[SIZE="1"]April 1, 2011
High Point, North Carolina[/SIZE]
I was born and raised in the small town of High Point. My grandfather moved here for a job shortly after my mom was born. In fact, I went to school literally right down the road from High Point University, I could've walked to it each day after school had I wanted to. However, more often, I used it as a way to get free days off from high school by simply ditching classes for a day & then swinging through High Point's admissions office around 2pm for a write-off as a college visit
I ended up going to NC State after being a 3 sport athlete in high school. However, a torn meniscus coupled with an onset of patellofemoral pain syndrome ended my days as an athlete (unless one counts drunked intramurals). However, I was obviously still an avid sports fan, despite the constant ineptitude of my favorite teams
Upon leaving NC State, I was toying with the idea of how to get a job involved in the sports field in some way. After a few years, I was ready to accept my fate as a future cubicle monkey. But then, I decided to throw a hail mary
I had absolutely no intention of this plan actually working. It was more or less just: hey, why not give it a shot. So, I asked my grandfather if he'd be able to put in a good word for me at High Point University
For you see, upon moving here to NC, my grandfather really took to the local textile industry, so much so that he eventually found himself a local bigwig & even landed a spot on High Point's Board of Directors after making a couple of donations in the way of land along with sending a pair of my mom's sisters to the school. So, I figured, why not see if he can throw his weight around a little and get them to toss me a bone
Sure, he said he'd help me out, but I assumed it to be nothing more than an empty promise. However, a few weeks later, I saw that High Point's coach was fired (not too surprising given their annual mediocrity), but given the circumstances, it was a story that caught my eye. Not long afterward, I got a call from HPU's Athletic Director, asking me if I was free for an interview
He certainly made it clear that it was only an introductory meeting, but I was hoping to make enough of an impression to get my foot in the door, regardless of position. Reflecting upon the interview, I wasn't surprised for it to have focused heavily on basketball due to their coaching search, but I was surprised with how in depth he got with his questions. Maybe he liked what he heard & will name drop me as a potential assistant coach to the new HC?
Shockingly, I get another call from the AD the following week. More basketball talk. He was enamored with my idea of bringing Nolan Richardon's 40 minutes of hell gameplan to the Big South and the kind of excitement such a tactic brings to the students (which surprised me with the school's Methodist leanings...or maybe it shouldn't have surprised me). As every Big South Conference discussion ends, we were both parting ways, wondering why exactly Campbell University was in the conference
I don't know if it's because I agreed about Campbell not belonging in the Big South or if it was my emphasis on a high tempo, high energy, aggressive style of play (or my grandfather's doing), but later that week I was shockingly named High Point's new Head Coach
Initially, I was worried. What if people find out the reason I got the job was b/c of my grandfather? But then reason prevailed and I remembered that, here in the south, nepotism is considered a good, positive, wholesome value int he community. Hooray!
Wait, so I'm the head coach of a Division I basketball team....now what do I do?
Ehh, I'll worry about that later, for now I'm gonna go smoke a celebratory bowl & check out that big indoor waterfall again
