Head coach?s quitting sadly not surprising

Another school year is nearing its end, and the search for another head coach at Warren County High School looks to be beginning.

According to reports, and confirmed by an interview conducted by Dale Stubblefield for today?s edition of the Standard, Pioneer soccer coach Keith Hamilton will be officially stepping down from his position with the boys? team early next week.

After a regular-season district championship in his first year, the Pioneers and Hamilton finished at the .500 mark last season and came in just under that, at 6-7-2, this spring.

But wins and losses, or lack of either, aren?t to blame for Hamilton?s decision to leave the Pioneers in someone else?s hands next season. No, if you look closely at the program, it goes much further than that.

While trying to rebuild the Pioneer soccer squad to the level of success it once enjoyed, Hamilton endured stumbling blocks at every turn. Whether it was players being red-carded night after night, or some off-the-field silliness, or even just trying to convince them of the importance of preseason camps, workouts and practices, there was an argument against nearly everything he tried to do.

Keep in mind, while considering all of this, that coaching the WCHS boys was never Hamilton?s intent. When he applied to join the athletic department, it was to be the Lady Pioneer coach. Only through the goodness of his own heart, as well as an overwhelming lack of applicants for the vacant boys job, did Hamilton agree to coach the Pioneers, as well.

And since then, he?s had to deal with players throwing the finger during games, players shoving opponents and being tossed out, and having to kick troublemakers off the team only to then meet with their parents to defend the actions he took as the head coach of the squad.

Mind you, Hamilton defended his players? on-field actions when he could. He?d argue a call until he was red in the face, just hoping to keep his players in a game. And was he thanked for that show of support, which very well could have ? and at least once did ? cost him his own money as the result of an ejection? Of course not.

And as what would prove to be his final season with the boys? team wound down, when he should have been only concerned with the district tournament and preparing to celebrate his team?s Senior Night, the Pioneers? coach had to instead dole out suspensions after a group of rocket scientists decided to moon passers-by out of the bus window on their way back from a road game.

They?re pressing ham out the bus windows. Are you surprised that he had his fill of those guys?

Personality clashes between coaches, players and parents are common. These days they?re almost expected, in every sport on virtually every level. But when you can?t instill your own system of discipline, and your own style of play, without worrying about which players or boosters are going to get their feelings hurt, you?re in a no-win situation.

It?s the sad truth that coaching is a thankless job, with second-guessers and nay-sayers coming at you from every angle. Why anyone agrees to take those jobs, especially for the minimal compensation they receive, is beyond comprehension. So in the end, no one should be surprised when a coach resigns, just as no one should be surprised when that vacancy proves tough to fill.