And how do they respond to that discipline? For many, it may be the first time that they receive discipline from a male figure.
They learn quickly that I am a man of my word. I mean the things that I say. They learn to accept it and respect it. Kids see through fake or phony people.
Okay, so you're a tough guy with these kids. A tough guy with a soft heart. You're also a widower with a six-year old daughter. What does Sydni think of your coaching? Does she resent the time you could be spending with her?
Actually, she is really proud. She once told our family, "My dad has four jobs. He is a coach, a referee, he works at the food bank and he is a full-time dad!" Gotta love her!!!
Jermaine and Sydni
Well, you're certainly not letting any grass grow under your feet. With your busy schedule, when do you actually get to see Sydni?
Our day begins at 6:30am. I make breakfast for Sydni and then I drop her off at school. I head off to the food bank each day until 1pm. I leave work and head to the University of New Orleans where I am enrolled in the graduate school program. I leave class and head to pick Sydni up from school. We do homework and I either drop her off by my mother-in-law or bring her to the park with me in the afternoons. I pick her up after practice and we head home. We get ready for bed and get ready for the next day. We actually spend Fridays together. After she leaves school, she hangs out with me. Just us. Our quality time.
Hold on a second. You find time for grad school in your already chock-full schedule? What are you studying?
Administrative education. I hope to someday become a principal. The only way to change a system is from within. So that's one of my goals presently.
I think you'd make one humdinger of a principal. Any school would be extremely lucky to have you. But it would be a big loss if you weren't able to keep up with your coaching, so please find a way to combine the two. You've been coaching for long enough to be able to see what's happened with some of your former coachees. Can you share a few stories?
Keenan Canty is a freshman at Colorado. Alvin Stevenson and Audoniss Madison are playing at South Alabama. And I can't forget Charles Carmouche at The University of Memphis. He's a junior point guard.
That must make you proud. Anything you'd like to add, Jermaine, that we haven't talked about yet?
I'm just glad to have the opportunity to be in these kids' lives. As a young man, I had some good people in my life. Its a blessing to be able to be a positive role model.
Thanks so much for talking with me, Jermaine. It's been great. Good luck to you!
***
Jermaine gave me a few parents and coaches to call. Once I explained my mission, all were quick to sing his praises. Paula Carmouche, mother of two former players and one currently being coached by Jermaine gushed: "I could go on and on [about Jermaine]. He changed a lot of kids' lives, turned them around. When everyone was displaced [because of Katrina], he was calling each kid... He would pile them up in his car to get them to the games and home. He was for the kids who didn't have too much. He was hard on them, but he never said "no' to the kids... He's a lovable person. He spread his love for all the kids."
Donald Collins is a former coach; Jermaine worked with his son. He was an "excellent coach. I wouldn't give my son to just anyone. He was fair, disciplined, hard-nosed... Everything you'd want in a coach - always there [for the kids]."
They learn quickly that I am a man of my word. I mean the things that I say. They learn to accept it and respect it. Kids see through fake or phony people.
Okay, so you're a tough guy with these kids. A tough guy with a soft heart. You're also a widower with a six-year old daughter. What does Sydni think of your coaching? Does she resent the time you could be spending with her?
Actually, she is really proud. She once told our family, "My dad has four jobs. He is a coach, a referee, he works at the food bank and he is a full-time dad!" Gotta love her!!!
Jermaine and Sydni
Well, you're certainly not letting any grass grow under your feet. With your busy schedule, when do you actually get to see Sydni?
Our day begins at 6:30am. I make breakfast for Sydni and then I drop her off at school. I head off to the food bank each day until 1pm. I leave work and head to the University of New Orleans where I am enrolled in the graduate school program. I leave class and head to pick Sydni up from school. We do homework and I either drop her off by my mother-in-law or bring her to the park with me in the afternoons. I pick her up after practice and we head home. We get ready for bed and get ready for the next day. We actually spend Fridays together. After she leaves school, she hangs out with me. Just us. Our quality time.
Hold on a second. You find time for grad school in your already chock-full schedule? What are you studying?
Administrative education. I hope to someday become a principal. The only way to change a system is from within. So that's one of my goals presently.
I think you'd make one humdinger of a principal. Any school would be extremely lucky to have you. But it would be a big loss if you weren't able to keep up with your coaching, so please find a way to combine the two. You've been coaching for long enough to be able to see what's happened with some of your former coachees. Can you share a few stories?
Keenan Canty is a freshman at Colorado. Alvin Stevenson and Audoniss Madison are playing at South Alabama. And I can't forget Charles Carmouche at The University of Memphis. He's a junior point guard.
That must make you proud. Anything you'd like to add, Jermaine, that we haven't talked about yet?
I'm just glad to have the opportunity to be in these kids' lives. As a young man, I had some good people in my life. Its a blessing to be able to be a positive role model.
Thanks so much for talking with me, Jermaine. It's been great. Good luck to you!
***
Jermaine gave me a few parents and coaches to call. Once I explained my mission, all were quick to sing his praises. Paula Carmouche, mother of two former players and one currently being coached by Jermaine gushed: "I could go on and on [about Jermaine]. He changed a lot of kids' lives, turned them around. When everyone was displaced [because of Katrina], he was calling each kid... He would pile them up in his car to get them to the games and home. He was for the kids who didn't have too much. He was hard on them, but he never said "no' to the kids... He's a lovable person. He spread his love for all the kids."
Donald Collins is a former coach; Jermaine worked with his son. He was an "excellent coach. I wouldn't give my son to just anyone. He was fair, disciplined, hard-nosed... Everything you'd want in a coach - always there [for the kids]."
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