Life is like a rollercoaster, constantly going from the highs to the lows and back up again. But there’s something about this coaching lifestyle that makes it more apparent. Maybe it’s because it makes the highs higher and the lows lower or maybe it adds more frequent hills and valleys. One of the only certainties is the saying “what goes up, must come down.”
The Up
You finally get married and can wear all the cute Mrs. Coach t-shirts you’ve been stockpiling. You’ve figured out the names and parents of most of the players and discovered the best recipes that do well being made in bulk.
The Down
He calls you at work after only a month and tells you he’s been offered a job in another state. He asks for your opinion but has 100% already made up his mind that he should take it. You pack up all your brand new wedding gifts and put them in a truck while he’s gone on ahead and leaves you to manage the logistics of the exit.
The Up
You are finally starting to settle in, enjoying your job, and making new friends. You’ve found a church, clicked with the other wives on staff, and started finding new favorite places. You start to feel at home.
The Down
The head coach is fired and that leaves his job and your future in the hands of someone new who won’t even be picked for another month. You wait and worry and pray, but you also look into moving companies and random houses on Zillow because he might get an interview at a new school.
The Up
After months and months of trying, you finally get a positive pregnancy test result. You go into planning mode- when’s the due date, what’s the gender, what are some cute names, what even is a Boppy pillow? You’ll finally have a mini to dress in all the cutest “coach’s kid” gear and watch him or her rush the field as the clock strikes zero.
The Down
Kids are hard. You have to give up a lot of things you used to love. He’s gone from sun up until sundown. It’s not all hugs and kisses like you thought. It seems like you get all the feedings, tantrums, cleanings, changings, soothings and shushings, while he gets all the giggles and fun.
The Up
The team has been doing good. They’ve consistently been improving over the past few years, each season better than the last. They win the conference tournament. They make it into the playoffs. They knock off the number one seed and go farther than anyone expected.
The Down
The program and the head coach are gaining recognition, which means other schools start to show interest. Rumors started swirling that he’s interviewing. That paralyzing feeling sets in, you don’t know if you should make future plans in your current town or hold your breath until something’s official.
The Up
He finally gets his shot at being a head coach. All the moves, all the sacrifices, all the hard work, and all the grit have paid off. Yes, you have to move again and start all over, but you’ve done it enough to know you can do it again. You’re at the point where the down that will eventually come doesn’t scare you quite as much.
When you’re riding it, all the highs and lows can be scary and overwhelming. But the good news is there will be some breaks. When you step off and have a chance to catch your breath, you can appreciate the excitement. I’ve learned that no matter where we are in our ride, going up that exhilarating hill or rushing down the uncertain side, I probably wouldn’t want it any other way (maybe a slight tweak here and there).