For two years, Coach MacDonald of the Box Elder Bears steered the Bears to two state championships, and I visited with him about his coaching philosophy. What does he believe? They have been so much fun to watch over the years.
I asked him, "Why are you a coach? And what do you think is the most important thing you coach besides basketball skills?"
Coach MacDonald said, "I grew up in a home where basketball was always around and in a community where basketball is a big part of our activities. I developed a love for the game, and then I didn't quite do what I wanted to do as a player, but I still enjoyed the game of basketball. I went to college, and I figured, what's the best way to get into coaching? One of the best ways to do that is to become a teacher. So, I decided to pursue a career in education. Obviously, at some point, education became a lot more important than basketball, but I think they're definitely connected and related. So that's kind of where the passion came from, just playing it, enjoying the competition, camaraderie, sometimes difficult life lessons, dealing with loss, and being humbled. So, that's kind of where the passion came from, being around the game all the time, growing up, and then having some pretty before I moved back home. I finally got into the right spot where I could start to develop as a coach. I was coaching the Rocky Boy fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade classes. The opportunity opened up in Box Elder in 2011 to move up to the varsity level."
"I try to develop the potential of the young people we work with to the best of my ability." But there is more to the game than basketball skills. "There's a lot of character development that can happen through sports. You know, there's the physical health of being active and having a healthy lifestyle. Then there's the educational part, which involves building mental toughness and resilience and learning how to develop skill sets that are beneficial strategies. So much goes into the game philosophically that hopefully will translate into life skills to help people positively impact the world."
Me: Yes, I like NFHS. So even though I get to watch you in Big Sandy and in Box Elder, my husband and I often watch Box Elder when they play other teams. One of the reasons I wanted to interview you is because, from what I've seen and on NFHS, you have led a group of really well-behaved guys who don't have attitudes on the floor; at least, it doesn't appear that way. And I'm just so impressed with the quality of men and the character of who they become, and I want to know how you did that.
"A big part of what we work on is character development. We incorporate traditional knowledge and teachings into our philosophy. We utilize the game and basketball to teach many life skills I want for your young people. I tell the boys I treat them like I treat my own children, pushing them, challenging them, trying to help them become the best they can be. We're fortunate that our kids have the support systems that they want. They want the best for their kids, too, and they develop trust with the community over the years where they understand. Not everybody will agree with every decision I make. Still, typically, there's a reason why I'm making a decision, usually for the betterment of an individual and what that individual might need at the time. It could be for the team's betterment and what the group needs at that time, so trust and relationship with the community are important. We're doing character development in addition to skills and putting the ball through the net. There's a lot that goes into it. It ties into different types of things, such as being part of our traditional societies with character development and competition at the same time. Having respect for your opponents, trying to be humble, but working hard and trying to beat somebody at the same time. Sometimes, you have to have a chip on your shoulder. But if you're doing it and you have sportsmanship and competition, you can teach a lot through the game."
I mentioned it is clear the Box Elder boys put hours and hours of practice in.
Coach MacDonald said, " We're fortunate to have a lot of support in the community. This wasn't just a one-person job. These kids have been working with a lot of adults over the years, and you know, parents and family that gave them opportunities to compete against places, developing together with chemistry and teamwork. And there's been a ton of people who have some type of thumbprint on the development of this group."
Congratulations to the Box Elder Bears. I am looking forward to their continued development.
