MIKEWHITE’S HIGH SCHOOL CHAT
HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights from Mike White’s Tuesday high school sports chat, which you can join weekly at post-gazette.com. Questions and answers have been edited for clarity:
•
D9 Dave: Do you think this coronavirus pandemic will encourage more high school athletes to play multiple sports in the future, seeing how spring sports athletes had their entire seasons taken away this year?
Mike White: I truly don’t think it will affect multisport athletes. If you’re going to play more than one sport, you just do it. Don’t stop because of this. Heck, they should all be well-rested. The only way it could affect things is if, say, football would be moved to the spring and sports would really be bumped up against each other, with one running into the next even more.
George: I’m all for being positive. But, I just don’t see any way they’re going to be playing high school football in the fall. There’s no way a vaccine will be ready by late August. The virus will still be circulating and if anything, be picking up again in the fall (if we even get past the first wave by then). I would love to be wrong, but I just don’t see any way. What say you?
Mike White: Well George, you might be right. Organizations have to think about contingency plans, but I’m going to take advice of what I heard New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo say a few weeks ago. Can we stop making predictions about three months down the road? Because so many of the predictions have been wrong already. I mean, go backward three months. Who would’ve predicted we’d be where we are now?
pghcoach: Why does it seem the Pitt womens’ hoops program is missing out on the local talent? Lot’s of DI talent!
Mike White: This is a little complicated issue — and a few things need pointed out. Yes, WPIAL is producing a number of Division I girls players again. But there are Division I players — and then there are those who can play in the ACC and Power Five. They’re two different things. This area isn’t exactly producing a plethora of Power Five women’s players. And Pitt did get some Power Five players when Suzie McConnell Serio was there. But some of those players didn’t pan out. That being said, it sure would be nice for Pitt to get players like Makenna Marisa (Penn State) when they are here. But Duquesne’s Dan Burt might be doing the best with local recruiting.
CYO MVP: What are your thoughts of coaches coaching their own children in high school?
Mike White: It’s been going on for ages. Coaching three sons at various levels (not high school), I know it can be hard. But it also can be some of the best and most memorable times ever for you and your kid. I once talked to legendary Bob Hurley Sr., about this. I got to know him after he coached in Dapper Dan Roundball. And he told me something that is so true. Coaching your son is not a problem if he is one or two of the best on the team. And coaching your son is not a problem if he is one or two of the worst. Where it can become difficult is when he’s mediocre or in the middle of the pack.
rodman: What kind of value should be placed on high school coaches’ playing experience on the college level? I see a lot of postings preferring college playing experience.
Mike White: Sorry, but I don’t think college playing experience has much to do with high school coaching. I know good college players who have failed miserably, and guys who didn’t play much at all in college, if at all, but are good high school coaches.