Parent Coaches at High School?

[hockeyfan74]

Curious what the overall thought of the great hockey minds on this forum is about parent coaches at the high school level. I know in one case it has been very detrimental to a team. Blatant parent favoritism. Doesn't matter that it's an assistant when they coach the position of their son. This has caused other players to be moved from the position they should play and it also hurts the team overall. Coach focuses on one player at the detriment of the other 19. Is it ever a good idea for a staff to have a parent coach?

[Sparlimb]

Curious what the overall thought of the great hockey minds on this forum is about parent coaches at the high school level. I know in one case it has been very detrimental to a team. Blatant parent favoritism. Doesn't matter that it's an assistant when they coach the position of their son. This has caused other players to be moved from the position they should play and it also hurts the team overall. Coach focuses on one player at the detriment of the other 19. Is it ever a good idea for a staff to have a parent coach?

Seems to be working quite well for the HM girls. Probably more of an issue with culture and how the coaches handle things.

[hockeyfan74]

Seems to be working quite well for the HM girls. Probably more of an issue with culture and how the coaches handle things.
[/quote]

I am very well versed in the girls high school hockey scene. And yes from an outside perspective it would seem to work well for the H-M girls. They are a loaded team that has had a ton of success. With that being said even in that situation it is not as clear cut as it may seem.

[CrimsonCakeEater]

I am very well versed in the girls high school hockey scene. And yes from an outside perspective it would seem to work well for the H-M girls. They are a loaded team that has had a ton of success. With that being said even in that situation it is not as clear cut as it may seem.

Calling Johnny Pohl and Krissy Wendell “parent coaches” seems to be underselling their qualifications just a little. Let’s not forget that they immediately went from good to great (similar to Edina when Sami showed up) when they got hired.

[InThePipes]

I am very well versed in the girls high school hockey scene. And yes from an outside perspective it would seem to work well for the H-M girls. They are a loaded team that has had a ton of success. With that being said even in that situation it is not as clear cut as it may seem.

Calling Johnny Pohl and Krissy Wendell “parent coaches” seems to be underselling their qualifications just a little. Let’s not forget that they immediately went from good to great (similar to Edina when Sami showed up) when they got hired.

That’s true, but we also shouldn’t overlook that Johnny and Krissy intentionally compiled that roster. They’re excellent coaches who prioritize skill development, something most programs do a lousy job of, but this isn’t a rags-to-riches story of taking 15 average players and turning them into a state powerhouse.

[InThePipes]

Generally, it’s probably best to avoid parent coaches at the high school level when you can. That said, if the alternative is someone who’s half-engaged with a mediocre or dated understanding the game, then a knowledgeable, experienced and committed parent might actually be the better option.

Like everything in life, depends on the specific situation and what the actual alternatives/choices are.

[Sparlimb]

I am very well versed in the girls high school hockey scene. And yes from an outside perspective it would seem to work well for the H-M girls. They are a loaded team that has had a ton of success. With that being said even in that situation it is not as clear cut as it may seem.

Calling Johnny Pohl and Krissy Wendell “parent coaches” seems to be underselling their qualifications just a little. Let’s not forget that they immediately went from good to great (similar to Edina when Sami showed up) when they got hired.

That’s true, but we also shouldn’t overlook that Johnny and Krissy intentionally compiled that roster. They’re excellent coaches who prioritize skill development, something most programs do a lousy job of, but this isn’t a rags-to-riches story of taking 15 average players and turning them into a state powerhouse.

One other point on the Pohl's. They didn't intend to coach, they hired Natalie Darwitz to coach the team. She happened to get the GM job with the Frost (who fired her after one year) and so she never coached at HM. That all happened late in the summer, so the they chose to coach themselves as opposed to find someone else on short notice. Doesn't matter much, just saying the situation seems to be working out at the moment with little roster turnover.