What's It Like To Coach High School Sports in Fair Oaks?

It's fair to say high school sports in Fair Oaks are doing pretty well. Three varsity basketball teams, including Bella Vista's boys and girls squads as well as Del Campo's boys, will be taking their respective game to the playoff level, starting this evening with the Broncos girls. Like their team records, coaches like Gwyn Jackson and Dave Gonzalez of Bella Vista's girls and boys teams respectively, and Dave Nobis of Del Campo's boys' squad, have shown exemplary track records with their young athletes.

Like so many others in Fair Oaks, they are charged with a difficult job. High school coaching comes with the responsibility of guiding young athletes through the rigors and expectations of parents and school administrators. It requires patience, steering kids through injury and illness, academic and peer pressures. And don't forget financial pressures, too. As the San Juan Unified School District continues cutting away at school budgets and resources, one can't help but wonder what will be next on the block.

Pressure can prevail as recent events have shown when a coach's tutuledge was deemed too harsh by pundits, players and ultimately school administrators.

We here at Fair Oaks Patch have covered the and the downs, from losses both on and , showcasing the next generation's young and talented, and we want to hear more. It's a tough balancing act and expectations - maybe even demands - for perfection on and off the court can be too high a benchmark to set.

If you coach or have coached, perhaps you'll share a great experience - or one that was not as fun - with us. And if you have a favorite local coach, be sure to let us hear about him or her, too.