Anthony, congratulations!
Some advice:
- Learn as much as you can from the HC but also those you coach against.
- When talking to parents, understand where you came from.
- Understand that some players will not "buy into" what you are selling at first. That's ok. Allow your players to fail or succeed on their own terms and then, have an answer when they need it.
- Don't lost touch with your TB roots and make sure to stay up to date on the local scene.
- Anthony, the truth is the truth. I was an assistant coach for 12 years to my mentor who won almost 900 games at the HS level. He didn't want a yes man. I couldn't have been a yes man. I spoke the truth. I hope that this is the situation you are headed in to. Otherwise, you will be miserable.
- As I say as some of my coaching presentations, "Be a mentor and not a tormentor." You're players will appreciate it.
I'll write this one in a special paragraph. I know of some new head coaches at various D-I and D-II schools. I have made some contacts with some of these new coaches welcoming them to their new programs and promoting a very talented young lady I have in the HS program here. I included video of a huge bomb. It has been 3 weeks now and I have not heard back from any of those coaches. I sent the same video out to seasoned coaches who responded that same day. Be the second kind of a coach with HS and TB coaches and not the first kind of coach. That means even if you don't like the player, at least send a thank you email.