Georgia Southern University Digital Commons@Georgia Southern Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of Fall 2020 Between and Behind the Lines: The Life of High School Coaches Mary Davis Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd Part of the Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Other Education Commons, and the Secondary Education Commons Recommended Citation Davis, M.K. (2020). Between and behind the lines: The life of high school coaches This dissertation (open access) is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of at Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BETWEEN AND BEHIND THE LINES: THE LIFE OF HIGH SCHOOL COACHES by MARY K. DAVIS (Under the Direction of John Weaver) ABSTRACT In this study, I write about the emotional journey of high school athletic coaches’ experiences as they move through their day as teachers, coaches, and spouses/parents. The examination of the emotions and transitions high school coaches experience has been largely unresearched. There have been examinations of teachers, the impact coaches have on athletes, and a coach as a parent, but there is not extensive research on all three roles experienced by one person. High school athletics is a tremendous part of high school, and coaches have a tremendous impact not only on their players, but on the students they teach in the classroom as well. Coaches are often more visible and identifiable than the administration. As high school athletics continues to garner societal attention, it is imperative the motivations, emotions and conflicts coaches experience are examined within the three roles in order to understand how they handle this dynamic role transition. Using various frameworks and literature reviews, this study examines the emotions, transitions, motivations, and challenges high school athletic coaches experience. Three male coaches and their spouses were interviewed for this study. In addition, my own autobiographical stories and experiences are also weaved throughout each chapter. Some of the themes that emerged through the examination of each role include emotional regulation, learning through play, role conflict, workaholism, and work-family conflict. These themes indicate the role transitions high school athletic coaches experience are complicated and different for each coach.. The interviews also revealed the commitment to their role as a teacher, coach, and spouse are incredibly strong and without that commitment, they would not be able to continuously navigate the dynamic role transitions necessary to be a high school athletic coach Many scholarly works were utilized throughout this research including Immanuel Kant (1908/2015), Nel Noddings (2002 and 2005), Sonya Nieto (2005), Jennifer Welborn (2005), Sam Intrator (2003), William Ayers (2010), and Erin Rooney (2015), Paul Wright and David Walsh (2015), Michael Coffino (2018), Michael Miragiuolo (2014), and Jeffery Graham and Marlene Dixon (2014). INDEX WORDS: Athletics, High school, High school athletics, Coach, High school coach, Teacher, Athletic coach, High school teacher, Emotions, Emotions in the classroom, Emotions in athletics, Interrole conflict in athletics, Interrole conflict, Interrole conflict in high school athletics, Workaholism in high school athletics, Workaholism, Family, Family and high school coaching, High school teacher, High school athletics, Teaching and emotions, Teaching and coaching BETWEEN AND BEHIND THE LINES: THE LIFE OF HIGH SCHOOL COACHES by MARY K. DAVIS B.S., Montreat College, 1999 M.S.M., Troy University, 2004 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Georgia Southern University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF EDUCATION COLLEGE OF EDUCATION © 2020 MARY K. DAVIS All Rights Reserved 1 BETWEEN AND BEHIND THE LINES: THE LIFE OF HIGH SCHOOL COACHES by MARY K. DAVIS Major Professor: John Weaver Committee: Daniel Chapman Daniel Czech Ming Fang He Electronic Version Approved: December 2020 2 DEDICATION I would like to take a moment and thank those that supported me through this process. First and foremost, I would like to thank my children, Mason, Emma, and Blake for their support, sacrifice, and confidence. I would like to thank my husband, T.J., for his unyielding support and sacrifice. Without the support of my family this would not have been possible. Without your encouragement, I could not have completed this process. I know it was not easy, but your support drove me throughout this process. To my parents, Ed and Cheryl Custer: Thank you for your support and encouragement. Without your words of wisdom throughout the years and shaping me to be who I am today, I would not have had the courage to pursue this milestone. I appreciate the sacrifices you made throughout the years and the unbridled commitment you have for our family. To my sister, Beth, and her husband, Eric, and my fantasitic nephew and niece, Andrew and Anna, thank you for watching the kids and taking care of them while we were in class. Thank you for your support and encouragement. Without your support, this endeavor would have been much harder. To all those that offered support and watched our kids, especially Ms. Regina, Jeff and Judy, and Dennis and Anita, it is much appreciated and made the journey to and from Statesboro much less worrisome. 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I want to express my gratitude to my committee: Dr. John Weaver, Dr. Daniel Chapman, Dr. Daniel Czech, and Dr. Ming Fang He. Your support, guidance, and encouragement were vital to completing this process. I appreciate the encouragement you provided throughout my educational journey. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.....................................................................................................................2 CHAPTER PROLOGUE...…….……………………………………………………………………….....5 Chapter Outlines…...…....……………………………………………………….......6 1 INTRODUCTION....…………………………………………………...…………………..9 Preview........................................................................................................................9 Personal Background...................................................................................................9 Curriculum Studies Connection..................................................................................15 Introduction to Participants.........................................................................................27 Interview Methodology……………………………………………………………...31 2 COACHES IN THE CLASSROOM………………………………...…………………….32 Preview.......................................................................................................................32 Emotions in the Classroom.........................................................................................32 3 COACHES ON THE FIELD................................................................................................59 Preview.......................................................................................................................59 The Importance of Play..............................................................................................59 Connection to Play for Coaches and Athletes…………............................................64 The Emotions of a Coach...........................................................................................72 4 COACHES AT HOME……………………………………………………………………85 Preview.......................................................................................................................85 Family.........................................................................................................................85 Work-Family Conflict................................................................................................88 Workaholism..............................................................................................................106 Coping Strategies.......................................................................................................108 5 TYING IT ALL TOGETHER…………………………………………………………….115 Preview......................................................................................................................115 Personal Reflection....................................................................................................115 Advice to Younger Coaches......................................................................................120 Advice to Younger Coaches from the Wives............................................................123 Protecting your Coach and Family............................................................................124 Message to their Kids................................................................................................126 Message to Administrators and Other Educators......................................................127 Coach’s Reflections...................................................................................................131 Tying it all Together..................................................................................................133 EPILOGUE.............................................................................................................................135 Future