This was written by the now former men’s basketball coach at Saint Michael’s College in Vermont. The left wants their agenda to be front and center in every aspect of academic life. Nothing is immune.
From Inside Higher Ed:
Why Coaching for Social Justice MattersI write this as my six-year term as a college head men’s basketball coach comes to a close. Two winning seasons, followed by four losing seasons, mark the end of my tenure at Saint Michael’s College and possibly my complex relationship with a profession that I did not fit into.My values as an educator were challenged within a system that was a business of winning basketball games, often compromising the overall development of student athletes as people. While our win/loss percentage was far from stellar, we have developed a distinct culture in our program where basketball has been leveraged in order to help many student athletes have meaningful learning experiences through team sport. Student athletes have graduated from our life lessons 101 curriculum with a degree that is grounded in leadership, community, critical thinking and contextual awareness. Their experiences as members of our team will allow for increased success and happiness in all aspects of their lives.My most memorable moments as a head coach have been seeing the courageous and compassionate work that our student athletes have done in the community, especially around issues related to social justice. Our team’s advocacy in the name of marginalized groups of people and its actions, which have combated oppression, are reflective of the power of sport. I have witnessed the large-scale impact that a team can have on a community in the form of countless notes, emails, social media messages and conversations in which people have expressed their gratitude and that they have been inspired by our actions.For me, such outcomes are much more rewarding than winning a game.
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