By Mike Moguin
VYPE: How many years have you coached at your current school?
Jeff Word: Been here at Blanchard for eight seasons.
David Sikes: This is my third year.
VYPE: How long have you been coaching?
JW: Years coached 30; Head coach for 19.
DS: This is my 18th year coaching.
VYPE: Have you ever coached a team to the state tournament or a championship?
JW: I’ve led three teams here at Blanchard to the state tourney, 2020, 2021, and 2023.
DS: I have served as an assistant coach on two state tournament teams: 2008 – state finals with the OCS boys; 2023 – state semis with the Am-Po Lady Panthers.
VYPE: Is there a coaching legend, living or deceased, active or inactive, that is best known for a memorable quote that you use to influence/motivate your players?
JW: I’ve been a Mike Krzyzewski fan for four decades. He has said, “It’s not so about Xs and Os, but learning team management and player relationships.”
DS: I quote a lot of coaches, both past and present, but there isn’t one particular quote that I use daily. However, I do have a list of coaches that I look up to. Roy Williams (retired Kansas and North Carolina coach) and Jay Wright (retired Villanova coach), to name a couple. If you asked my players, they would probably say, “Trust the process” is my favorite quote.
VYPE: What do you think the profession of coaching has taught you through the years?
JW: Coaching has taught me to be accountable, take care of my business, and work my tail off. Don’t complain about it, just work to fix what you can control. Also, that you cannot do things alone. It’s a people business; you must develop relationships to be successful in anything.
DS: It’s taught me to be patient and lean on God. In my early years, I tried to control so much, both on and off the court. But I can look back and know throughout my entire career, God has had his hand in it all. He has shown me time and time again that HE is in control, realizing that truth has given me a greater level of patience and joy in coaching.
VYPE: What advice would you give to anyone going into coaching?
JW: Developing relationships with players is more important than X’s & O’s. If they believe in you and buy in, you’ll get more out of them than any offense or defense you can draw up.
DS: Coaching is so much more than winning. Most people won’t ever see or even care how much time you put into your job. Do it the right way anyway. Always put your family first, because the game won’t always be there, but they will. Trust in God, no matter what your circumstances are, and never lose sight of your “why”.
VYPE: What is your favorite part about representing your school as a coach?
JW: Knowing this place has such a storied past with success in all its athletic programs, I know I’m a small part of it, and I feel a responsibility to try to maintain it in terms of our basketball program.
DS: Blanchard is a great community and school. I love coaching and representing it as part of the basketball program. Since day one, I have strived to put a team on the floor that this town would be proud of, not just in the way we play, but also in the way we act.
