Talking With: Girls Track Coach Thomas Nettuno

In a series of articles Patch talks with the winter sports coaches at Babylon Junior Senior High School. Here's insight from girls winter varsity track and field coach Thomas Nettuno.       

What is your occupation? 
I teach chemistry in West Babylon.

How long teaching this particular sport and this particular team? 
This is my first year at Babylon.  However,  I did coach seven years of track at WB.

Why did you decide to start coaching?
When I realized that as a runner I could impart some wisdom to students outside the classroom.

What are the toughest challenges of being a high school coach? 
The time constraints are tremendous!  The greatest challenge is the dual messages of winning vs. life lessons.

What is one thing maybe players' parents don't realize about high school coaching?
How difficult it is to know all of the track events well enough to teach them.

What kind of season do you foresee? 
We are going to be extremely competitive this season.

What goals have you set?
To win the girls' trust and to lay the foundations of good technique.

What's one piece of advice you would give to peers considering being a high school sports  coach?
If you don't have good communication skills, this is not the job for you. Winning is nice, but most teams won't win.  It's the life lessons that count.