Coaches balance coaching and fatherhood
By Keno Sultan
Stark County Prep Press
www.starkcountypreppress.com
Fatherhood is an adventure for any male that is raising children. Becoming a father is a responsibility that is not to be taken lightly. It takes sacrifice, commitment and love in a journey that requires teaching their children life lessons that will carry them once they matriculate into adulthood like their fathers.
For Massillon natives Josh Hose and Joe Pierce, the respective boys and girls basketball head coaches and Washington High graduates and Warren native and former Harding head coach and graduate Keelyn Franklin, these three men provided their testimonies on fatherhood and life in particular as Father's Day is around the corner.
I sincerely hope that readers enjoy the Father's Day special and a special thanks to the three gentlemen who took the time out of their schedules to provide their experiences not just as head coaches but most importantly, loving husbands to their wives and fathers to their children.
SPRAYED WITH SUCCESS
For the 47-year-old Hose, he has never been on Wheel of Fortune. The closest he has come to that was two months ago when he was met with hugs and kisses from his wife Lindsay, sons Landon and Hudson, daughters Cori and Ani, not to mention other family members and friends.
Massillon obtained a major jackpot in the form of the Division II state championship with a stunning 68-63 overtime conquest of defending champion Westerville North in what was a classic #1 vs #2 showdown at the University of Dayton Arena between two 26-1 squads.
Life has been very grand for Hose, a 1998 graduate of Washington High School. It will be even grander as he will have his eldest son and eldest daughter in the halls of the high school in August. Hose recalled the day that his first child, Landon made him a first-time father.
"It was an emotional day. Lindsay and I went to the hospital at six in the morning but Landon came out at 9:30 pm and it was very emotional. We were very happy that he was healthy and we got to hold him," Hose recalled. "He was a gift of God and he was a testament of that and we believe Landon was a miracle of God. We have been blessed to experience this four times. We are looking forward to our kids keeping the name going along with the legacy."
Legacy is something that is deep within the Hose family kingdom. For 40 years, Butch Hose was the face of Massillon administration. Being in the same building as his dad, Josh was mindful of the expectations placed on him and nothing was more frightening than someone notifying his dad of a disciplinary issue, something Josh was fortunate not to go through. And with the elder Hose as a grandfather, Josh is confident that his children will not do anything to desecrate the name.
Nearly 28 years after graduating from Massillon, Hose reached the peak of his coaching career as the Tigers captured a school-record 27 wins and a state title. Hose was quick to point out that his assistant coaches were also involved in the success of the team and are fathers themselves. Four of the Tigers on the team are coached by their dads with Hose being one of the two with the other being assistant coach Marquis Williams, whose three sons, Xavier, Drew and Christian all were part of the title-winning team.
"Everybody as coaches sacrificed so much for their wives, kids, players and the team. Lindsay took part in feeding the team and it was cool to see everyone share in that success to achieve the dream we had this year and that took sacrifice and commitment from everyone on the staff," Hose asserted.
With fatherhood also comes adversity and in cases, life lessons. Eight years ago before Hose's first rivalry contest against Canton McKinley, Hose found out that three of his starters were unavailable due to family situations that required their attention away from the court. It will have been understandable had Massillon abdicated their contest against the Bulldogs, however despite the adversity, the Tigers made the trek to the Field House and although they suffered a 63-39 defeat in front of an uncharacteristically sparse crowd just short of 1,000, the defeat was not indicative of just how hard Massillon competed in what eventually became a portent of things to come for the program under Hose's tutelage.
But it was a life lesson from a Tigers player that struck Hose. Hose has been known to hug everyone of his players after games but there was one game that he did not and Terrelle Keyes made it a point to bring it to the attention of Hose.
It definitely got his attention quickly.
"Coaches are there when you are successful and there to pick you up when you fail. I was frustrated after a loss and disappointed, said Hose." Keyes came up to me and said that he didn't hug us and that hurt me. Nothing is bigger than the relationships you have with your players and I made it a point to hug each and every one of them, win or lose."
"Eight years ago we had to make adjustments before the McKinley game. You have to understand that we are also trying to become father figures and mentors to young men. We also know at the same time that life happens and all we ask is players to communicate with us. In a situation like that, you have to have your players ready to go when the unexpected happens because if they are not, you will fail every time."
Hose is able to keep a strong balance between his two sons and his two daughters. It also helped out that he had a successful eight-year stint at Tuslaw as the girls basketball head coach. That experience also allowed Hose to also develop a relationship with his daughters. It will be a major advantage when Cori enters Washington High School as a freshman. Hose pointed out that although he loves his sons, daughters are the ones who soften the heart of a father.
The last two years, Massillon basketball is 46-6 with an overall record of 75-25, and a two-game winning streak over Canton McKinley, an accomplishment that had not occurred since the 2002-03 season when the Tigers defeated McKinley twice, the second to win the district title and at the time, a two-game regular season winning streak as Massillon posted wins of 51-48 at home in 2002 and a 63-53 win at the Field House. Massillon is also a sterling 10-3 in tournament competition as well.
Last year, Hose pointed out that coaches are also fathers that are raising children while molding men for the future while also being role models in their programs. A huge example of that came two years ago when Hose shared a hug with McKinley floor boss, 2005 alumnus and state champion player Sean Weatherspoon after the Tigers 74-73 road win, which Hose congratulated Weatherspoon on becoming a father to twin boys and spoke words of support to him. Earlier this year after Massillon's 77-75 emotional victory at home, Hose sought out Weatherspoon for a private and cordial chat after the contest in the hallway as the crowd had filed out, everyone had departed for their homes but both men remained and had a respectful talk.
With Father's Day on the horizon, Hose had sound advice for any male who is becoming a first-time father and anticipating their first of what will be many Father's Day holidays in the years to come.
"You have to be there for your children and be at their events as much as possible whether it is events, games, and family settings. You have to enjoy every moment with them because I know in two years, Landon will be off to college and eventually out of the house so I try to spend as much time with him as possible and as a father, you have to spend that time with your kids as much as you can," he said.
PIERCING ACCURACY
For Pierce, he was destined to be a Tiger. A standout linebacker on the 1989 Tigers Division I football state semifinal team, the 6'2'', 190 lb. chiseled defender terrorized opposing running backs who crossed his path.
36 years later, the 1990 Massillon graduate eventually became the girls head basketball coach and the last two years have been nothing short of tremendous. The Tigers have won back-to-back Division II district championships and are shooting for a potential regional title after nearly posting comeback wins in the regional semifinals.
Being a father is something that Pierce takes pride in. He recalled the day he commenced a journey that started with him having four daughters before eventually having that one son, his youngest that completed his journey.
"I was full of excitement becoming a first time father. It was a very good time for me because I wanted to be like my father and raise a family of my own," Pierce recalled.
Pierce wrapped up his seventh year atop the girls basketball post. The last two seasons have seen the Tigers have unprecedented success. A major note of that came two seasons ago when Massillon ended a 21-year losing streak to McKinley with a rousing home victory and at that point, the Tigers were ready to pounce.
Winning a district title is one thing. But then to have your daughter on the team is another. For Pierce, his daughter Delaney has dazzled fans with her prowess over the last two years while showing a cold refusal to quit. A testament of that came against Lake when she was on the receiving end of an intentional foul and it was easy for her to retaliate and risk a potential technical foul and possible ejection. But her ability to stay calm and focused is a reason why Pierce was very effusive of his fourth youngest.
And the sky continues to open up for her where she hopes to join her other sisters Kaylee and Makayla as national champions someday as both won the NCAA Division II national championship at Glenville State.
"Winning the district title two years in a row with Delaney was very special for me. We develop relationships with her and the other girls and hope to continue those after their high school days have concluded and we would love to welcome them back," Pierce said. "All the hard work that they put in paid off and it felt good to achieve our goal."
Pierce seemed content to have four daughters and he looked to be satisfied. His life changed for a fifth and final time when his last child was a boy. The misconception was that JoeJoe was always going to be softened up having four older sisters who would likely be very protective of him and that Joe and his wife, the former Tammi Williams would be ultra protective as he was their only son. That has not been the case as he is treated the same as his sisters.
Pierce does have one stipulation. He expects JoeJoe to grasp concepts quickly. And he has done that but with one advantage on his side: The youngest Pierce has a state championship ring from this past basketball season, something Delaney hopes to obtain with two years of prep basketball remaining.
Last season, Massillon trailed top-ranked Westerville North 45-30 in the third quarter of the state championship and the youngest Pierce saw a teammate walking dejectedly to the bench and clapping his hands, he told him to get his head up and everything was going to be all right. That moment defined to the elder Pierce what being a Tiger is about and picking up a teammate when they are down, something he did the last two years when Delaney's seasons concluded with regional semifinal losses to Olmsted Falls and Twinsburg respectively.
"We are all athletic in sports and we keep an organized calendar of how we want to do things as a team and as a family. JoeJoe is our youngest but we expect him to pick up things quickly," Pierce said. "We are a close-knit family and we all work well with each other and hold everyone accountable."
One advantage that Pierce has on his side is that he also is not only a father-in-law but also a grandfather. Pierce's first born daughter, Amari is married to former Massillon standout guard, current boys assistant coach and Lake Erie College product Jamil Dudley, who was a high-leaping 6'3'', 190 lb. guard whose prowess was reminiscent of former Tigers football and basketball standout Devin Jordan, who is now an assistant football coach at his collegiate alma mater, Ohio State. Pierce also is the father-in-law to former Massillon standout center Jordan Stock (who is married to Makayla) who had a stellar four-year career at the College of Wooster.
The Dudleys have two children, Nehemiah and Ella. Both shared in the excitement of Tigers victories. But it was when Nehemiah and Ella ran into the arms of Joe and Tammi's only son after Massillon's miraculous triumph in the Division II state title game, that was a tear-eliciting moment for the girls basketball coach, who has three grandchildren.
Pierce was just as emotional recalling that moment, the same as the day came when he entrusted Jamil to his first born daughter, a former Massillon basketball standout herself. Both children always ran up to Delaney and JoeJoe for hugs after games and at times wept after losses and both siblings were there to console them.
"I have known Jamil since he was a child. He came from a great family and great parents that raised him and Malik. Jamil is a great role model and takes pride in giving back to the community that he was raised in and JoeJoe gets to be a part of that," he said.
Being a girl father is not an easy task and it can be harder when the youngest is a boy. It can be more manageable if the boy is the oldest and the expectant role model for his sisters. In any case, Pierce has advice for any father who is about to have their first Father's Day with their children.
"Have fun with it and be ready to get after it. Don't get down on yourself, embrace the grind. You will have good days and bad days but always be there," he said.
BLACK AND GOLD BRILLIANCE
For Franklin, being raised in Warren taught him one thing from seeing past athletes before him compete in competition, to never give up and always be tough.
After a solid career that saw Franklin compete for a district title as a sophomore and coming within four points of upsetting state-ranked and eventual state semifinalist GlenOak in a Division I state semifinal, Franklin enrolled at Shawnee State University before embarking on a 14-year coaching career that saw him win two district titles, one as an assistant and as a head coach.
The 2007 graduate of Warren G. Harding, known for his low-tone voice and kind approach is also a proud father of three children, raising a son and two daughters, one who was born before this past basketball season. Franklin recalled the day he became a first-time father seeing his son, Kason.
"It meant a lot. Being born and raised in Warren, the experience came back to me in full circle as I was born here, now my son, and teaching and then coaching in the same district and I take great pride in that," he said.
A major asset that stands out heavily about the Warren community is that Harding graduates are very tight and close knit to each other even after their playing days have concluded. Most of those gentlemen are married to loving wives and draw on each other for advice and assistance.
Franklin mainly identifies with classmate Sidney Glover, who like Franklin is a 2007 Harding graduate and a former quarterback and safety that went on to have a stellar four-year career at West Virginia and a stint in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills. Both Franklin and Glover experienced athletic success against Massillon.
Whereas Glover is highly revered for his 48-yard interception return for a touchdown, one of two scores in a 48-second window that sparked the Raiders to a 21-16 win that concluded a run where Harding captured five of six contests against their hated rival, Franklin was part of a basketball team that featured high-flying 6'8', 215 lb. dunker Chris Henderson, whose slams conjured up memories of former Atlanta Hawks sensation Dominique Wilkins. Harding defeated Massillon 65-50 in a second-round sectional-district tournament game, a game highlighted by a flawless shooting night from Aaron Elder, who scored 21 points on seven shots attempted, all of them three pointers off the bench.
Franklin noted that most athletes who donned the black and gold are those who he still keeps contact with and feed off each other.
"The guys that I grew up with have become fathers and husbands after their athletic careers are over. Today's kids play different than we did but we still keep that camaraderie with those kids," he said.
Last season, Harding captured their first district title since 2016 with a running clock victory over Hudson, a game that the Raiders dominated to start to finish. That was an iconic moment for Franklin, who had succeeded Andy Vlajkovich, who departed for the Canton McKinley job. Franklin's son and daughter were there to witness that moment and it was a poignant moment for the family.
Franklin was an assistant coach on the 2016 team that defeated Lake to snag the Alliance district title as they were paced by the Raiders three-headed trinity of Lynn Bowden, Shakem Johnson, and lethal shot blocker Derek Culver. Fast forward nine years later with Chaz Coleman being the heart and soul of the team, Franklin celebrated his first title as a head coach.
"As a staff, we wanted to add to the legacy of Warren Harding and win a district title," he said of the moment with his wife and kids.
Last season, what was shaping up to be an exciting year ended up becoming a brutal year for the Raiders who finished with an 8-14 record, a majority of those losses coming in the form of walk-off fashion or a big play near the end by the opposing team. Most losses in such a fashion easily can rattle any coach who is a father and lead to a negative effect on their children, especially if they were to come off the wrong way to their child in the moment after such repetitive setbacks.
Harding was a better team than what their record stated and those rash of game-ending losses definitely tested the resolve of Franklin but if he had to be strong for the team, he had to be strong for his children, especially Kason, who took the losses hard along with his sister and Franklin's second daughter, who was born before the season started.
"That was hard to go through those outcomes and some coaches take those hard. I took those personal as a head coach because you think about a set you should have run, a substitution you could have made and I was tough on myself," he said. But when you see your children, you have to be resilient because they put things in perspective for you. You think about when you're holding your baby and their cries. Having that son and being your first child is special because he is born to carry on the name and born to be a leader."
This past season, Franklin made the very arduous decision to step down after seven years at his alma mater. It was a decision that he did not take very lightly and involved a lot of prayer in the process.
Children are only kids once and Franklin, who is also a teacher at Harding didn't want the time of his kids childhood to speed by without him not devoting time to them. Franklin also conveys life lessons to his son through important father and son chats and the same for his daughter through father and daughter chats.
"That was really hard and I had prayed about that. After deep prayer and reflection, I felt it was time to step back. You don't get that time back away with kids. My wife and in-laws have been very supportive of me during that process," he said. "My son is getting involved with AAU competition and we have conversations about life in general. And as a father, you have to be loving, caring and nurturing and that is very important."
With Father's Day coming up, Franklin will be having what will be his 10th one and what better way to spend it with his family. Like other fathers who were Warren Harding standouts, Franklin will definitely enjoy the time with his children. He has not ruled out a return to coaching but for now, fatherhood is his top priority and he has advice for men who are becoming first-time fathers and those in particular.
"Lead with your heart and have good intentions. Always have a balance between discipline and love and be willing to do well for your kids," Franklin said.
Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.
