Pro Bono

[tigerbait]

The Omak Chronicle had an article last week with a parent quoted asking the Okanogan High School's golf coach to coach for free. Isn't that strange?

[tigerbait]

No one thinks its strange that people are being asked to work for free? Would you work for free at your job? Didn't Okanogan High School cut the golf program? Whats going on? Could someone please give me some insight to this situation.

[Boxinone]

Okanogan has a golf team? and you think that justifys a paid position? hmmmm

[1632Dad]

I thought I would chime in and answer some questions and clarify a few things. First of all, yes Okanogan does have a golf team that is currently unfunded. They are the defending Caribou Trail and District 6 champions and sent 3 golfers to the state tournament last year. As to the Chronicle article stating that a parent had "asked" the coach to coach for free..... let's clarify that. The coach has offered to coach for free but because of a conflict with the extra curricular union he is unable to do that. The union will not allow a coach to coach for free even if it is in the best interest of the kids and the only way to continue an existing program. Someone questioned whether this was "strange" and another asked if you would do your "job" for free. First, let's clarify what this "job" is. It consists of going out and playing golf for 2 1/2 hours per day, four days a week. Approximately 4 times per season you are required to transport 4 or 5 contestants to another golf course so that you can play golf for free at another golf course. For this sacrifice of your time you are paid the same salary as every other head coach of a varsity program at Okanogan High School. Many may not know that the golf program was originally started by a parent that wanted his child to have the opportunity to play high school golf. That parent volunteered his time and coached for free for a couple of years until someone in the school district realized that they could get paid to do the job. Now a parent can't even volunteer his time and coach for free because the union will not allow it. ISN'T THAT STRANGE? Why is it that volunteerism can be stymied by greedy unions?

[3457noraa]

First of all I applaud you... for the first few sentences there were some truths to what you're saying. Sadly, the rest of your rant has a singular fault, it is absent of facts. I'm not going to go into what "you think" the job as head coach of the boys and girls golf team is at Okanogan because "you" simply don't know. Want to know? Apply. Otherwise don't pretend that because you post what "you think" the job entails makes it so. We didn't win 6 league titles, 7 district titles, 2 individual state championships and 1 team state championship by "just playing" and going to courses to play free golf.

I give all the credit to the kids over the years [and yes, there have been years with over 20 members on the team, not 4 or 5.... do some research before you pop off]. They put in the hours, they play the matches, they won the championships. They have played in college and are playing in college today thank you very much and are doing quite well. The most successful sports program in Okanogan since 1999 has been cut by the school board for financial reasons, the sport that is cheapest to operate. What can be done about that is still a good question.

One last thing... anyone that says [without posting their name] that they know what goes into someone else's job is raising their own red flag of ignorance for all to see. If you think it's just that easy, the job may soon be open, but for now I am the head coach and I will name myself. Want to know more, call me at the school... I work there too.
Aaron Nickelson

[tigerbait]

The only issue I see with volunteer head coaches is that if a district recognizes that the coaches' union will allow people to volunteer when programs are cut why wouldn't the district cry poverty all the time? In addition what kind of coaches will you attract when they have to volunteer? I bet you would see mothers and fathers who don't have the experience or knowledge that the job requires. Granted no one gets to worked up about most high school sports, but football and basketball? Hows that volunteer going to respond to the pressure of those jobs?

What about pay to play for all sports?

[Okdawg]

The golf program at Okanogan High School was started approximately in the winter of 1987. Our local PGA Golf Professional, Bill Sproule and I approached the Okanogan School Board about such a possibility. The Board was receptive, as I volunteered to coach the team for one year. Bob Spiering, Principal, and Jim Strom, Athletic Director, were the individuals I reported to. We raised funds to buy golf shirts for the team that first year, and wind breakers the second year. I school district bought 5 dozen balls (discounted by the local pro) so each player could start a match with a new ball. I drove the team to away matches in an old ragtag van supplied by the school district.

In the beginning it was a team sport only. All matches were 9-hole matches, except for District play. Your team had to win district to go to state. The first year Okanogan finished second. The second year we finished in first place. The Varsity Team (5 players) and one alternate went to Chewelah Golf Club to compete in the State Tournament. I was very proud of those kids.

Remember, I volunteered for one year, but ended up volunteering for two years. After the second year, Bob Spiering told me if the levy passed I would be a paid coach. However, when the levy passed the Golf Coaching job was posted internally and a teacher got the paid position. A teacher who knew very little about golf. At that point, I felt the school district had taken the Public out of Public School District. The program suffered until a real golfer became the Golf Coach. The most successful sport at the school remains football because it produces enough revenue to support all the other programs.

The key to the success of golf at Okanogan was and remains the student-atheletes that have participated in a lifelong sport. Cutting the program is shameful and appalling.

Bill Neely, former volunteer Golf Coach

[outsider]

In response to "what kind of coaches would be attracted".........The kind of coach that is coaching for the RIGHT reasons such as the people who implemented golf at Okanogan in the first place and the current coaching staff. Coaches who coach for the love of their sport and in the BEST interest of kids. We all have coaches in our school districts who are coaching for the $$$$ only or the "notoriety" that they think comes with the job. Not for their expertise or in the best interest of the sport or kids. I applaud the coaches that do volunteer their salaries to be forfeited for the continuing support of their kids. Is is right to cut the cheapest sport and one of the most competitive? NO!! Find another way.

[mamabulldog123]

So, I read this thread when it first came out, thought about responding, but then decided not to bother. Then, I read it again tonight, and...here I go!

I am a teacher, coach and parent. Without my coaching responsibilities, I put in at least 60 hours a week for my job (that includes my teaching time, prep time, grading time, working with students after school, phone calls with parents, attending meetings, etc.). Of course, I do have my summer and other vacations (which are often spent taking college classes so I can keep my teaching certificate), which in the end averages out to be like the normal 40-hour week job with a month's earned vacation a year.

Now, if you add on just my coaching time, that's in season another 20 hours a week, but I also work throughout the summer with my athletes getting ready for camp and fundraising. I once figured out the hourly wage I make coaching, and it is just under $2 for the time I put in for my sport in one year and the stipend I receive.

I take HUGE OFFENSE to anyone who questions my devotion and dedication to kids. I OBVIOUSLY don't do it for the money when I could quite easily work a second job at a local coffee shop for far less hours and far more money, and FAR LESS RESPONSIBILITY! I coach because I love the kids and the sport!

In the end, I take my coach stipend, and I choose to get paid one lump sum at the end of the season. Do you know what I do with it? I do something special for family WHO HAVE ALL SACRIFICED so I could coach. How dare anyone say that I have not earned that money or that my family does not deserve that compensation! I would like to see ANY of you out there who would "volunteer" 20 hours a week at a minimum at your job.

If you know me, you know what I am involved in, which isn't just teaching and coaching. I am all about the kids. I volunteer in my community, as well. I personally believe that as a community we need to support our programs that we want in our schools. Our taxpayers pay the least amount of school tax in the county!

Just be careful for what you wish...