Trading the Desk for the Dugout: How We Found Our Inner Coach

Working at a school when your day job doesn’t involve direct interaction with the students can sometimes feel a little odd. We thought it would be nice to get to know the boys better and play a more active role in student life through sports. Last spring, we started asking our colleagues what they coached and whether there were any openings where we could help. 

The turning point was a perfectly executed staff-room ambush. We cornered our colleague James Trood and asked what he coached—other than varsity rugby, of course. When he mentioned he was looking for an assistant U12 volleyball coach, we decided right then and there that this would be the role for us! And just like that, as staff and faculty were preparing for the new school year in August, we found ourselves in the coaches’ meeting, preparing for the fall athletics season. 

Our team was full of players who were new to volleyball, but played with a lot of heart. Mr. Trood pushed us out of our comfort zone and gave us the confidence to take on a bigger role by running some morning practices ourselves. By the end of the season, the boys’ skills had improved greatly. Our experience was so positive that when Mr. Camacho approached us in the spring and asked for help with his U14 softball team, we gave him an instant “Yes!” In our first year of coaching, our amazing U14 team came home with CISAA bronze.

Throughout the year, the boys on both teams displayed teamwork, resilience, and spirit. Each boy is unique but shares a commitment to one another, the team, and representing the school well. We now experience the school in an entirely new way. It makes us happy to talk to parents about coaching their kids when we see them at events, or to ask our former players in the lunch room how things are going. It adds variety to our work, and it's fun to build relationships with the boys. We are excited to watch these players continue to grow and evolve at the school. We will be cheering them on! 

We spent this year running drills, handling equipment, keeping score, and cheering from the sidelines roughly twice a week. Stepping into these roles has enriched our connection to the school community, and in all honesty, we are having the best time. Heading out to practice or a game is often the highlight of our week. Many of our players started the season without even knowing we worked at the school. Today, it is genuinely the best feeling in the world when we walk into the dining hall for lunch, and our players shout, "Hi, Coach!" Our teams show up excited to play and keen to learn new skills, and we bring energy and positivity to every practice and game, encouraging the boys to be proud of themselves and their team. 

Coaching has also given us a firsthand look at the sheer dedication of our colleagues. We have developed a massive appreciation for the faculty who put 100% into Crescent’s Character-in-Action programs after they’ve already put 100% into their teaching. We’re grateful for their mentorship and guidance as we figured out how to best coach the boys.

If you're wondering if you'll see Coaches Shearer and van back in action next year, our answer is simple: Absolutely!