Earlier this week, Pearl River Central High School Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Larry Dolan decided to step down from his current position.

Dolan’s decision created two openings in the Pearl River County School system’s athletic department.

Looking for a new head coach can be a challenging and time consuming process. When interviewing a potential candidate for the position, some of the main questions can include, “How will you be able to bring success to our program?” or “What steps will you take to increase interest in our program?” During the ensuing hiring process, it’s also important to remember to an individual who will help student-athletes become a better person off the field.

Playing sports is similar to real life in the sense that participants will endure positive moments, especially when they win a game or earn a championship title and also disappointing moments.

Having previous experience of playing sports, I have my fair share of both happy and sad moments on the field. But the memories I remember most include how the head taught me that while I may might think it’s unfair to lose a ball game, loss is a pat of life. 

What defines us, however, is how we deal with the wins and losses in life. These lessons can be used by student-athletes in the classroom and in life. If a student doesn’t do well in a test, maybe changing the way they prepare can help them do better in the future. At the same time, many students in high school are not sure what they will do later in life. No matter what they choose, being surrounded with people who will push them to do their best and discover new skills can help them succeed in anything. And for every athlete, the head coach should be the  person who helps them become a better ball player and a better person.