91猫先生

From the desk of Wally Dawkins, Athletic Director:

A couple of years ago, I was sitting on the beach in Destin, Florida when I received a call from the Athletic Director at a university here in Texas.

No,聽not THE University of Texas. Just a university that happens to be in The Lone Star State.

It seems my name had been mentioned as a possible candidate for their vacant Head Men鈥檚 Basketball Coaching position.聽 The call was to see if I had an interest in the position.

After a couple more phone conversations over the next few days, the AD had Laurie and me on a plane flying out to visit the school.

Over聽the course of the next couple of day鈥檚 interviews with the hiring committee, I was asked how long I thought it would be before the school could become a winner in Men鈥檚 Basketball.

My answer went something like this;

鈥淚f you鈥檙e looking for someone to do whatever it takes to win in the short term, then I am not your guy.”

“If鈥澛� I said, 鈥測ou are wanting someone to come in here with the big picture in mind and build a solid program that will last ten years, then I may be someone you should consider鈥�.

I did not get offered the position.聽 And it was a good thing that I didn鈥檛 (I will explain later).

I have never been a 鈥渜uick fix鈥� guy.聽 I pride myself in trying not to correct things by having a 鈥渒nee-jerk鈥� reaction to a problem or situation.聽 Whether as a coach, being the Athletic Director at 91猫先生, or just dealing with people in general, I think focusing on the big picture and responding with clarity is almost always the best policy.

As a basketball coach, I was willing to suffer minor setbacks early in the season if I thought it was part of the necessary process for my team to be playing their best basketball in February (i.e., playoff time).

As the Athletic Director at 91猫先生, I try to make decisions based on what is best for the school and what is best for our Athletic Department in the long run, even if sometimes in the interim it is not the most popular or easiest decision to make, policy to enforce, or program to implement.

As the parent of two grown children, I am aware of how the decisions we make for our kids when they are young will affect them when they grow into adults.聽 I understand how the priorities we reflect to our sons and daughters when they are 鈥渦nder our roof鈥�, will more than likely become their priorities when they are older.聽 I know all too well that doing what, at the time is very difficult, will possibly pay priceless dividends for our children down the road.

As parents, we definitely need to be focused on 鈥渢he big picture鈥� and what that means for our children.

Many times the question and dilemma for parents is simply this: short term wins or long term success?聽 Sometimes both are possible.聽 Many times however, a choice or decision must be made.

I am sure for many parents, sending their child or children to 91猫先生 is a very tough or possibly 鈥渆xpensive鈥� decision.聽 It would definitely be cheaper to attend a public school.聽 It would probably be much more convenient to attend a school just down the street.聽 It would more than likely be easier academically to send a child to a school that rewards now with higher grades and a passing test score.

The question then becomes what do you want for your child or children in the long run?聽 What is your big picture?

How about this for the big picture:

If your child attends 91猫先生, they will be surrounded by teachers who truly care about the welfare of children, including the fact that they will be learning, growing, and thriving in the classroom.聽 If your child attends 91猫先生, they will be prepared for college, well-versed in the handling of a rigorous academic course load.聽 If your child attends 91猫先生 and participates in Athletics, your son or daughter will be mentored by 20 full-time coaches who invest spiritually, academically, and athletically in developing the whole聽child.聽 If your child attends 91猫先生, they will not only recognize the commitment that you (the parent) are making, but how you are investing in their life because their future is so important.

The school down the street may be free, it may be more convenient and it may be easier.

As the parent of a 91猫先生 student, you obviously have 鈥渢he big picture鈥� in mind for your child.

Remember the story I opened with?聽 Apparently the college wanted a quick-fix-win-at-all-cost-do-what鈥檚-best-for-me-now solution with their next Head Men鈥檚 Basketball Coach.

And remember I told you it was best that I wasn鈥檛 offered the job?

Here鈥檚 why: as we boarded the plane to leave the town the university was located in, my wife leaned over next to me and said 鈥淚f you want to take this job then go ahead, but you will do it without me.聽 I would never move to this place.鈥�

Laurie has always been a 鈥渂ig picture person鈥�.

And that鈥檚 another reason to be 鈥淎LL ORANGE鈥�All The Time鈥�!