Coaches’ Influence Near and Far

As I begin my 36th year coaching high school basketball in Texas, I’ve coached hundreds of young men. I hope I’ve had a positive influence on not only their basketball experience but also in their lives. As social media has become more prevalent these last several years, it’s been fairly easy for me to keep up with the goings-on of the young men who played on my teams in recent years.

I received an email from a former player recently who played at Houston St. Thomas High School when I was the coach there in the early 1990s. To be truthful, I had lost touch with this young man. (I say young man even though he’s in his mid-forties, married with two children!) He moved to Kentucky before he finished his high school years in Houston. After building a successful career as a financial advisor in St. Louis, he is now coaching high school basketball just across the Mississippi River in southern Illinois.

In his email, he wanted to pick my brain about the motion offense we had run 30 years ago. Then he went on to say that I, along with his high school coach in Kentucky, had a lasting positive effect on him from 30+ years ago! WOW! Is there a more rewarding vocation than coaching young men and women? I know that you all have received similar letters, texts, emails, and phone calls from your former players expressing their gratitude for coaching them.

Do all you can to provide a positive experience for your players! You never know when a middle-aged basketball coach, who you coached many years ago, may reach out to say, thanks, Coach!! Best of luck as your season is starting!

Best Swishes,
Mike Carrabine, 2020-2021 TABC President

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TABC CLINIC

May 13-15, 2021, San Antonio, Texas

A few changes will take place for the 2021 TABC Clinic due to St. Mary’s graduation falling on the same weekend as the clinic. TABC has committed to keeping the clinic in San Antonio, keeping it on the weekend following the UIL state track meet and hosting it in a venue where coaches can see the speakers with on court demonstrators. Thursday morning begins with the annual golf tournament and clinic registration. Coaches who have committed to speaking include Billy Clyde Gillispie, Tarleton State men, Jason Burton, TAMU-Commerce women, Johnny Estelle, TAMU-Kingsville men, Raegan Pebley/Hannah Howard, TCU women, Nell Fortner, Georgia Tech women, Bob Starkey, Texas A&M women, Cayla Petree, Gulf Coast State women, Kermit Davis, Mississippi men, Kelly Graves, Oregon women, Ravon Justice Sam Houston women, and Jerome Tang/Alvin Brooks III/Josh Jakus, Baylor men. Be sure to pre-register for the 2021 clinic to save money and to avoid delays when having to register on-site. The TABC All-Star games will be played at the Trinity University and the All-Star banquet and Hall of Fame induction banquet will be at the Airport Hilton ballroom on Thursday and Saturday respectively. Additional speakers will be announced as they are confirmed. TABC has negotiated special clinic prices with the host hotel and other nearby hotels. Look for more information on those soon.

TABC CLINIC

May 13-15, 2021
San Antonio, Texas

A few changes will take place for the 2021 TABC Clinic due to St. Mary’s graduation falling on the same weekend as the clinic. TABC has committed to keeping the clinic in San Antonio, keeping it on the weekend following the UIL state track meet and hosting it in a venue where coaches can see the speakers with on court demonstrators. Thursday morning begins with the annual golf tournament and clinic registration. Coaches who have committed to speaking include Billy Clyde Gillispie, Tarleton State men, Jason Burton, TAMU-Commerce women, Johnny Estelle, TAMU-Kingsville men, Raegan Pebley/Hannah Howard, TCU women, Nell Fortner, Georgia Tech women, Bob Starkey, Texas A&M women, Cayla Petree, Gulf Coast State women, Kermit Davis, Mississippi men, Kelly Graves, Oregon women, Ravon Justice Sam Houston women, and Jerome Tang/Alvin Brooks III/Josh Jakus, Baylor men. Be sure to pre-register for the 2021 clinic to save money and to avoid delays when having to register on-site. The TABC All-Star games will be played at the Trinity University and the All-Star banquet and Hall of Fame induction banquet will be at the Airport Hilton ballroom on Thursday and Saturday respectively. Additional speakers will be announced as they are confirmed. TABC has negotiated special clinic prices with the host hotel and other nearby hotels. Look for more information on those soon.

TABC CAMP OF CHAMPS

June 2021, Georgetown, Texas

The TABC, Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, invites your son or daughter to come and find out why the TABC Camp of Champs has come to be known as “the basketball camp FOR the basketball player.” Over the past 28 years, these camps have become a Texas Hoop Tradition. Our primary goal each summer is to help every player improve his or her skill level, while expanding their Basketball I.Q. and most importantly, having FUN! The TABC Camp of Champs Experience is guided by the ideal of helping each player by putting “the FUN in Fundamentals.” Our reputation for the camps has come from a focus on “All Basketball, All the Time!”

TABC
CAMP OF CHAMPS

June 2021, Georgetown, Texas

The TABC, Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, invites your son or daughter to come and find out why the TABC Camp of Champs has come to be known as “the basketball camp FOR the basketball player.” Over the past 28 years, these camps have become a Texas Hoop Tradition. Our primary goal each summer is to help every player improve his or her skill level, while expanding their Basketball I.Q. and most importantly, having FUN! The TABC Camp of Champs Experience is guided by the ideal of helping each player by putting “the FUN in Fundamentals.” Our reputation for the camps has come from a focus on “All Basketball, All the Time!”