Mentoring, Miles, and Meaningful Learning

I thought I would give you a follow up to my post from last week, as I made it to Rapid City, to attend the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) convention. It was a 7½-hour drive (one way and alone!) that gave me a lot of time to think, appreciate the journey, and get excited about the opportunities ahead.

Despite the long haul (and a few stretches where gas stations were very few and far between), the scenery was beautiful in western South Dakota (maybe a little boring before that!) with plenty of wide open spaces and changing elevations. I did make a quick stop at a crowded Wall Drug. If you have never been there-it is well worth a short stop! You definitely can’t miss it as there are probably a thousand signs advertising Wall Drug on the interstate! Wall Drug is famous for cheap coffee and free ice water and was packed with tourists. There are plenty of shops for everyone so it is a highly recommended stop if you ever head west!

One of the highlights of the trip was presenting to the NHSACA Board of Directors alongside Joel Sullivan, Executive Secretary of the Iowa Girls Coaches Association (IGCA). We shared the vision and structure of our new tiered mentoring program for coaches. The response was incredibly encouraging. Board members asked thoughtful questions, showed real support, and saw the value in what we’re building. I left that session proud of what we are doing and excited for the future—not just of the program, but of the leadership and forward thinking happening in Iowa coaching circles. We're not just talking about developing coaches—we're doing it.

I also spent time as a vendor at the convention. This was my first time being a vendor at an event, selling copies of my book When Life Meets Coaching Sports. I’ll be honest—I didn’t expect to sell stacks of books-and I didn’t. But what I did walk away with were numerous awesome conversations with a variety of backgrounds and sports that they coached. I connected with coaches from across the country, shared stories, and heard about their challenges and triumphs. All were dedicated coaches who were very passionate about their sport and it was great to share their energy.

One of my favorite interactions was with the booth next to mine—which happened to be promoting high school cornhole as a sanctioned sport. The young lady who was the vendor was from Tennessee and had a strong southern accent but had amazing energy and connected with everyone that came by. You couldn’t help but want to hear more about the program from her and she was a great example of connecting to your audience. It was a reminder that you never know what you'll learn or who you’ll meet when you're willing to show up and listen.

I also carved out some time to attend several outstanding basketball clinic sessions led by some high-level college coaches. Their insights challenged my own thinking, gave me practical drills and philosophies to consider, and reminded me of one simple truth: you are never too old or experienced to learn something new and get better. One quote that stood out from the sessions was “if you are the best player in the gym, find a different gym.” Another idea along the same lines was the green or brown mentality: we are either growing or dying.

As most of you know, I’m heading into a new coaching role this season, and I already have ideas from Rapid City that I plan to implement. It is easy for all of us to get content with where we are at in our lives, professions, etc. when there is always room to improve. Coaches always ask players to continue to improve-they should ask the same of us!

This trip wasn’t about selling books, promoting a new initiative, or even bragging about past success. It was about sharing ideas, connecting, supporting each other, and taking pride in the work we’re doing to grow the coaching community. There are amazing people all over the country doing amazing work, and we can always learn from what others are doing.

Whether you’re on mile 10 or mile 10,000 of your life’s journey, I would ask you to keep showing up, keep learning. keep leading, keep connecting, and don’t forget to stop and appreciate the journey along the way! Have a great week!

Coach K