justavidorfan

I've watched this thread with interest for some time and took a long time to throw my two cents into the mix. Having followed Vidor sports for many years I can honestly say I never observed a coach who lacked so many assets that give a team any chance of success as with Coach Sterling. All athletes ( as well as fans and parents) are aware that if you don't do your assigned job a coach is well within their right to yell or get after you. This would have been more than understandable if ANY amount of support before or after discipline was offered, but as a fan in the stands it was clearly evident to those paying any attention Coach Sterling actually had an advesarial relationship with the athletes. It was discouraging to see a grown man behave so childish and so uninterested in competing, as he was in showing the team who was the boss. The mental games he played was right out of "how to mentally and verbally abuse your wife for dummies". One player admitted that "winning" was never even discussed as a goal ever, the best you were going to get was listening to his personal hostile attacks without ever offering constructive advise on how to improve. Now Bobby Knight (and other good coaches) were never considered a player's coach either, but they could overcome their lack of social skills with an understanding of athletic competition. The style of play that Coach Sterling instituted was so uncompetitive that the team was typically out of the game before the 1st period even ended. When making the right pass is more important than getting a shot off and that is what you concern your team with as paramount you've just got the ball picked and the fast break for the other team is on. These observations are not based on any one season but in every season that Larry coached at the varsity level. A shot clock would be his best friend. At one point he may find success but I submit that will not happen until he understands something about coaching people and game tempo. Now I'm sure Coach Sterling's defenders will respond and disparage this post. I'm just a fan who is more interested in Vidor athletics than sugar coating what was really a disgrace for the program and don't apologize for my honesty. This is a tough district to compete in with so many other quality programs without employing a coach who as admitted by one of Coach Sterling's supporters "had wanted out of Vidor for some time".