ORIGINALLY WRITTEN
We join many other Hillsboro Trojan fans in congratulating girls’ coach Becky Carlson for achieving her 300th career victory last week at Sterling. Though she would prefer to let the occasion pass without fanfare, 300 victories is a significant professional milestone-especially in this day, when longevity in coaching is declining and burnout is rising.
That Carlson has reached that milestone in fewer than 19 full seasons is remarkable. That means she has averaged more than 15 wins per year-quite achievement when a high school team plays only 20 regular-season games per season.
Of course, her success as a coach has meant Carlson’s teams have played plenty of post-season games, too. Ten times in 18 full seasons, her teams have made it all the way to the state tournament-including eight trips in the last 10 years. Twice her team returned home with a state-championship trophy.
But for all the statistical success, what makes Becky Carlson a great coach are her quiet, mostly unheralded achievements away from the game-day limelight-the way she coaxes the best out of her players, on and off the court, day after day, in good times and bad. She is not just their coach. She is every player’s mentor, cheerleader and friend.
A lot of coaches can win games. Far fewer win the hearts of their players in the process. Indeed, those “victories” far exceed 300. -DR
