College Football Coaches Will Hopefully Spend More Time With Family Post Pandemic
May 14, 2020, 3:30 PM
Brigham Young University's new head football coach, Kalani Sitake, (2ndL), his wife Timberly, (2nd) his daughters Skye, (L), Sadie, (C) and son Kelaokalani, (R) pose for a picture at a press conference on December 21, 2015 in Provo, Utah. Stake who played for BYU in the 90's will become BYU's 13 head coach. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
(Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – If the coronavirus pandemic has taught us anything, it would be that working from home is achievable. Although it might not always be ideal and the occasional distraction may prevent you from being as productive as you would like, it is doable.
I want to be transparent, working in the media has been an absolute riot, I love every minute of it. However, if it weren’t for one small issue I have with coaching, I would most definitely be a specialist coach at the college level.
Get out & do something! Rock Canyon today #StayActive #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/2rBULQPcOP
— jeff grimes (@coachgrimey) April 30, 2020
For those that are unaware, I punted at the University of Utah from 2012 to 2015. I was fortunate to have more personal success than I ever could have imagined. I also had a blast, I loved every minute of my time spent on the hill, and if I am being frank, I do miss many aspects of what being a member of a football team brings.
As a member of a football team, whether you are a player, coach, trainer, or in the equipment room, you are a part of something much bigger than you.
Being able to constantly communicate with peers from different ways of life is something that I am very passionate about. Furthermore, the coaching world is very attractive for multiple reasons.
Teaching young men how to become more mature, teaching life’s lessons, yet creating relationships with people and then watching them succeed on Saturday’s sounds like a dream.
However, long workdays have always been problematic for me. The Utah coaching staff must average 15 hours of work a day during the season, then, when the off-season rolls around they are constantly on the road recruiting. They rarely get to spend time with there families.
That is where my issue lies.
I have a really hard time believing that all of the 15 hours a coach spends in the office is required.
Stay safe, Stay home. Take care of each other. Thank U to all our responders and healthcare workers. Go Utes!!! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/kPeJBl3yrd
— Sione Pouha (@Pouha91) April 1, 2020
Personally, it feels like a very ‘old-school’ mentality.
With the technology available nowadays, coaches could easily spend 8 hours in the office and if they needed to continue working at home then I see no reason as to why they could not do that, while also being around their family at the same time.
This life that we are all living is far too short, time goes by way too fast.
It’s a family affair at the house of @CoachPowell99!
Their quarantine survival tip: spiritual workout, school work, fitness & family.
Watch: pic.twitter.com/kWYdRdkYSr
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) March 22, 2020
Hopefully, following the pandemic, coaches can utilize the technology available and spend more time with their families. Hopefully, the time spent at home during the pandemic has proven that working from home is achievable.
Tom Hackett is a Utah and Real Salt Lake Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the It’s Utah’s World Podcast (Utah Football themed) and The Lion’s Den Podcast (Real Salt Lake themed). Follow him on Twitter: @TomCantHackett.
