Coupeville’s basketball players celebrated big moments, but with class, part of why both its girls and boys teams were honored for sportsmanship by Olympic League coaches. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Other coaches liked them. They really, really liked them.
Coupeville’s final season in the 1A Olympic League was capped with an unusual distinction — both the Wolf girls and boys hoops squads received the conference award for Best Sportsmanship.
Pulling off the double-win, and having their players recognized by rival coaches, brought a smile to the faces of CHS coaches David King (girls) and Brad Sherman (boys).
As the duo marinated in the moment, they took time out from their busy schedules to speak about what the award means to them as coaches, and what it means to the culture of their programs.
What does winning the award mean to you personally as a coach?
King: Being voted by the other coaches for this award validates what we are trying to do as a program.
Compete every day and no matter if we win or lose we treat the game of basketball and those involved with respect.
Sherman: It’s a nice recognition for the team.
The guys can be proud of the way they played and the class they displayed on the court this year.
To have both boys and girls recognized in the same year is really a nice testament to our Coupeville athletes and their level of character.
How is winning it a positive for your program?
King: It shows that we can be aggressive and have an attitude of playing to win or never backing down. These things are needed to develop and maintain a winning culture.
We are also able to stay true to who we are and play the game the right way.
Sherman: Sets the bar where we always want it to be in regards to sportsmanship.
Character and attitude truly matter and any time that’s recognized I think it’s a really positive thing for our athletes and our program culture.
Is sportsmanship something you have preached or encouraged?
King: The great thing about the players in Coupeville, they already come with a great attitude and we as coaches don’t have to encourage the sportsmanship side of things.
I would say the one area that we do preach about sportsmanship is not running up a score.
This is a topic that does get mentioned early on every season.
Sherman: I think we just try to set a few basic expectations of what it means to be a Wolf basketball player.
At the beginning of the year the team discussed and agreed to a few basic items – one being taking pride in the name on the front their uniform.
This just meant understanding that as a team, our actions, effort, choices and words (both on and off the basketball court) are a reflection on the team, the school, and their community.
I thought the guys did a really nice job this year in that regard, and our leaders did a wonderful job setting that example and keeping their composure no matter what the situation.
I think both programs are blessed with some great, respectful young athletes who don’t need a lot of reminders about playing with class as it’s really in their nature to do so anyhow.
How do you, as a coach, balance sportsmanship with wanting your teams to whomp on people?
King: Balancing sportsmanship and having my competitive side kick in is something I’ve had to work on as a coach.
If I wasn’t competitive I wouldn’t have played sports or coach it now.
However, there has to be a balance and teaching these athletes that it’s okay to be compassionate and at the same time having the will to win.
Sherman: I think at the end of the day the focus is to work hard and do all we can to win basketball games – but win with class, lose with class, and play with the same attitude and effort regardless.
Up by 30 or down by 30, close game, physical game … at the end of the day, you just aim to be a team that goes out there and plays hard, focuses on and respects the game of basketball, and ignores all the other stuff.
Our athletes deserve a lot of credit for that this year.
