Don't chase the money

(Courtesy Sam Houston State Athletics)

Do you want to be a millionaire? Of course you do but what are you willing to do to try to gain it. About eight years ago, I was in Seattle contemplating on whether to stop working for a financial company based out of Washington, DC. I was told I was on track to become a millionaire. During my monthly stay in Seattle, I would go watch my childhood friend Rashard Lewis practice for the Seattle Sonics everyday. Going to these daily practices help me realize how much I truly love the game. The day I called my father to tell him I wanted to coach, he told me to really think about it and call him back in two weeks. I thought he was joking but he wasn't. My pops knew I had said my entire life that I would never be a coach.

As a teenager, I pictured my life totally different than how it is today. My friends and I had our futures figured out. First we were going to play for my father (then head coach) at University of Houston, then play professionally. Rashard (now with the Washington Wizards) and I planned to be roommates with a pet rottweiler in our apartment on campus. That may have not worked out anyway LOL. We had other friends joining us to help lead the school as far as possible in the NCAA tournament.

I personally had my plan of never leaving the city of Houston. My plans were shattered the day my father was fired as the head coach at Houston. It was a very emotional day for me personally but also for my friends. We all vowed to attend a different university. Little did I know, it was a blessing in disguise. The spring following my pops being let go, my friends and I were playing in a park league in Alief that we consistently won every year. Our team was loaded with high major players... except for me LOL. I often played better against better competition or when I was surrounded by really good players. On this particular day, I was in a zone and Coach Pat Rafferty (then Head Coach at Midland College) contacted me shortly after watching me play. I did not know then that moment would change my life. I ended up attending Midland College on a basketball scholarship and had a great career on the court while earning two Associate degrees.

After Midland College, I played at Idaho State University while earning a Bachelor degree in Finance and Masters in Athletic Administration. The experiences I had while attending both  colleges changed me from a young boy to a man. At Idaho State, I experienced being the athletic administrator's personal assistant and an intern for the financial company.

I chose to work for the financial company out of college because of money and I'm good with math. Seeing what my father went through, I never wanted to be a basketball coach. Growing up I didn't understand why he was always away recruiting. Between the long hours, fans that loved you one game and hated you the next, I couldn't see myself living that life. I didn't understand the business and all that was needed from a coach at the time. All I thought I knew was coaching was not for me.

I took my father's advice and waited the two weeks he suggested. I called to tell him I wanted to coach and he said he would put me in a position to interview at some junior colleges. I was thinking, "you're at a high major Division I school and your having me start at a junior college?" Now I understand he wanted me to start at a challenging level to not only make sure this is was what I really want to do but also to learn a lot by doing every aspect of college coaching. Coach Jeremy Cox (now at University of Nebraska) took a chance on me by letting me be one of his assistant coaches. I've been a part of championship teams and traveled around the world due to coaching but the relationships I've gained are priceless. I want to thank Coach Cox, Coach Grant McCasland (now at Baylor University), Coach Jim Les (now at UC-Davis) and Coach Jason Hooten (Sam Houston State University) for allowing me to be a part of their staffs.

The moral of my story is really simple. Don't chase the money when choosing a career. Chase happiness when choosing a career and I've heard the money will come. In my case, I enjoy helping young men in a very important phase of their life!

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