Coach Kohler helps up Ryan McAdams in a match against Lynchburg on Sept. 28
Photo: McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle
Finding successful and long-term coaches in college athletics has become a premium for programs. However, when programs find one, it can set teams up for a long time.
Virginia Wesleyan University athletics have seen their fair share of both short and long-term coaches, but there is a lot that goes into being a successful head coach.
Head Men’s Basketball Coach Dave Macedo will be entering his 25 season this winter and is the all-time winningest coach among all ODAC coaches, along with delivering a National Championship victory back in 2006.
Macedo gave insight into what has helped him compete at a high level for this long.
“I think when you love your job and really enjoy the people you work with, along with recruiting student-athletes year in and year out that you want to coach, it’s a pretty good formula for success,” Macedo said.
Macedo has had to adapt over the years as a lot has changed since his first year at Virginia Wesleyan University.
“The biggest challenge at times has been adapting to the financials with how much more money is involved now,” Macedo said.
Over the last 20 years, the average cost of tuition and fees at a private university has increased by 181.3%, according to educationdata.org.
“It is important to make sure that we are recruiting kids that can afford it,” Macedo said.
Having a coach of Macedo’s caliber can also create a top destination for recruits along with earning respect from players.
Junior Omari DeVeaux described what it is like to play for Coach Macedo.
“It is eye-opening to be able to witness the way that he does things and how he carries himself, not only as a coach but as a person too,” DeVeaux said.
The other aspect of coaching that is not always talked about or considered is allowing players to feel comfortable with the process.
Studies have shown that by age 13, 70% of kids quit their respective sport in what could be directly related to stress and improper coaching, according to USA Today.
Macedo makes sure that his players are comfortable and happy throughout the season.
“I think the best thing that he does is he lets us make decisions for ourselves sometimes. He asks us questions about certain plays on how they can be more comfortable for us and wants our team to be player-led because of the trust he has in us,” DeVeaux said.
The success not only stems from the basketball team and the coaching staff but also comes from the culture of the athletics program and Macedo is thankful for the relationships he has with other coaches.
“Watching the young coaches grow their programs has been awesome. There is a great culture up here in athletics and will only continue to grow and get better,” Macedo said.
Building that culture has been important for incoming coaches and makes them feel better about coming to Virginia Wesleyan University.
Megan Green, the new Women’s Basketball head coach, had her fair share of success as an assistant coach at Dickinson College.
Green has felt very welcome since joining the staff here at Virginia Wesleyan.
“Every week I feel like I am sitting in a different coach’s office picking their brain about something. That has been one of my favorite parts of this job, getting to talk to the coaches in my department,” Green said.
Green seems to have a similar mindset to Macedo with her coaching style and is ready for the season to begin.
“We are going to be a team that embodies accountability, discipline and grit. And we will celebrate all of the small wins along the way,” Green said.
Green is a product of Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Andrea Hoover-Erbig. Hoover-Erbig mentioned what she looks for in a coach during the hiring process.
“I want to hear their coaching philosophy, along with seeing if they did a little research on us when we have these conversations. Additionally, it’s nice to have coaches with college experience whether that is a head coach, assistant coach or a graduate assistant,” Hoover-Erbig said.
Hoover-Erbig described the process as not being super difficult, but one that needs to be very intentional with finding the right person and the right fit.
Hoover-Erbig is very thankful for having some highly established and long-term coaches to surround the athletics program.
“It’s a wonderful thing that we have Coach Macedo and Coach Bowers who have both been here for 25 years. Coach Elliot and Coach Francis as well. I believe that these are wonderful things that we celebrate,” Hoover-Erbig said.
Hoover-Erbig hopes to keep spreading the culture to the sports that may have not been able to sustain a long-term coach.
By: Coy Camiscioli
