Lindsay Bounds: Contributions On The Home Front

Editor’s Note — This is a behind the scenes look from the perspective of local coach’s wives as part of a Mother’s Day tribute series. LINCOLN — For Lindsay Bounds, the best way to commemorate a coaching milestone, such as when the team wins a conference championship or qualifies for the state playoffs is to simply be there.

“Just be at big games in support and making sure the days leading up to it are stress free,” Bounds said.

Bounds is the wife of Justin Bounds, assistant baseball and football coach for the Lincoln varsity. Bounds said coaches’ wives do tend to become like second mothers to kids on the team, especially at the little league level, but also at the high school level.

“When one gets down cheering for them and telling them you love them,” Bounds said is a good way to get a player to perk up after they’ve made a mistake or missed an opportunity on the playing field.

When Bounds and her husband first got married, she told Justin she was going to wait up for him every night.

“That lasted like six months, now, it’s like ‘ see you in the morning.’ I never know when he’s going to get home,” Bounds said.

Bounds said the young woman who may be falling in love with a coach had better really love sports, be a confident person and be very understanding.

“You never know how much game film he’s going to watch,” Bounds said.

There are challenges to being a coach’s wife and for Bounds finding family time during the season and not letting others get to her are important. She said the biggest thing is finding a way to separate one’s work life from their home life.

“Having that defining moment where you leave work at work,” Bounds said is key.

There are boundaries she has learned to help her husband cope with a disappointing loss when the team suffers a setback. Bounds said one of the keys is to keep the kids from bombarding a father with questions before he has time to unwind. She wants to avoid frustrating her husband.

Bounds said a coach can help young people avoid bad things by holding them accountable, while at the same time being their friend, so if they feel like they’re in a tough situation they can come to the coach.

Bounds has two basic expectations of Justin, as her husband, father of the couple’s son, and as a coach.

“I expect that he keep God or his faith at the center of his life and that he use the golden rule,” Bounds said.

Bounds said a coach can act as a shepherd to young athletes by serving as a mentor and role model, especially at the high school and middle school age.

“They are really looking at you and how you are to your wife,” Bounds said, going on to say young people need all the good role models they can get.

Bounds said at times she can feel like her life is being poured out for the benefit of others, but sees it as a good benefit, helping young boys mature and develop into responsible, young men.

“I tell Justin, ‘ You treat those boys the same way you want a coach to treat Easton,’” Bounds said.

Stated in simple terms, Bounds described the value of a coach’s wife to a school’s athletic program.

“He may be the head, but we’re the shoulders,” Bounds said.