"A Coach" - Reflections on Humanics - Sept 19, 1997

Item Information

Title:
"A Coach" - Reflections on Humanics - Sept 19, 1997
Description:
This column titled “A Coach” is part of a series of reflections written by Springfield College’s Distinguished Professor of Humanics Joel Dearing on September 19, 1997.
Creator:
Dearing, Joel B.
Date:
September 19, 1997
Format:
Documents
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Series:
Distinguished Professor of Humanics Collection
Subjects:
Humanics
Springfield College
Springfield College--Faculty
Springfield College--Alumni and alumnae
Dearing, Joel B.
Places:
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
Extent:
2 Pages
Link to Item:
http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/7716
Terms of Use:
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
Springfield College
Language:
English
Notes:
Dearing was Springfield College’s Distinguished Professor of Humanics during the 1997-1998 academic year. During this time, he started a weekly column in the Springfield Student newspaper called, “Reflections on Humanics.” In his column from the week of September 19, 1997, Dearing begins with a trivia question and a chance to win a free lunch. The question is, “What was the title of the Humanics lecture given in 1988 by Professor James Robertson?” Dearing provides a hint that the Humanics lectures are on the Springfield College website under Babson Library. He then goes on to start his reflection “A Coach.” Dearing states he remembers being discouraged a second string JV basketball player his sophomore year in high school. He had a dream of playing on the varsity team at Sterns High School in Maine. Upon catching the varsity coach in the locker room one day, Dearing asked him what he had to do to make it. The coach replied that he better practice harder than anyone else. Therefore, Dearing did some math and came up with a goal for the summer before his junior year to practice for 500 hours. He goes on to explain his daily schedule consisted of 3-5 hours of drills in the morning, usually alone, and then evening challenges of competition on the playground with kids in his town, some of them being former State Championship players. Dearing explains how he began to improve that summer and started to believe in himself. At tryouts in the fall, Dearing was one of the last to get picked for the team, but he made it. He goes on to explain that he became the starting point guard for most of the season. Junior year, his coach asked him what his plans were for the future. When Dearing responded saying he wanted to teach Physical Education and coach, his coach told him he needed to go to Springfield. Dearing goes on to explain the details of the rest of his basketball career. Junior year his team lost in the semis, however, he was extremely proud of his accomplishments and was determined to put in another 500 hours. Dearing’s senior year, his coach moved and took a new job in Massachusetts. Dearing was devastated, however, they kept in touch and his coach even offered to take him on a visit to Springfield. Dearing’s senior year went well, although his team had a heart breaking loss in the semis. His old coach had traveled up for the game and came into the locker room after the loss. He told Dearing that although this wouldn’t mean anything to him now, one day he would go on to have experiences more important than this game. A few months later Dearing took the bus to Danvers, MA to stay with his coaches’ family and also take a tour of Springfield College. Dearing states how at the time he was embarrassed because his coach was saying things about him that he didn’t think he could live up to. It turned out that indeed Dearing did go to Springfield, he continued to stay in touch with his high school coach, who he reveals at the end of the reflection is named Dave Smith, and he even lived with him and his family during his senior year of student teaching. What Dearing thanked Smith the most for was his continued reassurance and reinforcement throughout his athletic career: characteristics that helped shape Dearing into the coach that he wanted to be. Dearing earned his BS from Springfield College in 1979 and taught as an associate professor of Physical Education at the college. Dearing also coached women’s volleyball for 22 seasons (1989-2010). He finished his career with a win-loss record of 595-196 and a .752 winning percentage. Dearing was the recipient of several different Coach of the Year honors throughout the years.
Identifier:
Reflections on Humanics sept 19, 1997