Why I Left Coaching

I get asked regularly why I left coaching. Then followed up by questions like; “Do you miss it?”, “Will you go back?”, or “Would you ever come coach with me?”. The answer is complicated. Let me answer the first for you.

Let’s start with the facts. Yes it was pretty abrupt. Yes it was surprising, even to me. I was hired as a varsity coach at the ripe age of 26 years old. I’m the type of person that is fueled by “you can’ts”, so when I was told I was too young or not ready, that was nitroglycerin fuel for me.

I loved the locker room dynamics of coaching. There is nothing like it. The jokes. The strategy. The fun. I loved every kid I coached. Those relationships became more fine tuned over the years. I learned a lot from mistakes. Many times I let my guys down because of my maniacal competitive nature, placing winning over lessons to be learned. As sports work, the more my teams won, the more the potential for influence grew. When you find success a war comes with it. Pride vs humility. One of the greatest battles we can fight.

Going from 4-19 my first season to coaching in sold out playoff games two years later, this war was at a climax. The program had never won more than 16 games in its entire history and we did it two years in a row. Some days I thought I was the greatest leader that ever existed. Other days God’s voice entered my brain and told me to calm down. As this battle ensued I found my influence growing. Kids I’d barely ever talked to walked into my classroom asking for guidance. People I’d only had casual conversations with were confessing their darkest secrets to me. I became a go-to for kids struggling with mental health in the school. I was the underground therapist. As this is all happening I’m still fighting my own battles. If my brain is a square of issues facing off in the four corners I had pride, anxiety, pressure, and lethargy all squaring off in a showdown that could only possibly drive me into the ground. I was a strong leader in the community and yet I was failing to lead myself well.

What people didn’t know is every day I placed an unbearable pressure on myself. There was no way I could live up to my own expectations. There was definitely no way the boys could live up to them. Every loss was met with extreme disappointment. I felt as if I let the entire world down if we lost. The reality is no one cared the next morning besides me. But you couldn’t tell me that at the time. I would watch the other teams’ film at least somewhere between 6-10 times before every game. If each game is an hour to watch that’s 6-10 hours before every single game. I knew every single play the other team would run. I knew exactly where each player wanted to shoot from. I knew who would pick their nose. I wanted to work harder than any person that I would be in a gym with.

But that can’t last. When other coaches told me about their inner peace and contentment I would get extremely jealous. I had no conceptual knowledge of contentment. I was on pace for a hall of fame type of career. By 30 years old I had multiple coach of the year awards and every record in the program broken. But when I’d go home I felt empty. I felt burned out. My family was getting my leftovers constantly. I desperately needed to find some sort of peace and contentment. That was the first domino to fall.

I look back now and realize the real reason I left was because God wanted me to. He wanted me to enter a new realm of leadership. My focus is still kingdom growth but with a much bigger audience. I think there was some pruning that was needed in order for me to leaving coaching behind. Sure there were frustrations that I think were reasons that contributed to the burnout, but I’m glad they happened to get me where I am. Teaching had become more paperwork than relationships. It wasn’t about who can you impact as much as “have you written an objective on your board?” and “what are your test scores?”. I’d been told by someone over me that I was stupid because I gave a young man with a rough background a chance to be on our team. He needed love. I knew the right answer was to embrace him, he was a kid and it could’ve changed his life. After a rough moment, I was called in and told the worst possible things someone can say about you and your integrity. I’d realized that the school system was becoming more about optics than impact, and that wasn’t for me. I don’t think these are bad people. Just products of the system.

So these moments add up and when you combine them with the highly combustable pressure I was putting on myself, one thing was clear: I needed a change. Looking back now, I wonder… Was that just a natural occurrence? Or was it the Holy Spirit allowing me to cleave and enter a new ministry? Unfortunately I can’t know that one. But here is what is important, I know I’m where I need to be. My circle of influence has expanded from kids in a locker room/classroom to coaches and leaders across the country. Once a week someone messages me asking for advice. I typically start with “I can tell you right now that I didn’t get it all right, but I can tell you what did and didn’t work”. I used to wonder if God had a hand in the wins. Did he choose for my team to win those playoff games? At times it sure did seem like it. Then I settled on, there’s no way. Now, as a I look back and really think about it. I think so. Not because he wanted me to win. But because he knew that there was a much bigger plan for me. It was going to be bringing a message of salvation to coaches across the country. Do you know what’s helpful for that? Influence. And being successful definitely helps your influence. I’m not sure anyone would listen to me if I was a terrible coach. So is it possible God was creating favor for the future interactions I’d have? Definitely, I believe so. His plan is always being unraveled, as you read this in fact. The Bible says he knew you even before you were in the womb. It says we are his craftsmanship created to do good works that he has planned for us in advance. There are no accidents.

What am I up to now? I’m pastoring at a church in Springfield Illinois. I work with my best friend and his dad. I enjoy walking into work for the first time in a long time. I’m having fun every day. I work with kids that are zealous for a relationship with God. I get to talk to insanely cool people on a podcast. A new relationship is made weekly with coaches across the country. I’m doing a book study every Friday morning with a rising star at VCU (I roped him into writing for me - definitely check out his article tab). I get to mentor young coaches regularly. I am still getting mentored by older and wiser coaches. I’m spending a lot of time with my family. I get to do lunch dates with my wife. I get to coach my son’s youth teams. I get to talk to former players regularly and have the blessing of getting to watch them crush it in life. Coaching was one of my greatest joys. But my ultimate joy comes from the Lord, and I’ll be where he wants me to be.

Now you know.

Sincerely, Hunter Price