Lack of Coach Control

Lack of Coach Control; this is becoming an occurring issue in big time college sports such as NCAA division 1 men’s basketball and football. When a coach is hired one can only assume that it is expressed to the new hire that they are responsible in large part for the actions of the members of their team; this is where lack of coach control becomes an issue. Coaches are neglecting their obligation to hold players to a certain standard, not only in personal conduct but in academics as well. In the last week we have seen Ohio State University suspend players for violating school policy; what stands out is that Head coach Urban Meyer admitted having prior knowledge of wrongdoing "I kind of knew about this for a little bit," he said. "The university and the athletic department has policies that I fully support. Whether it's a sprained ankle or stuff [like a suspension], you try to create a culture and move forward.1” SMU’s Men’s basketball coach Larry Brown is facing accusations of lack of coach control, adding to a longer list of infractions he has faced. “This is the third time a Brown program has been accused of NCAA rule-breaking, joining his previous stops at UCLA and Kansas.2”

For me as a future coach and athletic director this shows more than a lack of coach control; this shows me that there is a culture in major college athletics where winning is the ultimate and seemingly only objective. This culture leads to programs electing to handle infractions in house, until the NCAA intervenes which normally leads to a player’s suspension either from the university or the NCAA itself. Players will always break rules and face discipline this will not be going away anytime soon, but what is troubling is that the pressures of winning are influencing coaches and administrators to hide or ignore offenses of players that are “more valuable” to the program. Even more troubling is the notion that coaches and administrators only face punishment for their roles in the infractions when it is something that is truly detrimental to the university as a whole; I.E Penn State.

References:

1. http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/13346013/ohio-state-buckeyes-suspend-joey-bosa-jalin-marshall-dontre-wilson-corey-smith
2. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2534744-larry-brown-faces-lack-of-coach-control-ncaa-charge-latest-details-comments