Letter to Wayne Hills Basketball

I had wanted to do this in person, but time conflicts just continue to get in the way. Perhaps a few of them read this, but at least my side of a recent decision will come straight from me should any one seek it....

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Dear Patriot family,

As we approach the horizon of yet another school year, another basketball season, another set of memories, you may notice that things are a little different. Different in a good way though - I wholeheartedly believe that Coach Grimes is doing a great job transforming the program into something you can be proud of - one that you want to wear that big W with pride as it was in years past. Unfortunately, my time as a direct part of that has come to an end. 

To those players that I pushed and challenged, I wish to say that those challenges still stand - just because I may not be on the bench to remind you, I intend to be in the stands and should our paths cross I'll continue to challenge you to be better each day. To the parents who encouraged me in various ways to be the best that I could, even in my limited capacity, thank you. Your support and kindness have only increased my desire to coach the game, embrace your community, and put nothing short of my best self out there each and every day.  I guess at this point the big question is - why did I choose to leave?

Yes, I chose to leave. Coach Grimes never mentioned not coming back to me. In fact, when I told him I was struggling with the decision on what to do next season, he reminded me that I was still very much welcome. I took some time to really look at what we were trying to build in the program and realized that I was the definition of irony in the situation. Every practice, every game was about being committed to more than yourself; putting the team's needs above those of your own, and being "all in". Was I willing to make sacrifices and tough decisions to make the Wayne Hills Patriots a better program - sure. The problem was I couldn't fully commit to a level that I could be proud of. I tried - man did I try - but it's not easy working in a full time eight to five job and being a part of a high school basketball program. On top of that, I was coaching at the Wayne PAL. Some would say I should have known that would be extremely tough to juggle and do successfully. They are right - I came aboard hoping to better myself, but it was a little selfish. This summer I realized that and felt I owed the team better than that. I felt like the literal definition of a hypocrite. How can I honestly ask for guys to buy into being "all in" or putting the team above self when I wasn't necessarily doing that myself? 

I spent a good part of the spring and summer after the season ended asking myself if I could make this work. Coach Grimes is doing great things and it would be great to be a part of, but I had to pull my weight. He never complained or was upset - he understood my situation and knew that my heart was in it when I was available. For that I am truly grateful - it's not every day that people are willing to look at the whole situation and take outside factors into consideration. For those that know me from my time at the PAL, you know I hold myself to a crazy standard. After weeks of going back and forth with myself, reaching out to Coach Grimes and close friends, I came to the decision that I wouldn't be happy unless I could commit full time to the program, just as we'd ask the players to do. That wasn't something I could do, and the you all deserved someone who could. I have gotten to know most of you pretty well, and will miss being around to share in your lives as a coach. But you better believe when I can I will be there as a fan, cheering each and every one of you on. I already took opening day off from work so that I could be there! 

I really do wish that I could have done this in person, and if our paths cross, I will gladly talk to you about it. This was not an easy decision to make, and at times already, even here in August I wonder if it was the right decision to make because of how much I loved being a part of the program and your lives. I guess I can still do that as a fan, and allow someone who can really be "all in" to come aboard. I wish you all the best, and look forward to a great season. I can't wait for December!

Sincerely,

Robert Bohannon, Jr. 

Coach RoBo

Creating a Brand

As another winter basketball season wraps up I decided a post was long overdue. Both Hills and my 5th grade team fell short of expectations this season for various reasons, I think a major one for both came down to not being mentally tough enough to compete for long stretches as a team. As I recapped the games to friends it always seemed like I always keyed on the same three things. Then one day, just as yet another rant was about to begin, a wise young woman stopped me and asked what my philosophy was. I always wanted to make a mark on the game and in the program, but how was I looking to achieve that? I didn't have an answer. I knew I wanted to be good and had the tools to be successful but never really figured out the "how" piece of the puzzle. That day, a young lady who only spoke of basketball because I brought her to games and spent way too much time talking about it, set me straight and helped me find a new way to grow as a coach.

I brought her with me on our annual trip to Boston and she was closer than normally allowed as the gyms were smaller. She felt that a phrase I used time and time again symbolized what my "brand" could be. How I could simplify the game for my young players without limiting them or preventing them from growing. Having watched those games in Boston where those words were stressed and then some of our others after where they weren't, she felt those three simplifying words made it easy for the boys to perform. To her, the team played with more understanding of the expectations and the result was better performance. All because of three very simple, fundamental words. That simplicity - the less is more approach - would give every team I was involved with a really easy way to understand what was expected and comprehend the pillars of what my team would stand for. 

Those three simple words, as she laid them out to me, looked like the very thing I was looking for. You can't build a great thing without a strong base and I truly feels that this gives me that. Those three words - rebound, defend, and communicate - are all things that every player can control. Officials can't stop you from giving everything you've got to do those three things. Even if you have an "off" night because the ball wouldn't go in the net, you can still be a solid contributor to the team. Basketball, especially at younger levels, is primarily a game of effort. Sure talent helps, but I've seen many a talented team fail and many a "scrappy" team succeed. Even more importantly to me though is that teams who play with great effort are respected. Those teams, regardless of record, are teams that everyone takes seriously. Even as we struggled through one of our leagues, finishing with only 3 wins, when we played with effort we put even the top teams on the ropes. As I took this new approach to building my brand the last few weeks of the season, I saw them latch on. We finished our final week with a very close back and forth battle in the playoffs that we lost in the closing seconds, put together a great tournament run to advance to the championship game. We played with purpose, effort, and we did those three simple things.

Sometimes you have to go outside to get the best idea for you. This makes sense. This gives me a map - maybe not the whole map, but at least a map to the next fork. The way feels clear, and I'm glad the  next level has occurred so soon. Positive energy with a simple set of expectations. The road ahead looks good.