One privilege of coaching is watching a youth athlete shine under the demands of hard work and goal setting. In fact this process, when fully embraced, may be the very core of a coach/player relationship. Instilling fundamentals that assist athletes on the road to success takes diligence from both the child and the mentor. Our Coach of the Week, Quintin Parker, takes this duty very seriously when working with the girls on the Macomb Junior High Lady Mustangs 7th and 8th grade girls basketball team.
Progressing from former youth player to coach at his hometown YMCA, his love of helping kids enjoy a safe, healthy sports experience has only grown over the years. Now, nearly seven years into his coaching career, Coach Parker continues to engage and push his athletes, in hopes that they mature into quality young adults. His motivation is rooted in his obligation to give back to the very community that encouraged him to strive for the best on the court and in life.
Currently, Coach Parker and the Lady Mustangs are focused on executing their fall lineup, with their second game of the season scheduled for September 23rd. He wrote, “They’ve [the team] done extra work all summer and really have embraced the role of hard work when it comes to performing well.” The teams hard work has helped to make Coach Parker’s job a lot easier and he looks forward to seeing how the season plays out.
A full time videographer/tech systems manger, our Coach of the Week also has a busy schedule of his own to attack. Always leading by example, he’s proving to his girls that work, play and education can go hand in hand. About 50 percent complete with his masters degree in sports management at Western Illinois University, he maintains a routine and game plan that his players are certain to take notice of.
That’s not to say Coach Parker isn’t thankful for his family support system, which helps him execute his obligations successfully. To be sure, the Lady Mustangs appreciate his dedication too, and know how lucky they are to have him. And to show their thanks, player Katie Fields, awarded Coach Parker an excellence prop on Weplay with the comment, “Thank you for being an awesome coach and spending so much time working with us!”
It’s those comments and words of gratitude that make coaching worth it!
Coach Parker’s Keys to Success:
- Control the voices inside of ones self
The talk in your mind is the beginning of it all. If you say you can’t, then you won’t!
- If it ain’t hurtin’, it ain’t workin’
Pain and perseverance breed success.
