Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE -ÊWhen Pete Shock was younger, he did not want to be a teacher or a coach. It's a good thing for Cliff High School in New Mexico that he changed his mind.
Last night at Wawasee High School, Shock talked to the public about everything from officials to player conduct.
Shock played basketball at Cliff High School under his father, Dale, and went to Western New Mexico University, where he played until he was sidelined by an injury.
"Doctors told me I had a 50-50 chance of ever playing basketball again," said Shock. "I knew then that I wasn't ready to give it up. I really didn't want to be a teacher, but that was one of the things I had to do to be a coach. When I got out of the hospital, I went and changed my major to education.
"It was later that I learned that teaching and coaching was really my calling."
After Shock began coaching, he went to "The Pit" in New Mexico to watch his father coach in the state tournament. It was there that Pete realized he wanted to coach in the state tournament at least once in his career.
"Then I knew I didn't just want to coach at the state tournament one time, I wanted to win it," said Shock. "Then I knew I was destined to coach. My desire was a hungry animal that had to be fed."
The younger Shock went on to coach at Cliff High School, where he has been for 21 years. He has led the Cowboys to seven state titles, three runner-up titles and numerous district and regional titles. He also has been named the 1999 National Federation of Interscholastic Coaches Association's Coach of the Year and has been New Mexico's Coach of the Year four times.
"If someone had promised me if I worked as hard as I could for 27 years and never take a vacation," said Shock, "that I would make it to the state tournament just once, it would have been the best bargain ever offered to me. When I started coaching, I had no idea the good fortune I would experience."
Shock then addressed several different groups in the audience: parents, players and coaches. He also addressed officials - sort of.
"Is anyone in the audience an official?" said Shock.
When no one spoke up, he continued, "No? Oh good, this is gonna be fun. If there were, I would have to say this slowly. You know what I've decided about referees? There are too many people out there with IQs below 50 to be professional bull riders and bungee jumpers. The rest are referees.
"But I don't argue with the referees like I used to. I think that was a bit embarrassing for my father. You see, in his 40 years of coaching, Dad never once got called for a technical foul on the bench. I got two in my first game. After my third game I had already racked up five."
He then put the joking aside and addressed the players in the audience seriously.
"Fans create the excitement of the game, but players must do their part as role models to deserve it," said Shock. "Players in high school don't usually realize it, but younger students in middle school and elementary school look up to them. If you want to have your name in the paper, don't try to sneak around and cheat the rules. Ten-year-old kids idolize you and 60-year-old fans work hard to pay to see you play. You have an obligation. Deserve the recognition you receive."
Shock will return to New Mexico later this week after visiting family members in the area.
