A continuing feature at Outside the Huddle during basketball season, we will connect with area coaches on occasion to get their takes on big wins, huge matchups upcoming and more.
This preseason, we wanted to learn more about some area coaches before their seasons got going. For today, tracked down Bishop Luers head coach Seth Coffing.
Q: What first inspired you to become a basketball coach, and how has your coaching journey evolved over the years?
I began as an Assistant Varsity Coach at 20 years old at my old high school while I was in college. I really enjoyed coaching basketball, but my initial thought out of college was that I would coach football and baseball. I played all 3 sports growing up, but my passion and best sport playing, was and always has been baseball. Basketball represented a challenge for me as a coach to learn the game at a much higher level and slow the game down. I was a Varsity coach at 28 years old and looking back, I definitely didn’t know much other than how to build relationships with young people. My coaching has improved over the years, especially when it comes to X’s and O’s. I have learned from some great men and coaches while assisting at the college level, Abe Mashhour at Henry Ford CC/Schoolcraft College and Emonte Hill at Frederick Community College.
Q: Who have been some of the biggest influences on your coaching philosophy, and what lessons have they left with you?
As I mentioned above, Coach Mashhour and Coach Hill were huge influences. Looking back, I think my experiences playing college baseball under different styles of coaching also played a big part in my philosophies. I will also never forget the quote from a book I read several years ago by Bill Simmons, and I believe Isiah Thomas said it, “the secret to basketball isn’t basketball.” I’ve always thought that when it comes to sports and really life in general. It’s about relationships with people. Our number 1 rule in expectation in our program is “Be a Great Teammate.” I believe that covers just about anything you can think of to be successful.
Q: How would you describe your coaching style — both on the court and in how you lead your players off of it?
I have always believed that your players and team take on your personality if your message is being received. I put a ton of emphasis on preparation, body language, how to interact with teammates and I try to stay calm in the storm. If my players see me freaking out when situations within games get intense, they will too. We also take a great deal of pride in developing players’ skills on the court and building leaders. We have leadership dinners every Thursday night throughout the season with speakers from all walks of life coming in to give a message to our young men.
Q: What’s one lesson or philosophy you try to emphasize to your team every single year, regardless of wins and losses?
As I mentioned before, “Being a Great Teammate.” With this, we emphasize accountability and respect. Everyone always talks about the word “culture.” To me culture is your daily habits, it’s how you go about your business, it’s how you talk and listen to each other. I have always felt that if you do these things the right way, wins and losses will take care of themselves.
Q: How do you adjust your coaching approach based on the strengths and personalities of each year’s group?
This has always been a strength of mine. There are coaches that stick to their schemes and systems, regardless of their personnel. I do believe there is something to be said for that. I also think it depends on your situation. If you are in a school that you know who your varsity players are from 5 years old and up, then being more systematic is probably more beneficial. Within Fort Wayne, rosters change so much from year to year. Kids might go to a completely different high school than the middle school feeds into. Kids might transfer schools within high school. We do a lot of evaluating of what we have in the summer and fall leading up to the season. I try to be as cognizant as possible to the talents and strengths/weaknesses of each group that I have and make adjustments.
Q: What were the main areas of focus for your team during the offseason, and how do you build up those plans each summer?
We plan our June to play a full slate of 10 competition games with styles and competition levels that we may not see during the regular season. We challenge our guys and want them to have to fight through adversity. It is also an emphasis to get physically stronger, faster, quicker and develop the whole athlete. We also incorporate skill work and as much shooting as we can possibly fit in. There are players that come in from 6-7am on school days and get up “Breakfast Buckets.” My assistants, especially Lee Williams, are constantly working out our players outside of practice time, to build on skills. These are all ingredients that have worked for us, and all of the work makes these young guys take pride in our program and what we are about.
Q: What are the biggest challenges your team will face this season, and how do you plan to overcome them?
From this past June we have a couple of major pieces that have transferred in. A lot of our early success will be based on how fast the guys understand their roles and how well they are able to play as a group. We have a great deal of individual talent. Now, is winning more important than your own individual success? Are you happier for your teammate than yourself when they make a winning play? I believe we do an excellent job as a staff of communicating expectations and having honest conversations with our guys and that helps some of these challenges. We also push them in practice to build physical and mental toughness.
Q: Looking long-term, what do you hope your players take away from their time in your program — as athletes and as people?
My goal is always to play a positive role in our young men becoming great adults. I want them to use the lessons, messages, adversity and triumphs to be great citizens, employees, husbands and fathers. I also want their experience of playing Bishop Luers Boys Basketball to be one that they look back on and be proud of, be fond of, and ultimately appreciate and love.
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