Coach Larry McKenzie of Minneapolis North High School: National Sports Contributor – Hoop Stars Media “Sideline to Online. We Do Hoops”

 

Coaches Spotlight: Sports and Real Talk with Coach Larry McKenzie! Minneapolis North High School!  

 

In our first installment of the Coaches Spotlight brought to you by HoopStars Media, we bring to you Hall of Fame and 6 time Minnesota State High School league champion Coach Larry McKenzie of Minneapolis North High School.

 

 

To My Family, Friends and Student Athletes:

Just reflecting, obviously the last few weeks has been a challenging but it’s been an opportunity to take control of ourselves and our situations.  If you have not taken advantage of learning at your own pace and the opportunity to be in charge of your education then the reality is that academics may not be really important to you. If you haven’t watched every game from last season and you’re all plays ( good and bad) with a desire on what you can do to improve, then perhaps ” Ball is Not Life”. If you have not googled materials on your sport and or your position then when this is over you can answer the question why you don’t play when your parents ask the question? If all the information that you received from your Coach is still sitting in your text messages or email who are you really fooling about your love of the game besides yourself and your parents? Yes, none of us like this space and the lack of what we perceive as not being in control but reality is different than perception. The reality is that we all have been given an opportunity to reflect and regroup and make the necessary changes needed to achieve our goals, so if all we have done is complained about shelter in place, not hanging out with our friends, family , teammates or being able to get in the gym perhaps we have missed the mark. This opportunity may never present itself again where one is in Total control on moving the needle forward or plotting a course of what their future looks like. No Teachers or Coaches to blame! Many of us often pray for more time, to read …to study…to work out. God answered our prayers and now the Choice Is Ours!!!

REFUSE TO LOSE

 

Q&A with Coach McKenzie:

1. HSM: What is the best part of Coaching for you?

Answer:  Impacting the lives of the young men in my program.

2. HSM: What is your most memorable season and why?

Answer: Honestly every season is memorable in some kind of way because every team is so different. This past season I had a great group of kids who made this season alot of fun.

3. HSM: What’s one thing most people don’t know about Coach McKenzie?

Answer: That I love to cook and that I’m really a introvert.

4. HSM: What made you write your first book?

Answer: So much misinformation about basketball amongst the wannabes and I have benefited from the life lessons of the game.

5. HSM: What advice would you give to young up and coming Coaches?

Answer: Trust the Process, be willing to start at the bottom and let your work speak for you.

6. HSM: What is one bit of advice you would give to Student Athletes & their families who desire to play College Athletics?

Answer: Don’t try to keep up with the Jone’s, do what’s best for you and your kid.

 

7. HSM:  What makes Coach McKenzie Happy

Answer: Family and a good book.

 

 

Follow Coach Mckenzie online at:  Click here

Twitter: @Coachmckenzie

Facebook: Click here

Instagram: Larry A. McKenzie 

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