must not lose their focus about their role in the community. By initiating a few small steps, the school of choice will win friends, influence people and just maybe reduce the friction generated by this dilemma in our communities.

As coaches, we are some of the most powerful people in our communities. It is when we forget ourselves that we do things that will be remembered. It's time to reach out -- you might just find the community you have been looking for.

Jerry Mayes is assistant principal at Pleasure Ridge Park High School in Louisville, Kentucky. He is a former football coach and athletic director at duPont Manual High School in Louisville. He coached on the high school and collegiate levels for about 25 years. He served on the NFHS Coaches' Quarterly Publications Committee for nine years.