My intention was never to take such an extended hiatus from chronicling my story. Following the season at Hastings I knew I would be leaving and had every intention to near seamlessly transition into the next chapter of my life and begin logging under a new title. Inevitably, whenever I try to make plans for my own life and future, God reminds me that He runs the show, not me. To be blunt, I argue with God often. It seems that we rarely see eye to eye on much, especially when it comes to my life’s plan and direction. When the dust settles though it is always unmistakably clear who is in charge, and most importantly why.
My coaching beginnings were meek to say the least. Having turned down a walk on offer to play at CSU-Pueblo, I began looking for jobs to fill my bank account. Alongside working retail at the now ceased Steve & Berry’s, I was enticed into coaching middle school basketball at my alma mater, Craver Middle School. Having initially been commissioned to coach the boys jv alongside Jim Klipfel, my schedule forced me into coaching girls. I wasn’t exceptionally excited about 7th and 8th grade jv girls, but working alongside one of the greatest motivators I’ve ever met, and a man truly passionate about kids and helping them reach their full potential, Gunny Pagnotta, was going to make the experience invaluable and would in turn help blossom in me a love for coaching girls.
Prior to the first practice I went over all the drills, schemes, plays, and sets that we had run when I played, and prepared myself to win the elusive district championship that I wasn’t able to get when I was in middle school. When I arrived I found out that the majority of my team had never played basketball before. Day one went from fundamental instruction to rules of the game. Rule 1: You can’t run with ball unless you dribble. Rule 2: Once you pick up your dribble you can’t dribble again. Rule 3: Don’t go insane. That one was a personal rule. The greatest coaching advice I ever gave those girls was “if you’re open; shoot!” That alone led us to the district semifinal where we lost by 8 to eventual district champion Skyview. I think what grinds me the most about that loss was the fact that their head coach was also the head cheerleading coach.
"Strategizing"
I learned a lot that year. I learned more about girls, coaching, motivating, and how much fun it is than I ever dreamed I would. I also learned you don’t let middle school girls name their own plays otherwise you’ll be running “Skittles” all year long. I saw potential in kids. I saw joy and excitement. I saw camaraderie. I laughed, got embarrassed, heard silly jokes, made silly jokes, and experienced an excitement and love for the game and the team that I hadn’t really expected from girls. I also got to work with the varsity groups and the 8th grade varsity team won the district tournament in exciting fashion against Pueblo West Middle. That team had three players that I would have the privilege to coach my next three years at Rye High, and two that I have the opportunity to work with every day here at my new job.
8th Grade District Champs
After my year of coaching middle school I found a renewed love for the game. After the season I went out to Phoenix, AZ to Southwestern College, now Arizona Christian University, for a try-out where I was immediately offered a roster spot for the coming year. My bags were all but packed when I got several phone calls and emails from parents and athletes at Rye High School wanting me to apply for the head girls’ coaching job. To be perfectly honest I originally applied more for the resume and interview experience than anything, feeling in the back of my mind that I was going to be lucky to pull off an interview much less the job. It wasn’t long before I received a phone call for the interview and whisperings that I had an exceptional shot at getting the job. The day before my interview, I spent the day looking at my options: Play in Arizona, or become a 20 year old head coach. I fasted and prayed that day and the morning of my interview I was very blunt with God. I told him on my drive to the school, “If you give me the job I’ll stay, but if not I’m gone.” Needless to say, I got the job.
January of this year the pastor of my church in Hastings implored us as a church to fast together. A week long fast that was meant to be personal and specific. There were many different forms of fasting that people took part in, but being the person I am I went all out; no food, just water, for a week. Again I was very blunt with God about what I wanted for myself and my family and the church. My prayers were specific, bold, and maybe even gutsy. Throughout the week I never got an answer to any of them. What I did get was a calm. A peace I’d never felt before. I sat in our church on a Thursday afternoon and made the self-proclamation that I was ok with wherever God sent me and whatever he asked me to do. I’ve often told people in a jesting manner, but with personal seriousness that basketball is all I really know. I had always revolved my life around it and defined myself by it, and for the first time I was ok with not having it in my life. From there I started exploring avenues that I had never considered. The path that I ended up on took me to the last place I ever expected, but one I had dreamed of for some time.
Pastor Chris of North Shore Assembly of God, Hastings, NE
During spring break I returned to Colorado and took a visit to Denver Theological Seminary. I felt like a masters in apologetics and ethics in route to ministry was where I was supposed to be. To reiterate, it was where I thought I should be (emphasis on the “I”). The application was lengthy and arduous. My essay hit the thousand word mark before I had even answered half the questions. I thought I was going to find a job in Denver, go to school, get my degree and move on. Plans changed fast. It got to the end of June, and after being accepted I was without a job and without any substantial prospects. No money means no school. I did have an offer though to be the assistant boys basketball coach at Pueblo South and had an in as a language arts teacher at Roncalli MS (South’s feeder school). My Plan B (emphasize the word “my”) was to take those jobs and do my seminary degree online. After accepting the offers the undreamable happened (for the record undreamable isn't a word). I received a phone call from Houston Reed, the head men’s basketball coach at Otero Junior College. The head women’s coaching position at OJC had opened and in his quest for potential applicants my name came up. Encouraging me to apply, I decided the resume and interview process would be good experience despite thinking I ever had a real shot (sound familiar?). From there it was a flurry. Application turned into interview, interview turned into unofficial offer, unofficial offer (which took the longest to change) turned into official offer all in less than a month. As I write this I'm occasionally peering out the window in my office that overlooks the arena at the campus of Otero Junior College. The list of people that have helped me get here and who have encouraged me and prayed for me throughout my life and continue to do so is a list that is longer than this blog. It brings me to my knees to think about all the help I’ve had and I can only hope one day I can repay all of you somehow. Four years ago when I was standing on the sideline yelling, “Skittles! Run Skittles!!” I never would’ve dreamed that I would be a head college coach. As I prepare for the season there are many unknowns and so much I still have to learn, but I do know one thing, I’m not running “Skittles.”
The Rattler in OJC's Gym
Till next time,
- Coach Kyle - Head Women's Basketball Coach, Otero Junior College
