I won't leave anyone guessing here...I am a parent of an athlete from this past year's UND Women's basketball team. We have experienced a LOT of basketball over the years following our daughters through their basketball careers. We have been apart of many different coaching regimes over these years; from early grade school, middle school, JV, varsity, AAU and college. We have invested a pile of money, miles, hotels and time in basketball and are due our two cents among the arm chair professionals and psychiatrists. Sorry, this just needs to be said.
This past year was not at all fun to be apart of! Of course, everyone wants to be part of a winning team. It's not easy for the athletes or us parents. We as parents want our daughters to give it their all for the sport they love. Believe me, these young ladies want to give everything they have also. Many have weight trained, managed diets and practiced shooting/moves in the off season. They rigorously practice and compete hard for their positions...as they should. We may have been missing some talent/skill this year, but we were definitely not lacking work ethic or determination! These ladies have dedicated years of their lives to basketball and genuinely love(d) the game. However, they ended this season; belittled, discouraged, broken and defeated. Could you see it throughout the last game at the Summit League Tournament??? You should have, it was evident they were beaten before they hit the court. It was a summation of a season that reached its low point unfortunately. We all expected and deserved better from this team and its leadership.
For those rushing to defend this coach, you are likely doing so without understanding what many of these players actually experienced this season. What people see during games is only a small glimpse. If you paid close attention to the sidelines and truly listened to what was being said to these players, you might begin to understand the problem here. I can't imagine what was being said to them in the locker room, bus and plane. You don't treat "family" like that, at least we don't in ours. You don't argue with and belittle your assistant coaching staff in front of the players. Lying, frustration, humiliation and manipulation are not successful coaching technics. Some of these ladies have now expressed their hatred for basketball and everything it represents. That should concern anyone who cares about the UND Women's basketball program.
Coaching should be about teaching the game, developing skills, exploiting strengths and weaknesses, building confidence and helping athletes grow both on, and off the court. A good coach will scout his players talents/skills and exploit them to the team's benefit, not take the player out of the role they're good at. A good coach should be tough and demanding, but honest and respectful towards his staff and players. Talking about "family" and living living family are two completely different things. Shouldn't a person in this position take responsibility for their actions, or lack there of? Should he continually blame it on lack of player D1 skills for their loses? Or, assistant coaches for not having the expertise to work on defense or offense? You are the head coach, you are the one who is ultimately accountable. The lack of skill here is largely at the top. We were out coached soo many times, it was obvious and embarrassing These ladies deserved better!
Chaves was made aware of this by some of the parents and only lame apologies where offered up. For anyone who truly cares about UND and this once proud program let's start out all new. A nationwide search for a QUALIFIED D1 coach should be the only logical solution. This program deserves and is capable of being better. There is another Aaron Johnston or Jory Collins out there, and Grand Forks has just as much to offer a coach and his/her family.
On a bright note, our daughter is receiving a world class education and that shouldn't be over shadowed here. In the end, that's what is most important.
