A Season That Gave More Than it Took

My season back on the sidelines ended Friday night with a loss in the regional semifinals to Emmetsburg. Not the outcome we wanted but incredible effort by our team, and we left everything on the court. Every team in our class but one will lose their last game, but it is never easy to see a season end.

Definitely the toughest part of ending a season is saying goodbye to your seniors—it is especially true this year for our amazing group of seniors who had the most to lose when there was a coaching change, but were awesome leaders and helped the team to the most wins in 12 years and an excellent finish in the conference. You hope you have helped them grow as players and people, and our seniors are moving on to bigger and better things. I couldn’t be more proud of them!

When I stepped back into coaching after beginning retirement, I knew it would take a full commitment, a lot of time on the road (I live a half hour away from the school!), and a lot of patience in trying to put a system in place. What I didn’t fully know was how much it would give back personally to me. Taking this job was a big risk with a number of late nights, early morning practices, numerous hours working on scouting reports (fortunately I had more time since I don’t have a day job!), and all the emotions that come with leading young people through a competitive season with many ups and downs.

In the preseason information we shared with players and parents, we talked about wanting to not just coach basketball, but to coach life. We wanted to produce not only better players but better people. We didn’t define this season by expecting perfection—we defined it by effort, by growth, by togetherness, and by focusing on the “next play.” Our players defined that this year! They gave maximum effort in practice. They represented our GHV school with class on and off the court. They learned how to handle pressure better. They learned how to respond to adversity. They learned that success is built by working hard, having a great attitude, and having fun.

The loss to Emmetsburg stings for everyone — as it should. Competing matters and wanting more matters. But I couldn’t have been more proud of the fight our team showed. They left it on the floor. They trusted each other. They stayed connected. Sometimes the opponent simply is better and makes more plays. That’s sports—we also know that’s life.

As I’ve reflected these last couple of days (it always takes a few days at least for coaches to get over end of season losses!), I keep coming back to a few takeaways that go well beyond one season of basketball. I hope some of these resonate with you!

First, most meaningful journeys require risk. Stepping out of retirement and back into the gym could have stayed a “what if.” Growth rarely happens when you stay comfortable. Whether it’s taking a new job, evaluating your relationships and thinking about building them or moving on from them, or saying yes to an opportunity that stretches you past your comfort zone — there is value in surrounding yourself with good people and committing fully to the process. Sometimes that might mean moving on from the past-which requires risk-but the reward is usually worth it.

Second, effort and attitude travel everywhere. In basketball, talent and definitely skill matters. But effort, how we respond to adversity, and how we treat others matters more in the long run. The same is true in our careers, our families, and our communities. You can’t always control outcomes, but you can always control your preparation, your response, and your perspective.

Third, seasons end — but your impact doesn’t. Championships are celebrated and records are remembered. But the deeper wins are in the relationships you make, the resilience you build, and the growth that takes place. The habits built, the lessons learned, and the character developed will carry forward long after the score of the last game is forgotten.

Finally, gratitude changes everything. It’s easy to be grateful when you’re winning championships or at the top of your game. It takes real intention to be grateful after a tough loss. I am full of gratitude for this season. I am grateful for our players, grateful for our awesome seniors and underclassmen, grateful for assistant coaches who poured in countless hours, and grateful for families who trusted the coaches with their kids and supported them in countless ways. And personally, I am grateful that I took a chance on being part of something bigger than myself again.

Yes, the season ended Friday night, and we will all have disappointments that we need to overcome and move on to the “next play” from. I hope you will take a look at a disappointment you have had recently and look at the positives you can take from a recent challenging event.

Hopefully the relationships you built remain. May the lessons from the “season” or event remain. Hopefully the growth you experienced remains. If these are the case, then your disappointment will be worth experiencing.

And for these things, I’m incredibly thankful! for my experience this year! Have a great week!

Coach K