Starting Coaching Life in Hawai'i

[blazertaz13]

It is amazing how you can fall in love with a place when life is just too stressful. I have spent the last 15 years working with spreadsheets and a management team that just doesn't get it (sad but true). Since my mom and dad purchased a condo on the big island, it was time to take a couple of weeks to figure what I wanted to do with life. I should also introduce myself as Coors Taz. Parents thought it was funny to name me after their favorite horse.

Talking with my wife, back home to give me some time to get clear my head (yes we have a very happy marriage, and her letting me travel for this reason is one of the reasons I love her).

After a couple of days paddleboarding on the ocean and relaxing on the beach, I was trying to figure out a way to make this a permanent move. Yes I could take my job with me, as I can work on spreadsheets anywhere, but I wanted a complete change. After a call that night with my wife, she mentioned if I could find a job that would allow us to live reasonably comfortably, that we would really consider it.

This is where things seem to get interesting. My mom and dad have always been very social and easily meet people. One day at their condos Taco Tuesday gathering they introduced me to the AD at Hawaii. During the conversation at the table, he mentioned that they were looking for a new head coach. Somehow my parents had mentioned that I was a sports junkie at heart, and it would great if they could figure out a way to get us to move out there. Yes, I do realize that we would be on Oahu, but we would be a lot closer than we are now.

Any how after a few drinks and some very pointed questions, he told me that he would be in touch if we could work this out. A couple of days later, exactly three days prior to my heading home, I get a phone call from him stating that they were willing to give me a shot. Apparently, I have a very similar personality that made him feel that I could be good at recruiting (not sure how you can't recruit to this beautiful island). They were willing to offer up a 4-year contract at $150,000 per year. A more than I was currently making, and I could stay out here for a few years. Their only requests were that I finish above .500 and do not finish in last place in the conference.

It was something I had to discuss with my wife before accepting, but I didn't take me long to get her to agree that staying here would be good for us. I did promise that we would revisit things once the contract was up or I am fired (really hoping it is the former).

Author's note - I am really a numbers person in real life, so I please understand that this may not be as great as others on here. For me personally, this is going to be a way for me to really figure out how to relieve stress from real life. It will also help in keeping me playing if we are not a very good team (which we are not as of in year one). I will do my best to keep posting as I go through the season, but the updates could be shorter than this. I am not sure if I will stay at Hawaii and see if I can create a new Gonzaga or if someone else comes calling that interests me do I make the jump.

Next up coaching staff.

[Wayne23]

Welcome! I'm a numbers guy, too.

[PointGuard]

Yeah, Wayne is a numbers guy...he likes to be NUMBER ONE.

Welcome back to the Dynasty boards, blazertaz. Good start and I suspect your numbers will be very interesting.

[blazertaz13]

I will be starting this back up. I have been away for work conferences and a stupid flu bug. Going to restart the association due to the updates and the last college mod update. Thankfully it will not change my story above.

[blazertaz13]

After accepting the head coaching position at Hawai'i, it was time to take a look at the coaching staff that remained. If I am honest, we could be a lot better in certain areas. Unfortunately, we need to build this program up, so after a cursory review of available assistants I decided to keep the staff together. We don't have a lot of funds to go out and upgrade where needed. With most of our staff on two-year deals, change can come after this season if needed.

My lead assistant, Brad Davidson, will have to focus on scouting which is marginal at best. He will also be a help on the offensive side of the ball.

Our 2nd assistant coach, Rob Jones will be responsible for practice along with helping to coach the defense.

Gibson Johnson will be helping me recruiting this year as our 3rd assistant.

Unfortunately, when comes to philosophies they are all over the board. Either we come together over time or when it comes time to hire, I find coaches similar to my tendencies on all aspects of the coaching this team.