Coach Van Horn gave me a hit & run against Baylor in 2002. I completely missed the sign and left our runner out to dry and he was thrown out.
DVH was clearly pissed. In the dugout he glared and said, "I suggest you find someone to review the signs for you or you won't be on the field much longer."
I said, sorry.
He went straight to me and said, in so many words, "don't ever apologize. You think I think you did it on purpose? You play the game with everything you got and when you f up, you learn, grow, and come back better."
It wasn't those exact words, but close, and in his own way and with his impressive intensity that is hard to explain unless you've been in his crosshairs.
That was 23 years ago.
I only say this because you want a coach that is CONSISTENT. You may not like what he has to say, but it is CONSISTENT.
He told me not to apologize for something relatively small, in a game nowhere near the moment of last night. I was also not anywhere close to the impact player of Davalan. I was just another guy.
Yet, last night, in one of the most difficult situations to swallow, he was CONSISTENT.
Regardless of the ability of the player or moment of the situation, you need consistency from your leader.
Impressive post game interview.
What Dave Van Horn told Charles Davalan after the game