A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT NALIN SOOD
Dear NHSBCA State Leaders-Hope that this letter finds you doing well and enjoying a safe fall season. With basketball season just around the corner the NHSBCA is again staying busy each month with ongoing tasks and projects for the betterment of our association. In light of the recent developments that surround college basketball and the corruption that has taken place, the NHSBCA on our recent conference call had great conversation and dialogue about our role with this and how it impacts us. Through this conversation it was again brought up that we hope that the higher powers will see the significant importance and value of the high school coach. Prior to this scandal even hitting the news the NHSBCA had long conversations about how the role of the high school coach seems to have lessened over the years in the world of recruiting. The times now are showing that collegiate basketball recruiting was placing more value in communicating with non-scholastic coaches, “handlers”, and “shoe guys” than that of the high school coach. Why? We obviously have an idea but totally disagree and are extremely disappointed and honestly saw this coming. I highly recommend you take a look at the recent positions we took months ago and position papers we developed on the topics of:
- Landscape of Amateur Basketball by Dave Archer
- For Profit Basketball
- Ending Summer Recruiting
- Recruiting Services
We by no means looked into our proverbial crystal ball and could have made this prediction, but there are not looks of surprise on our faces towards the recent developments as these documents will show. The last time I checked, the high school coach still plays as an extremely valuable, if not the most important role, in the life of the basketball student-athlete, and let me emphasize “student-athlete”. As high school coaches we:
- Are required to go through an interview process.
- Are required to go through background checks.
- Hold our student-athletes accountable for their grades.
- Are accountable to principals, building athletic directors, district athletic directors and state athletic association governing bodies.
- Communicate on a regular basis with school employees (i.e. teacher, fellow coaches, para-educators, lunch staff and custodians)
We do so as part of our job, but more so, to create that bridge and line of communication for the success of our programs and student-athletes so we fully know not only how they are doing on the basketball court, but also off the court as well. How they are doing as young men and women as they successfully transition to adulthood is invaluable. From these successes we can then see them succeed on the court. Let’s hope that the NCAA and powers to be also see this and re-emphasize the role of the high school basketball coach as mentors and role models and not just as those with whistles around our necks.
My best to each and every one of you and thank for for your endless energy and support for high school basketball in your respective states
NHSBCA President Nalin Sood - Washington
Nalin discussed the growth plan for the NHSBCA that was discussed this past summer in Indianapolis. Nalin recently sent out a communication to state leaders about this growth plan. In Indianapolis is was agreed that each state would submit an email list of its members (email addresses and first names) to Rich Czeslawski. The lists do not need to be from this year, last year’s list is more than fine. As an organization we need numbers of email, not accuracy. Work continues on the the NHSBCA website (nhsbca.org) with videos from Indy, “Court of Honor” and “Points-of-Pride”. Final preparations are being done for the agreement between the NHSBCA and USA Basketball. Nalin was recently in Indianapolis serving on the Sports Medicine Advisory Council through the National Federation (NFHS). He feels confident inroads are being made for future NHSBCA work with the NFHS. This is great exposure for the NHSBCA. A lot of time was spent in at the conference discussing high school athletes and the enormous industry it has become. President Sood is also developing criteria for groups wanting to “present” on our monthly conference calls. These requests will be handled on a case by case basis.
Senior Director of Operations and NABC Board Member - Dave Archer – New York
Dave Archer has been taking part in conference calls with the NABC. The focus of these calls has been the recent NCAA scandal and the involvement of the FBI in this scandal. The NABC is adamant that they will come out of this controversy. They are working to form a commission to help bring about reform. Coach Archer is hopeful that he can be on this committee. The NABC is providing talking points for coaches to follow in regards to the recent scandal. The NABC continues to promote academics with its member coaches, especially through the recent scandal.
Dave Archer, Tom Hursey (Michigan), Tom Barrick (Ohio) and many other NHSBCA executive board members feel this is the time for the NHSBCA to grab this opportunity and “lead the way” in putting recruiting back into the hands of the high school coaches. The recent scandal has created the ideal timing for us to take this opportunity. With the recent “position paper” on recruiting (from our summer Indy meetings) the NHSBCA is right on track in regards to the current business of the NABC and the NCAA. Coach Archer, with the help of the NHSBCA executive board, is working on a document titled “Active Roles for Varsity High School Coaches”. This is the much needed next step to the documents we finalized and worked on this summer in Indianapolis. This document will be shared with state leaders, media and influential people upon completion.
Secretary/Treasurer - Dave Ginsberg – Michigan
Dave Ginsberg informed the executive board that member states sent in checks to the NHSBCA in the amount of $1700, with the NHSBCA adding an additional $100, for hurricane relief programs in Houston and Florida. He is in the process of collecting dues from member states for the current year. Coach Ginsberg has also been updating the ongoing “Points of Pride” section of our website, Texas and Virginia are up next to present the happenings in their states and in their coaches associations. He has also been having conversations with Florida as they continue to recover from the hurricane and its aftermath, as well as health related issues with its state leadership. He has also been making inroads in bringing Nebraska into our organization and possibly having them join us in North Carolina this coming summer.
2018 NHSBCA Summer Convention – Greg Grantham - NHSBCA Exec. Board Member– North Carolina
Preparations continue for the Summer Convention in North Carolina, July 11, 12, 13 (Wednesday-Friday). Initial preparations on the agenda are underway. This summer the Awards Banquet will be a luncheon to allow for socializing in the evening. Coach Grantham has been working hard with the Sheraton in Raleigh on rooms, meeting rooms and other preparations. He has also been working with the basketball offices at North Carolina, Duke, and NC State. He believes it is a strong possibility of visiting & touring all three basketball facilities. He is working on transportation means and options on these visits. More information will be forthcoming in future newsletters.
WBCA Information - Renee Turpa – NHSBCA Exec. Board Member – Indiana
Renee Turpa has indicated that Teresa Waters (Maryland) has agreed to do some work with the WBCA. The WBCA has an opening on its board for the position of a high school coach.This would be an ideal position for Renee, but she is not an active coach. Teresa is still an active coach making her a logical choice to fill in representing the NHSBCA and high school coaches across the nation. The hope is to have Renee on their Board “officially” next year. NHSBCA President Nalin Sood will be sending out information and a letter from the WBCA to all of state leaders very shortly.
Next NHSBCA Executive Board Conference Call –November 19, 2017 / 8 pm (Eastern)
Note: The Executive Board of the NHSBCA conducts regular monthly conference calls to discuss association matters as they relate to the betterment of this association and its members nationally.
NHSBCA Executive Board – Nalin Sood (President - Washington), Dave Archer (Senior Director of Operations – New York), Chris Nimmo (Vice President – Missouri), Rich Czeslawski (Director of Development and Communication), Don Logan (Past President – Iowa), Dave Ginsberg (Secretary/Treasurer - Michigan), Tom Barrick (Ad Hoc Board member - Ohio), Renee Turpa (Ad Hoc Board Member and WBCA liaison – Indiana), Peter Murray (Ad Hoc Board Member – Maine), Greg Grantham (Board Member Emeritus - North Carolina), Steve Witty (Board member Emeritus - Indiana), and Tom Hursey / Board member Emeritus - Michigan).
