Advocacy, Politics, and Protecting Education-Based Athletics with Dr. Josh Childs

Advocacy, Politics, and Protecting Education-Based Athletics with Dr. Josh Childs

Season 6 Episode 6

 

Hosts: Chris Doelle & Brian Polk, Chief Operating Officer, THSCA.
Guests: Dr. Josh Childs, University of Texas at Austin.

In this episode of The Coaches Call, host Chris Doelle hands the mic to Brian Polk, Chief Operating Officer of the Texas High School Coaches Association, for a candid and wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Josh Childs of UT Austin. Together they tackle the bigger picture — the political landscape, the growing private youth sports market, and why coaches in Texas must be as engaged off the field as they are on it.

Key Takeaways:
 • Coaches Are Educators First: In Texas, coaches aren't just coaches — they're classroom teachers, school administrators, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, and community representatives. That dual role gives them multiple daily touchpoints with student-athletes that coaches in other states simply don't have, and it makes them among the most influential figures in a community.
• Kids Haven't Changed — But Society Has: Brian Polk, drawing on 17 years as a coach at Garland, Allen, Van Alstyne, and Byron Nelson, made the case that kids still crave discipline, structure, support, and expectations — they always have. What has changed is the environment around them: instant gratification, social media, unrealistic comparisons, and a broader erosion of accountability in schools. Those pressures require coaches to be even more intentional about their relationships and their why.
• All Politics Are Local: Coaches are pillars of their communities — and what happens at the school board table, in the state legislature, and in city council chambers directly affects what coaches can do every day. Dr. Childs made a compelling case that an engaged coaching profession is a powerful one, and that coaches carry a unique voice because they represent the values and mission of their school districts. Staying informed and staying engaged — at every level — isn't optional anymore.
• Vote Purple: THSCA's Vote Purple initiative is not a partisan push — it's a call for educators to stay informed, vote, and support the policies that protect education-based and community-based programs. For too long, decisions about what coaches can do in schools have been made by lawmakers with no background in education or athletics. Changing that starts with coaches showing up and making their voices heard.
• Education Comes Before Athletics — and That's the Point: As the private youth sports and academy market becomes more elite, more expensive, and more exclusive, education-based athletics offers something those models can't: education first. Student-athletes are students first. Programs in public schools are held to standards of accountability, provide broad entry points for participation at any age or skill level, and serve the whole student — not just the potential Division I recruit.
• Competing with the Academy Model: Brian acknowledged that Texas programs have to do a better job of selling what they already do well — life skills, accountability, discipline, love, support — to parents and communities who might be lured by the private market. Coaches need to think outside the box, communicate proactively with parents, and proudly publicize their academic achievements, community service, and athletic accomplishments. Telling the story has to become a deliberate part of the job.
• Why Data Matters for Advocacy: Using a memorable analogy about Pittsburgh's famous "Pittsburgh left" turn, Dr. Childs illustrated why stories alone aren't enough when talking to legislators or school boards. Data transforms "everyone does this" into specific, compelling, decision-driving evidence. With over 26,000 member coaches, THSCA is in a position to generate and use that data to secure funding, shape policy, and protect the profession.
• We Are Better Together: THSCA has spent the last six to seven years deepening its relationships with sport-specific associations and AD associations across Texas. Every group is now included in advisory committee meetings, and all are partners in the Educate, Excel, and Play initiative — a monthly outreach campaign that gives every member association ready-to-use tools and talking points to promote what their programs are doing for kids and communities.
• What Should Give Coaches Hope: When asked what was most encouraging for the next generation, Dr. Childs didn't hesitate: "That they have an association like THSCA supporting them."

Mentioned in this episode:
 • Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA)
• University of Texas at Austin – College of Education
• UIL (University Interscholastic League)
• Educate, Excel, and Play (THSCA initiative)
• Vote Purple (THSCA civic engagement campaign)
• AnSRS (presenting sponsor)
• THSCA Coaching School – Houston (coming this summer)

Produced by Fresh Media Works
http://www.freshmediaworks.com

© 2025 Lone Star Podcast Network

Texas High School Coaches Association

Twitter:

• @THSCAcoaches
• @ChrisDoelle

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