3/4/2010
An inner-city coach seeks moral victories, despite record
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| An inner-city coach seeks moral victories, despite record |
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Ed Langlois
“Boys, you can only stand in the key for three seconds.”
“What’s the key?”
“Boys, you can’t get five fouls in a game.”
“What’s a foul?”
These are actual early-season exchanges between coach David O’Brien and some of the 10 sixth graders on his St. Andrew Nativity School CYO basketball team.
St. Andrew is not the typical Catholic grade school. Set in inner city Portland, the Jesuit-sponsored project welcomes promising sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders who cannot afford private school.
The 60 students come from families struggling to make ends meet and many live in neighborhoods where they must navigate regularly past crime and drugs.
Several players on the Nativity team know basketball well, but most are new to it. Somehow, the lanky, bearded O’Brien binds the 11- and 12-year-olds together and teaches them the sport he loves.
“I am thoroughly enjoying it,” he says.
O’Brien, 42, is an attorney who runs the human resources department at the Portland law firm of Hoffman, Hart & Wagner.
The night before a recent game, he took his players out to dinner and then to Jefferson High School, where they watched a varsity basketball game. Game day dawned with progress and passion, as the Nativity sixth graders passed, cut to the open spot and even made a brave go at running a full-court press.
One player missed a shot and fell to the ground, discouraged. O’Brien clapped his hands and gave the dejected lad some positive encouragement. The boy got up and dashed down the court so fast that his wheels spun.
Next, the coach celebrated with a forward who pulled down several rebounds from a much taller opponent. When one of his players emitted a nascent grumble about a referee’s call, the coach nipped the complaint like lightning. Later, O’Brien clapped as an opposing player made a particularly impressive shot.
The boys from St. Andrew often are facing teams that have played together for two or three years, so their record is middling. That’s not because heart is lacking. In a recent game, Nativity refused to be blown out, chipping back from large deficits, diving for balls, making steals, going on the fast break.
With one of his less experienced boys, O’Brien made a simple suggestion: stand in this place instead. The boy follows the advice and has a breakout game, scoring 16 points.
“You see that type of growth and it’s pretty exciting,” O’Brien says, more interested in development than a winning record.
But like any coach, he does want to win. And so do the boys, who have celebrated their two victories so far with great gusto. For a few, O’Brien has had to cultivate a competitive spirit.
“Some are just really sweet-natured boys,” he laughs. “I say to them, ‘Hey you need to want to get the basketball!’”
The players with experience have gamely taken on the role of leaders, helping their peers learn. Amazingly, they don’t get down on those who make mistakes.
O’Brien’s son, Dylan, a fifth grader at Alameda School, plays on the St. Andrew team. O’Brien has been coaching Dylan in the Alameda Soccer Club for five years and also has coached baseball in the Wilshire Little League.
“In those other sports, we would have parents come and watch the whole practice and then take their children home,” says O’Brien, in his first year coaching at St. Andrew. “Here, even in a cold spell, when it’s about 15 degrees, we end practice and the boys walk out the door to catch the bus.” He gives rides when he can.
The team has a mix of white, black and Hispanic. One player is from Tanzania, another from Ethiopia.
Nativity School students keep a rigorous schedule — in school early and out late. The boys attend a study hall in the afternoon until practice time. They don’t head home until 7 p.m., taking Tri-Met to New Columbia public housing or to far east Portland.
About 80 percent of Nativity students play hoops.
O’Brien has watched with satisfaction as the boys’ basketball skills have developed and their personal discipline has advanced. He’s had to lay down the law now and then.
“I hope they enjoy themselves and learn the fundamentals of the game and the fundamentals of being members of a team, of teamwork,” O’Brien says. “My hope is that we’ve planted a seed, a love for the game and an appreciation of teammates.”
O’Brien plans to keep coaching.
“He’s encouraging but firm,” says Sabrina Hess, mom of a player.
Damon Hess, Sabrina’s husband, admires O’Brien’s passion for sharing the game of basketball. “The players all want to learn,” Damon says. “He inspires that.”
“From the beginning of the season until now, the growth has been phenomenal,” says Meghann Darne, another mom.
O’Brien grew up in Fresno, Calif., attending Catholic school and playing basketball. He attended the University of California Santa Barbara and Willamette Law School. He still plays on a competitive men’s basketball team.
“There’s a lot to learn about life through sports,” he says.
O’Brien is simultaneously coaching the basketball team of his younger daughter, Emma, who plays at the Northeast Community Center.
“Patience is his gift,” says Connor Savage, development director at Nativity School and O’Brien’s assistant coach. “And leadership. He teaches the kids the importance of being a leader on the floor and off the floor.”
O’Brien is able to walk a fine balance, allowing the boys space for fun while being serious about teaching basketball, says Scott Eberly, athletic director at Nativity School.
“It’s pretty remarkable work,” Eberly explains, adding that sports actually tend to help Nativity students excel at their school work and in other areas. “It’s nice to find quality coaches like David. He teaches kids about life as well.”
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