By Jesse Reed
For Coach Haun, coaching Louisville’s Girls Basketball team has been about more than improving their basketball skills. It’s about leadership, perseverance, and family. He has impacted these girls in more ways than wins and losses. He has trained them to become better people, and to learn how to grow.
Growing up, Coach Haun always had a passion for sports, especially basketball.
“I had several excellent coaches who had a positive impact on me, and I hope that I can have a positive influence on others as well,” he said.
His experience coaching has required a lot of work and time, but the team's success has made it all worth it.
Haun has been coaching basketball for a total of 29 years, and is in his second year as a head coach at Louisville. Whether it's planning practices and the calendar, developing different game and practice plans, or organizing activities, he's proven to handle it all with his skill as a coach.
“I’m proud of this team’s resiliency and their positive attitude … The girls show up every day and want to get better,” Haun said.
While being passionate about the game is always a good thing, sometimes Haun can get extra engaged.
“Yeah, I get pretty passionate about sports in general, and when it's our team playing, I get a little wound up at times.”
He also has more of a special connection than just growing up loving the game. His daughter, sophomore Carly Haun, has begun her second year on the team as well. Coaching a daughter can be tough to keep it fair. Some may think he gives special treatment, and others may think he can be more tough on her.
¨I'm getting more experience with him, and he can be a little more harsh with me because I'm his kid, so I'd say he definitely pushes me a little harder. But I'm okay with that. I want to be better,¨ Carly said.
In the end, they get to spend time together doing something they both love, which is what really matters.
“It's very time-consuming and difficult, but the relationships formed along the way make it work,” Coach Haun said.