30 HAPPENINGS SPOTLIGHT ACTION A & E PERSPECTIVE

The Coach’s Kid

Who is the man who shows up at practice to unlock to the doors? The man who takes your skills and talents and turns it into greatness? The man who screams “one more,” “don’t stop,” and “keep going”? Coach.

What about the man who takes you home from practice and makes dinner? Coach?

Senior Brooke Hubert participates in girls’ basketball and has been on the varsity team since freshman year. To her coach, Dave Hubert, she is not only a three-point shooter and a good defender, but also a daughter.

The relationship of a coach and player is a special thing. A coach gets to look at the abilities of a player and, with hard work, running and sometimes screaming, turn that skill and talent into greatness.

Sometimes he can be your best friend, and other times, your worst enemy. It’s a love-hate relationship, but truly centered around the love.

So what happens when that coach, the man who sometimes yells at you and makes you question your abilities, is now sitting across from you at the dinner table?

“Our relationship is different from most father-daughter relationships,” Brooke said. “I enjoy him having such an impact on my basketball career and life.”

Hours upon hours are spent in the gym during the winter season. From working out at the gym to spending time at home, Brooke doesn’t really have time away from her dad.

“From the moment

we leave practice, the thirty minute drive home is only about basketball,” Brooke said. “The dinner table definitely gets heated sometimes.”

Coach Hubert agrees that sometimes it’s hard to separate work from family.

“It’s difficult when either Brooke or my wife do not agree with a decision made by the head coach,” Coach Hubert said.

Coach Hubert’s job is to treat every player the same. That can be a difficult task when his own daughter is on the team though.

“I treat my players like my own kids,” coach Hubert said. “It makes it a smoother process.”

Even with all the work that head coach Hubert puts in to making things run smoothly, Brooke still has a difficult job.

“There are some responsibilities that the coach’s kid has,” Brooke said. “I have different expectations, so that kind of puts pressure on me.”

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Our relationship is different from most

father-daughter relationships

BROOKE HUBERT

BY EMMA DARGY

Girls basketball coach, Dave Hubert, and his daughter, Brooke, learn the struggle of separating family and athletics.

31 DECEMBER 2014 THE SCEPTER

Brooke has also had to learn to deal with deciding when to be a friend and a daughter.

“I had to learn right away freshman year that what’s said about him isn’t personal,” Brooke said. “I’ve had to prove that I’m still a trust worthy teammate. I won’t cross the line when it comes to stuff being said about the coach.”

For many athletes, being the coach’s kid would be a nightmare. However, Brooke and her dad make the most of it. With all of the challenges and difficulties they face while doing it, they face them together.

“The older I get, the

more that I have realized that time goes by really, really fast,” coach Hubert said. “I cherish the experiences with my kids more and more as the years go on.”

As Brooke’s last season begins, she knows what’s coming. The expectations will remain high for both her and her dad. As always it will be full of highs and lows. Luckily for them, they have each other there for support.

Not everyone can handle working with family. But through the good and the bad, tough losses and successful wins, there is quite possibly nothing better than sharing that with family.

Brooke Hubert poses with her father and coach multiple times throughout their basketball careers. PHOTOS: BROOKE HUBERT AND KYLIE LIPPINCOTT

Emma DargyPapillion-La Vista High School