The day to day coaching grind can be monotonous. Recruiting, scouting, tape watching planning, preparing, traveling, and scheduling all have their daily rituals. I know the recruiting calendar denotes a particular time of the year that is for "recruiting," but I do not know a coach that isn't working on recruiting every day. I know you play games during particular months in the calendar year, but I don't know a coach that isn't constantly thinking about the next opponent, thinking about how to make their team better, thinking about how to outsmart and outwork their peers every day. That is the life of a college head coach, and there can be no end to the demands from a multitude of human resources as well.

Four head basketball coaches are taking exit from the game. Each coach has taken a sabbatical from the game for different reasons. The common thread is each was a talented Division I head coach that had their own level of success. The other common thread is they are not coaching at any level at this time, but they want back in. Each has taken a deep breath, a step back to enjoy the lives they have chosen. Almost to the word, each coach boasted how much they highly recommend every Division I Coach taking the chance to take a step away and reflect, review, and recount.

Jody Runge was the Head Coach at the University of Oregon. She now lives in Portland, Oregon and is tackling the daily challenges of refinishing an old house, which is something she has always wanted to do. "I have always wanted to buy a fixer-upper, and I bought an old Victorian home in Portland that I am redecorating. I never had the time to do this as a head coach. I have really enjoyed working on my home, taking the time to travel with friends and family and enjoying the simple pleasures that the holidays bring." Although Runge enjoys her free time and finds it a healthy life change for a short time, she wants back in the game. "I really miss being up close to the game and I miss the teaching part with the players." To get her basketball "fix", she attends Portland Trail Blazer games and catches a lot of games on TV. Runge is ready to make a return with the battery recharged. "This game and this profession can really affect your persona and spirituality and I believe I will come back a better coach."

Tom Collen was the Head Coach at Colorado State. Tom was willing to share his experiences and the knowledge he has gained over the last several months because he wants to give back to the profession he has been a part of for 26 years. "I would encourage every head coach to take the time to go on a sabbatical. This time has given me the time to relax and sit back and evaluate the game, my system and the way I run my program. I have always said that if I could step away and refresh, I would come back better. Although my circumstances are not the ones I would have chosen, I am taking full advantage of my opportunity," says Collen.

There has not been a day that has gone by that Collen isn't involved in the game in one or more capacities of consulting, sharing, observing, networking or researching and surfing the internet. He adds it is hard to find the time to do those things as a head coach. Enjoyng the simple pleasures in life has suited Collen and wife Nikki who is the Assistant Basketball Coach at Ball State. "I get to walk the dog for an hour, I cook and clean and I even had the Christmas decorations up the day after Thanksgiving" says Collen. "My wife had a good time with that one. I am working out and really enjoying setting my own schedule." Collen does want to get back in the game, but for now, he has taken every opportunity to regenerate and refresh and get ready for what's next. "I am looking forward to finding the right opportunity for me to be a head coach."

Cheryl Burnett, who resigned from Southwest Missouri State University at the end of the 2002 season, considers the sabbatical she has chosen a blessing. "My time off has been phenomenal. I am enjoying going to practices, working clinics and doing some consulting. One of the greatest things professionally has been the ability to go into other's practices to see how they run their practices. I have always had an organized progression to the way I teach my system. Observing others gives me the opportunity to continue to develop my philosophy of teaching."

Collen and Burnett share a common attitude and demeanor about their time off. They both agree every head coach should be lucky enough to take this kind of time off and didn't feel like they needed their battery recharged. For Burnett, she is still recruiting, still looking at juniors, and attending many games. "I am still recruiting but I just don't know to what school I am recruiting to," she says. As for the simple pleasures, walking her country road with the sun in her face and looking at the flowers is as peaceful and as enjoyable as it sounds. The other items that Burnett has been able to check off her list are keeping in better touch with former players who are coaching and playing, a few small business ventures, and doing some TV work out of St. Louis. Spending time with family, watching her nieces play high school basketball and getting the chance to go home to Centralia, MO have been high on her agenda.

Carol Ross, former Head Coach at the University of Florida had been in the game for 20 years and rationalizes her "timeout" from it. "I still love the game and decided to get out for a short time," says Ross. "It's like going to a party and you know it is time to go home even though you are having a good time." Ross didn't get out of the game because she didn't like it anymore. Quite the contrary, "I loved my Gator experience and college experience. I was a sprinter, not a marathon coach. I went after it hard. I really loved what I was doing as the Head Coach at Florida but I am also very hard on myself and if I am not giving 100% and getting tired, I need to take a break."

So while strolling the beach every morning and waking up to set her own schedule every day, she contemplates the obvious. She will be back in the game. "My goal when I decided to leave Florida was to say no for a year to anything I had done before and yes to anything that was new and anything I had a comfort level doing with some knowledge. I am interested in working in some television as an analyst and I am interested in the WNBA. If that doesn't come about, I can always keep walking the beach everyday." Walking the beach every morning is one of those cherished moments in her daily routine. Spending time with her family and friends are key also, and her family and friends are the recipients of her extra time spent in the kitchen. Ross is a very good cook and enjoys the extra time to indulge.

Don't worry about me, I'm fine is the theme. Each coach was willing to take time to share and give back to a profession that means a lot to each of them individually. Having the right attitude makes any journey more simplistic. As each coach can attest, their time off has been spent wisely, generously, and energetically doing the things they have all wanted the chance to do. Can you imagine taking time away from your daily grind to see and feel and listen? According to Runge, Collen, Burnett and Ross, they are all stronger, wiser and more in tune with the profession that is their passion.

Copyright © 2000 WBCA