WBL Head Coach

Discussion of Minnesota Girls High School Hockey

Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)

forloveofthegame
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 10:06 am

WBL Head Coach

Post by forloveofthegame »

I read in another thread (boys) that the White Bear Lake head coaching position is open. Any news on who is going to fill the position?
ghshockeyfan
Posts: 6132
Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2003 2:33 pm
Location: Inver Grove Heights, MN
Contact:

Post by ghshockeyfan »

I've heard a few names in the pool and it should be a good group to select from.
hockeyheaven
Posts: 323
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2007 12:42 pm

Post by hockeyheaven »

Do tell.
mnhockey3535
Posts: 136
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:55 pm

mg

Post by mnhockey3535 »

i have also heard that the maple grove team has an opening....anyone heard anything on who may be next in line there.
Abe
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:24 pm

MG Job

Post by Abe »

I have heard rumblings that Noelle Sutton...current JV head...and former Gopher is in the mix
hockeyheaven
Posts: 323
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2007 12:42 pm

Post by hockeyheaven »

Hey...mnhockey3535 start your own thread, this one was addressing WBL's situation. :lol:
Abe, I have to assume you were referring to the Maple Grove position, correct?
Abe
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:24 pm

Post by Abe »

Yeah..that was for Maple Grove
Melvin44
Posts: 390
Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:43 am

Post by Melvin44 »

I guess its official WBL has a new PARENT coach who won out over some pretty good names

Jerry's a great guy and knows hockey. He does have a daughter on the team, Junior next year and a friend to allot of parents. I hope it doesn't cause any problems, as we can't afford to lose any more players.

I would have liked to see someone with head coaching experience or a non-parent coach. I'll support him 100 % and hope for the best. Our girls will be better conditioned and hopefully better skilled as he has talked about how he would coach in the past and if he follows through on his ideas the girls will only be better.

I consider Jerry a close friend and hope he does well.

Good luck.
Last edited by Melvin44 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 8:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.
joehockey
Posts: 1521
Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:22 am

Post by joehockey »

Congratulations this seems like a good choice - wasn't he the head coach for most of these kids in youth hockey and the group had a lot of success at the state level right?

Did WBL lose some girls from last year's team or are you just talking about girls that are at other schools from the WBL community?
Melvin44
Posts: 390
Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:43 am

Post by Melvin44 »

Yes, he was the U12 and U14 state tournament coach.

And yes I'm talking about girls that have left to play at other schools. I just felt WBL needed a coach who could possibly stop the girls from leaving. We are losing a U14 girl to Totino next year. There has also been a player who mentioned the Thoroughbreds. Our 8th grade defender also was being mentioned going to Hill. She has decided to stay at WBL, which is huge. Last year we had around 25 skaters on JV and Varsity with not much help coming up for a few years.

If there were a parent coach who could stop players from leaving it would be Jerry. I've been told he is interviewing a couple of former Gopher women as assistants, which would be outstanding.
Last edited by Melvin44 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 8:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
gopher25
Posts: 69
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 12:44 pm

Post by gopher25 »

I am not so sure about Goski, but Centennial has had a great program. Great Youth program. ON the boys side their coaches are extremely involved, I am assuming the girls program isn't any different.

In my opinion Mr. Kwapick has clearly helped the players get to where they are today. So i can empathize with his frustration as to what has gone on if there has not been success. I also applaud him for throwing his hat in the ring so to speak to help remedy the situation. However he has a player on the team. No matter what that players and parents are going to be skeptical if his daughter or close friends are playing a lot. Then there is going to be chaos. However people say they want non parent coaches, but then when they get a non parent they make life so difficult that many get out of it because what are they gaining from the exp. a lot of head aches for not a lot of money. Case in point Melvin44, wasn't Coach Anderson a non parent?

So that is why parents step up because they have a vested interest in the situation, until their daughters graduate. Also the problem I see with this is what happens after a game? Does Mr. Kwapick go out with the dads he has always been friends with have a beer/pop and digest the game? It is only natural to talk about the game or practice, who is playing well and who isn't when you have the "parent hat on". Then one of the parents that was there goes home and talks to his wife and the daughter overhears it. She goes to school and says guess what my dad told me, but really I over heard it... you are going to 1st line next game. The player who gets bumped to 2nd line hears about it at school instead of from the coach. Don't believe me? Ask any player who has played for a parent coach at the high school level. This will provoke another unbiased argument! This is a huge difference from youth hockey.

It will be interesting to see what goes on at CDH next year. I have read on this forum (which one might consider the word of God :))that the coach seemed to have an obvious bias against a player and for his own daughter. Will he be a better and unbiased coach now that his daughter is gone? Time will only tell.

I believe for the game to grow non parents need to get involved, but any non parent coach I know has a shelf life of about 3 years because its just too much. Especially for a young female/male that has the passion but also yearns to have their own family. I do not have any solutions.

I think this generation of parents are just too involved for non parent coaches and maybe Mr. Kwapick was a great choice! There is soo much money involved. In girls sports one thing I haven't ever understood is why put a ton of money into sports and less into their education. There are no professional sports for girls,I guess there is the WNBA but we are on the hockey board here. so college is it for them. Education is just so important, don't get me wrong it is for boys, but with girls a parent can be more realistic and literally say, Look you aren't playing pro so lets focus on your math grades or history test you failed last week...The majority of parents are great but the few that are nutty, boy look out!

The pendulum will swing when the players now and the younger 20's generations have their own kids since their parents were so involved and it probably drove them nuts they will not want to be as involved and you will see more non-parent coaches again. I also think you will more kids playing sports just for fun again because they will look back and see their lives were soo structured. Heck with gas prices getting so high we could see people moving back into the cities and neighborhood activities might flourish again. When is the last time you drove past the local park and saw a pick up game of baseball, or touch football? that is if there wasn't a structured practice on it to begin with!

This was half off topic, but best of luck to WBL they have some great youth players and I am sure if he beat out all of those other applicants it was for a reason!
talkhockey
Posts: 52
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:52 pm

Post by talkhockey »

Edit
Last edited by talkhockey on Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
hockey_rocker
Posts: 113
Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:33 am

WBL Coach

Post by hockey_rocker »

My daughter was one of those players who played for Jerry at the youth level. I credit him and the staff that worked with him ( Melvin44 included) for setting a kid who had never played organized hockey and didn't start until 6th grade, on a road to success that she could have never even imagined without his help. His knowledge and passion for the game is unmeasureable. Why do you think Hill has so much talent? I believe he is a perfect choice for many reasons. He will be extremely involved at the youth level which you have to have if you want to have a successful high school program. They will definitely be in shape and disciplined. As far as after the game activities? I have been out with him on many of those ocassions and have NEVER seen the "Beer" part of after the game socialization. It's ALWAYS a coke. (Just wanted to clarify that before someone else decides to turn that one all around.) Jerry is definitely a PEOPLE person. I believe he has alway done a great job of seperating himslef from the parent role when he is coaching. I feel this is the right choice for this situation and will do whatever I can to support his efforts even though my daughter is now graduated. Best of luck to everyone and thank you Jon Anderson for your past efforts as well.
hockeyrube7
Posts: 442
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2006 2:29 pm

Post by hockeyrube7 »

gopher25 wrote:I think this generation of parents are just too involved for non parent coaches and maybe Mr. Kwapick was a great choice! There is soo much money involved. In girls sports one thing I haven't ever understood is why put a ton of money into sports and less into their education. There are no professional sports for girls,I guess there is the WNBA but we are on the hockey board here. so college is it for them. Education is just so important, don't get me wrong it is for boys, but with girls a parent can be more realistic and literally say, Look you aren't playing pro so lets focus on your math grades or history test you failed last week...The majority of parents are great but the few that are nutty, boy look out!

The pendulum will swing when the players now and the younger 20's generations have their own kids since their parents were so involved and it probably drove them nuts they will not want to be as involved and you will see more non-parent coaches again. I also think you will more kids playing sports just for fun again because they will look back and see their lives were soo structured. Heck with gas prices getting so high we could see people moving back into the cities and neighborhood activities might flourish again. When is the last time you drove past the local park and saw a pick up game of baseball, or touch football? that is if there wasn't a structured practice on it to begin with!
This may be two of the best statements I've seen on this forum. And yes may be a bit off subject, although it makes me go nostalgic. In the younger days, I was involved in many levels of many different "orginized" sports, but the games I remember the most, have to be those at the local parks or ponds. Why, they were FUN! Careful on using that word by the way, "FUN", I've gotten several arguements when using it, but that is what it all comes down to, I would think. Can anyone remember playing pick up games at the park, football, baseball, hockey, all with no matter if it were 3 of you or 20, the game was played like you were winning the cup or even olympic gold. Ah beautiful! You are correct, you just don't see that any longer, except in the smaller towns, and maybe up north. Saturday morning hockey games that last 4 hours or more, or until you got hungry enough to go home, and then back at it in the afternoon, and again in the evening, unless the North Stars were on of course.

To get back to subject, if you are getting so many qualified non-parent coaches that have applied, why would you go with a parent coach? That just doesn't make any sense. I guess you could say they all have to start some where. As Gopher25 says, time will tell.
hockey_rocker
Posts: 113
Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:33 am

Post by hockey_rocker »

OK first I don't recall Mr. Anderson stating that he left because of Parent Intervention? Everybody has an opinion on why he left but keep in mind that only he really knows. It was never stated why. Anything you see here is just someone elses opinion. If that is why he left, I wouldn't blame him.

Second, speaking of parents as coaches, our former coach would have had a daughter here at some point trying out. Our past assistant had a daughter play for him and she returned an assistant coach. Our current assistant has a daughter coming up. Don Lucia caught alot of heat for taking his kid. I guess that made him a parent coach too. Seems to me he is looking pretty good now.
Hmmm I guess everyone is a parent at some point right?

Now I am looking forward to the day we have a MOM as a parent coach. Has that happened yet?

Mr. Kwapick has a history of winning. Give him a chance, before you base his whole career on the fact that he has a kid on the team and he hasn't even set foot on the ice yet.
hockeyrube7
Posts: 442
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2006 2:29 pm

Post by hockeyrube7 »

hockey_rocker wrote:Don Lucia caught alot of heat for taking his kid. I guess that made him a parent coach too. Seems to me he is looking pretty good now.
Really? What's better about that team, explain? Not trying to snipe at all, I guess I don't see the goph's as upgrading lately, maybe this year?
hockey_rocker wrote:Now I am looking forward to the day we have a Mom as a parent coach. Has that happened yet?
This will be interesting, and even great most likely, provided Mom will know what she is doing.
hockey_rocker wrote:Mr. Kwapick has a history of winning. Give him a chance, before you base his whole career on the fact that he has a kid on the team and he hasn't even set foot on the ice yet.
No one can know, may be the best thing for WB ever. AD made this decision for a reason. We will see, this next year should tell well, I'd guess.
hockey_rocker
Posts: 113
Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:33 am

Post by hockey_rocker »

hockeyrube7 wrote:
hockey_rocker wrote:Don Lucia caught alot of heat for taking his kid. I guess that made him a parent coach too. Seems to me he is looking pretty good now.
Really? What's better about that team, explain? Not trying to snipe at all, I guess I don't see the goph's as upgrading lately, maybe this year?

Funny!!! They did kinda stink it up last year, but like WBL lost players to other teams. :lol:
jumpstart
Posts: 165
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 12:38 pm

Post by jumpstart »

I would like to address a few comments that have been posted under this thread.

Six individuals were intereviewed for the WBL head coaching position, and the pool was narrowed to two, Mr. Domschodt of Centennial and Mr. Kwapick. Mr. Domschodt was the first choice for this position. He was offered the position, accepted it, and then turned it down. The position was then offered to Mr. Kwapick.

Someone mentioned girls leaving the WBL program for other programs like Hill, CDH, and Totino. I would like to clarify that nearly all of the girls who left in the last few years and the one leaving next year went to private Catholic elementary schools and were on the track for private Catholic high schools. I am most certain that these decisions were based on the desire to continue in the Catholic school system and had virtually nothing to do with the WBL hockey program. To imply that these girls left because of any hockey issues is unfair.

Someone mentioned parent input before the coaching selection process. There was a meeting of the parents who chose to attend. Coaching attributes were discussed and ranked. Mr. Kwapick attended this meeting. I can assure you that no one at the meeting spoke up about not wanting a parent coach -- however outside the meeting many people expressed this view. The highest ranked attributes were provided to the AD by Booster Club officials. It is my understanding that interview questions were based upon these attributes.

While I personally would have preferred to have a non-parent coach, I believe Mr. Kwapick will do right by the girls and this program. He has coached most of them in youth hockey. He took one team to a U12A state championship, one team to the runner-up of the U14A state tournament, and one team to a 7th place finish in the U14A state tournament. By my count, 12 of the current girls in the WBL program were on the first U12A state championship team, all but 2 of those also on the runner-up U14A state team. In addition, there are 7 other girls who were on the second U12A state championship team, one of those having been on both state championship teams. I know this group of girls is very dedicated to their sport and plan to work hard over the summer. I hope that the parents and players will give Mr. Kwapick the chance he deserves and support him in his new position.
hockeyrube7
Posts: 442
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2006 2:29 pm

Post by hockeyrube7 »

hockey_rocker wrote:
hockeyrube7 wrote:
hockey_rocker wrote:Don Lucia caught alot of heat for taking his kid. I guess that made him a parent coach too. Seems to me he is looking pretty good now.
Really? What's better about that team, explain? Not trying to snipe at all, I guess I don't see the goph's as upgrading lately, maybe this year?

Funny!!! They did kinda stink it up last year, but like WBL lost players to other teams. :lol:
Glad to see that some get the humor of it all! I see the comparison, yet I'd guess that none of the WB players bailed half way in to a season or HS career for their next best deal. Sounds like most are leaving for legit reasons and not truely bailing on the program.
Bensonmum
Posts: 523
Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:22 pm

Post by Bensonmum »

Personally I wouldn't have a problem with a parent coach, although I could see how many people would. I would be more concerned with having someone who coached the same girls in U12 and U14 following them to Varsity.

I know when I played sports I always looked forward to moving on with new coaches as I progressed upwards--even if I really liked a certain coach, it was always nice to get a different perspective or philosophy at the next level.

Another drawback would be that the coach comes with pre-conceived notions about what each player can do on the ice. However, athletes can develop into entirely different players (and people) between age 11 and age 16--especially girls. If the same coach is around that entire time, he might not notice the development and instead carry biases about the players with him. This issue was raised recently in a situation I know of where the coach was with the same group for 2 years and moving into a third year.

Example: this coach has always used players A, B, C, D, and E on the power play and still does. However, player G has worked really hard and has recently developed a great slapshot from the point. The coach will still never use her on the power play because he never has and is comfortable with the same 5 he's always used, which includes his daughter.

Hopefully this won't be an issue and good luck to the new coach and the WBL team in 08-09.
Melvin44
Posts: 390
Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:43 am

Post by Melvin44 »

Jumpstart,

Remember we're talking about WBL who has one of the largest youth hockey programs. You can't only just place an ad on a School website you also should try to find a coach in other ways! Again I would've preferred a non-parent coach but if you're going to pick a parent Jerry is a great choice.

As far as Jerry he will do a great job and if all the girls stay WBL should win 65-70% of their games. He knows hockey and is an excellent choice. Only one team wins a state championship and everything has to go right for that even to happen. I just want a coach who is going to help these girls improve.

Let's all be supportive of this choice it's his job now and along with it goes the pressure. He's a smart guy who knows what he got himself into and I'm sure he has a plan. He is a winner and I'm sure will do everything in his power to win. Let coach’s coach! Keep our second-guessing to ourselves!
Last edited by Melvin44 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 8:15 pm, edited 2 times in total.
hockeywild7
Posts: 421
Joined: Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:20 am

Post by hockeywild7 »

I think other candidates would have put their names in the hat if there had been teaching openings available to them in the WBL district.
Melvin44
Posts: 390
Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:43 am

Post by Melvin44 »

I almost forgot Jon Anderson did leave on his own. He wanted to spend more time with his family and he does have a daughter who is coming up.
Last edited by Melvin44 on Sat Jun 07, 2008 8:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
jumpstart
Posts: 165
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 12:38 pm

Post by jumpstart »

[quote="Melvin44"]Jumpstart,

What you're saying that if lets say a Winny Brodt, Natalie Darwitz or even a Mark Domshodt or B Goski who by the way is ghshockeyfan and who I feel knows about as much as anyone about girls high school hockey were coaching at WBL girls would've still left?? I'll bet differently. Obviously Winny wouldn't coach here but if you found the right coach most of the girls whom left would've stayed. Another coach who I heard applied was Potter CR and Ashley Albrecht?/quote]

I know for a fact that in the case of some of the girls that left, WBL public high school was not an option. I know it is hard to believe, but some people make school choices based on reasons other than hockey, e.g., academics and religious beliefs.

The coaches you mention are great coaches and would do any program proud. I would have been thrilled to have any one of them be the head coach at WBL. Because we, the public, are not privy to the names of those who applied for the position, we must hope that our AD conducted a diligent search and interview process in coming up with the two finalists.

All that being said, we can either continue to second guess the process or move on and support or new coach. I vote for the latter.
OntheEdge
Posts: 666
Joined: Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:43 am

Post by OntheEdge »

Bensonmum wrote:Personally I wouldn't have a problem with a parent coach, although I could see how many people would. I would be more concerned with having someone who coached the same girls in U12 and U14 following them to Varsity.

I know when I played sports I always looked forward to moving on with new coaches as I progressed upwards--even if I really liked a certain coach, it was always nice to get a different perspective or philosophy at the next level.

Another drawback would be that the coach comes with pre-conceived notions about what each player can do on the ice. However, athletes can develop into entirely different players (and people) between age 11 and age 16--especially girls. If the same coach is around that entire time, he might not notice the development and instead carry biases about the players with him. This issue was raised recently in a situation I know of where the coach was with the same group for 2 years and moving into a third year.

Example: this coach has always used players A, B, C, D, and E on the power play and still does. However, player G has worked really hard and has recently developed a great slapshot from the point. The coach will still never use her on the power play because he never has and is comfortable with the same 5 he's always used, which includes his daughter.

Hopefully this won't be an issue and good luck to the new coach and the WBL team in 08-09.
I think you make some very good points Bensonmum but if I were an AD of a program as big as WBL (I would think the pool of applicants was plentiful) I would have tried to hire a non-parent coach if at all possible. Nothing against the WBL coach but parent coaches, in general, are under more scrutiny and it may affect their coaching. For example, if they play their kid too much in key situations will there be accusations (warranted or unwarranted) of bias and thereby cause bickering among the parents and kids? If they don't play their kid enough for fear of appearing to be biased, then is it hurting the team because one of their best players is on the ice? Regardless of the pureness of the heart of the coach second guessing by parents and the coach himself is likely to happen. Additionally I think a parent coach is difficult for the daughter. Some kids might feel intimidated that she goes home with the coach and some kids might allege favoritism, which could affect her relationship with her teammates. These are all what ifs but I think its better to avoid the potential problems all together. Of course, if the parent is the best option and there were no other good options then I say hire the parent but be ready for some grief.

Having been a parent coach myself I know the biggest challenge is deciding how to best utilize your daughter without appearing to be biased, doing what's best for the team and not causing problems at home.

That being said I think that there are benefits to parent coaches too. Generally parent coaches have more passion for the team because they have a vested interest in the program, and a personal tie to the kids and their parents.
Post Reply