Coaches say explaining expectations would be helpful

When Brian Brandtner accepted his position as the Bell City boys basketball coach before the 2005-06 season, the Cubs were coming off two straight final four appearances, including a Class 1 state championship.

"I came to Bell City and a lot of people thought things were said," Brandtner said. "Never one time did anybody say, 'If you don't win a state championship, you're fired.'"

Representatives, mostly athletic directors and administrators, at 16 local high schools were asked if their schools reveal to coaches specific expectations about winning and losing and postseason success during the hiring process, as well as during each coach's tenure. The 16 schools also were asked if written evaluations are filled out for coaches to assess their performance apart from their teaching.

Although none of the schools said expectations specifically are given to coaches in terms of wins, losses and playoff success, some other expectations are discussed. Some of them include the need for a coach's team to show yearly improvement and the need to increase participation numbers in the sport. Eight of the 16 schools have an evaluation form that is filled out by either the administration or the athletic director to critique the performance of coaches.

Scott City basketball and baseball coach Lance Amick said sometimes it's difficult for a coach to set expectations regarding wins and losses and playoff success because injuries and other unpredictable factors can arise during a season.

But Amick said having expectations given to coaches during the hiring process would be helpful.

"I think going into some of these jobs, people need to know what's expected of them," Amick said. "Are they wanting someone to win 30 games in basketball or they wanting them to win a state title? What's important to them? Is it all about the basketball or does it matter whether they are keeping the kids in line with discipline or teaching kids values?

"I think there should be a system of checks and balances."

Tyson Moyers, who recently resigned as boys basketball coach at Chaffee, also thinks expectations should be made clear to coaches.

"You can do evaluations before the season and say, 'Hey, this is what we expect out of your team,' and not necessarily talk anything about wins and losses," Moyers said. "You can do evaluations in the middle of the year, especially with basketball being such a long season and say, 'Hey, this is what we need you to work on before the end of the year.'"

Central athletic director Mark Ruark, who will vacate his position July 1, said there is a possibility that setting expectations just in terms of wins, losses and playoff success could hurt schools.

"You could have a coach with a good win/loss record who might not be strong in other areas that would make you want to change," Ruark said. "So I think it would be very dangerous to say, 'Hey, if you win 15 games, you get to keep your job.'"

Expectations not pertaining to wins and losses are given in some evaluation forms. For example, Scott City's evaluation has questions, including how well a coach "encourages students to participate in the athletic program," if the coach is using "new techniques, ideas, etc., along with established procedures for coaching" and whether a coach "continually works with athletes without interfering with other sports." There is also a section on whether to recommend the coach continue with his or her assignment.

Ruark said Central gave clear expectations to candidates who were interviewed for the football coach position. The expectations, he said, included increasing the overall number of students participating from where it was in 2007, at about 33 players, to about 60, to become involved and help improve the Cape Girardeau youth tackle program, to increase the participation in the weight room during the offseason and to make the team more competitive.

"We want to be competitive in the Class 5 district," Ruark said. "What is competitive? You can be 0-3 in the district, but if we were competitive every game, and it came down to last-second losses, or if you were in a position to have a chance to win in the fourth quarter, then you've been competitive."

Jim May, who accepted the football coach position at Perryville this past winter, said he was told during the hiring process that when the football team is competitive, the atmosphere of the school improves. May added that although no specifics on wins, losses and district playoff success were given, he knows the community has a high level of support for the team and he needs to make the Pirates competitive.

"I'm not saying you've got to win every game," May said. "They want to have something they can be proud of."

Meadow Heights boys basketball coach Tom Brown said coaches can communicate better with school boards by approaching them and learning their expectations. Brown, who recently thought his job could have been in jeopardy before he was voted back, said he never talked much with the board before, but will in the future.

"I just assumed everything was OK," Brown said. "If I probably went and talked to them and kept up-to-date and talked to them, I think there wouldn't have even been a question that I wasn't coming back. If there was, then I would have known what I needed to do better."