“The team sets standards each year for itself. — wins and goals on the season. The bar is never lowered.”

-Jeald Pierucci

“As a staff, we remind our athletes that no matter who we play against, we will execute our system at the highest level. We use the phrase “do your 1/11th” often throughout the season to remind them that no matter what happens. they have a task to execute in order for the team to succeed (scout team and starters).

My motivation with down years is constantly reminding myself that whether we win or lose, there is still a team full of kids who get happy to see our coaches every day, and there are still lives to positively impact.”

-Emilio Davison

“One thing we preach is getting better day by day. We say that no matter how many times you fail, you continue to work hard and improve because you never know how close you are to breaking through. We use times like this to teach life.

We teach that when things are bad, you have to find ways to push through and find a way to pull yourself out of slumps. We also try to bring in outside speakers or sports psychologists to come and talk to our team. This allows them to get a different perspective from others and not just us as coaches all the time.

Lastly, sometimes you have to take a little time away from basketball to appreciate life and to enjoy life. As a coach, you have to know when to push your team and when to let your team relax and simply just spend time with their teammates outside of the court. Team bonding activities are sometimes way more effective than some practices when it comes to getting through tough seasons.”

-Khalil Shakir

“One step, one game, one player at a time. This is easier said than done, but you have to get better at ONE thing a day, ONE thing a week, and ONE game at a time. Player development is huge during these years.”

-Blake Hollenbeck

“Setting goals is important, but I truly believe that taking the time to reflect and tweak when necessary can be as valuable. It takes time to organically keep athletes engaged, but taking the time to get them involved in the process will keep them motivated to compete to their fullest potential.”

-Mauricio Lozada

“I'm not big on external goals. We look to improve day-to-day and week-to-week. We focus on controlling the things we can control and holding ourselves accountable.

The seasons are short. Players turn over every year. If you cannot stay motivated for 3 months, perhaps coaching is not for you.

The only season I consider "down" occurred several years ago. I had behavioral issues with numerous players, almost half the team of 6th and 7th graders. I learned a lot about myself and how to handle those situations. I also learned that in general, 7th grade made be the toughest age group to deal with. It was an experience I will never forget.”

-Scott Cavada

“Constant reviewing of short and long term goals — understand and discuss why things aren't improving and how we can get there.

The mentality is ‘always forward’ — small incremental performance gains that are driven intrinsically to help develop confident, competent, and relatable athletes.”