Great coaches become great with great talent. "Murderer's Row" of the 1927 Yankees included Ruth and Gehrig but the term originated with the legendary "Tombs" prison in New York, harboring...you guessed it...murderers.
Who coached the 1927 Yankees? Did it matter? Miller Huggins thought so.
The most paternalistic MVB fan has to recognize the 2012 team, state champion as the volleyball equivalent. The team had everything, a powerful setter-hitter combination of Brooke Bell and Sarah McGowan, the "Great Wall" of blockers in Rachel Johnson and Kayla Wyland, a jack-of-all trades in Jen Cain, and elite defenders in Jill MacInnes, Allie Nolan, and Amanda Commito. Cassidy Barbaro added service spice. Add in formidable players like Annalisa DeBari and Sydney Doherty and the recipe was complete, 26-1, 14-0 in the Middlesex League.
I don't consider that season Coach Scott Celli's best because he had great talent.
Many elements go into coaching...here are a few from a 2009 article:
- Do what is best for the overall interest of the team. This unifying theme inevitably creates conflicts with what is in the best interest of individuals.
- Maximize productivity. Getting the most out of what you have.
- Win now. Everyone loves a winner.
- Win later. Develop a sustainable program. Although the current team has a very mature group of seniors, the team will still return experienced youth.
- Motivating the team consistently.
- Creating roles. Player roles are dynamic.
- Establishing team rules. Rules are not dynamic.
- Player development. This includes identifying present (and future) players and recruiting them to your program. Developing strengths and camouflaging/minimizing weaknesses
- Encouraging different ways to win. In most athletic endeavors, successful teams win via knowledge of game conditions, superior skill, and improving athleticism ("the race is not always to the swiftest or the battle to the strongest but it pays to bet that way")
- Organizational skills to develop consistent philosophies (e.g. approaches to practice and games) within the team hierarchy (minor league/junior varsity system)
- In game coaching (exploiting the changing landscape of play during the game)
- Overseeing player eligibility
- Assessing player progress
- Recognizing player health and fatigue
- Imposing discipline when necessary.
I don't know what Coach Celli thinks was his 'best' coaching season. These might be among them in no particular order.
2007. The team was young. They still got to the Sectional Finals against Central Catholic (then D2). 22-1 with a sophomore lineup against a future D1 program. Future All-Staters Hannah Brickley (thrice) and Colleen Hanscom had major roles.
2003. Melrose made its first deep run, won its first sectional, and was within a 'thumb' (net call) of reaching the Finals. Beating 22-0 AC in the sectionals was a biblical proportion upset.
2017. Melrose had a team with a blend of experience with the great Lily Fitzgerald and young Emma Randolph the future all-time kills leader. The team went up 2-0 in the State Finals and fell short. A great job to get there doesn't guarantee victory.
2021. Navigating big deficits against Billerica in the Elite Eight biases my viewpoint.
2005. Melrose faced the gauntlet in the post-season having to survive nemesis Central in the sectional quarters (3-2), then ancient rival AC, and North Andover. After handling Minnechaug in the semis, the team rallied back from 0-2, 16-23 to take Medfield to five sets. The best team doesn't always win, but usually does.
Every season presents unique challenges - schedule, health, youth, many players with similar skill levels, and more. Know that Coach Celli will work to meet them.
Lagniappe. Better footwork, better defense.
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