Chinle coach: Find your purpose

CHINLE

Before finishing out the season, Chinle boys basketball coach Casey Johnson had his life cleaved into two parts.

The first-year coach had a major decision to make on whether to take back five players who quit the team.

It has been a difficult year for Johnson, especially after those players left the team because of low morale (the team had a losing season) and some dissatisfaction with his training philosophy.

But when he looked back at the group he had remaining on the team, he thanked them.

“That showed me the character of these young men,” said Johnson, who was the guest speaker at the 2015-16 Navajo Times Winter Sports All-Star ceremony at the Wildcat Den in Chinle on Monday.

“I am grateful they stayed,” he said. “They stayed with their coach, no matter how things went and they stayed with the program.”

Only a day after they left the team, the five asked to come back and eventually Johnson agreed. Of course, there were some consequences so he held those five players back until the start of the second half at the very next game.

“I let them play that third quarter and before that third quarter was over, they didn’t want to play anymore. Those eight minutes was all they had,” he said.

With that said, Johnson turned to this year’s All-Stars and reminded them that if they commit to a program “you stick to that commitment whether you win or lose.”

Because of statements made by parents and others, Johnson said he now feels his job is in jeopardy. He has been told he has to reapply for the position for the next school year.
Johnson said he still feels that he made the right decision under those circumstances.

“If the decision that I made and my philosophy costs me my coaching job because I stuck with my principles and values, so be it,” he said to a roaring applause. “If I’m not coaching here, I’ll still be coaching life skills and I’ll be coaching kids.”

Johnson, who was asked to deliver the keynote address a few days before the event, told the All-Stars that they have some responsibilities to uphold.

“Go out there and get your bachelor’s degree, get your master’s degree and get your doctor’s degree. Don’t sell yourself short – the reservation isn’t going nowhere,” he said. “Be an asset to your community, not a liability. When it’s time and you have that experience – give back to your community.”

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