Maryland men’s basketball coach Gary Williams had some advice for Jimmy Patsos when he was hired at Loyola College in Baltimore four years ago. Williams, who had coached at Boston College, one of the oldest Jesuit universities in the country, knew that coaching at a Catholic school had its own set of challenges.
“When I took this job, [Williams] said, ‘Let’s go over a few things about coaching at a Jesuit school,’” said Patsos, who was Williams’ assistant at Maryland for 13 seasons and helped the Terrapins win a national title in 2002. “It’s hard to pinpoint what the differences are, but there are differences.”
For Patsos -- a Catholic who had gone to a Jesuit high school in Boston and played basketball at Catholic University in Washington -- going to Jesuit Loyola wasn’t as much of a departure as going to Boston College had been for Williams, who isn’t Catholic. Yet even though Patsos is very comfortable in a Catholic setting, he recognizes the subtle distinctions between religiously-affiliated schools and secular ones.
“I do think at religious schools you do have to conduct yourself just a little bit differently, not a ton differently,” Patsos said. “You’ve got to be yourself. . . . I’m trying to follow the mission of the college, and I think I’ve done a good job of that.”
Coaches at religious schools who think that their job is only about the X's and O's quickly learn that it’s not that simple. Just ask St. Louis coach Rick Majerus, who became involved in a brouhaha a couple weeks ago when he said during a television interview at a political rally for Hillary Clinton that he supports abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research.
Because Majerus, a Catholic, coaches at a Jesuit university, he was reprimanded by Archbishop Raymond Burke, who has no authority over the school but claims to oversee its Catholic identity because it is in his archdiocese. Burke, who said he would forbid John Kerry from taking communion because of the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee’s stance on abortion, said he would deny Majerus communion and asked St. Louis University to discipline the coach. So far the school hasn’t taken any action.
As Patsos can attest, watching what you say to the media is just one example of what separates coaching at a religious school from coaching at a secular school.
“The Jesuit mission here is about making sure the kids have a positive experience and making sure they graduate, and that’s as important as winning, so they say,” Patsos said. “At Maryland, I’ve got to admit, if you didn’t win, they weren’t going to be real happy. The people out there want to win. It’s a little bit more of a business. At Georgetown [a Jesuit university], it’s a business too. Is that a product of the Jesuit community or just a basketball environment?”
No one at the school insists that Patsos have only Catholic players on his team, though he says he tries to recruit kids from the Catholic high school leagues because those players are used to the religious setting, particularly the requirement to take religion courses. He is proud of the religious diversity on his team, a mix of Catholics, Baptists and a Jew, and he tries to bridge differences among the players by helping them understand each other’s cultures. For example, he spoke with his team about the meaning of the Jewish Passover.
When asked if he can have players on his team who have been in scrapes with the law or other trouble, Patsos says: “We can’t take anybody. . . . We have a moral standard to live up to here. It’s a great school. There’s a moral ideology, and I follow it. I didn’t take those kids at Maryland either.”
His players say the Lord’s Prayer before games, a custom of many teams, including those at state schools. According to Patsos, Maryland players also pray before their games. Like many Catholic colleges, Patsos did have a priest on his bench during games his first season, but hasn’t had one since that priest retired.
Patsos has found that one of the benefits to being at Loyola has been getting to know the retired Jesuit priests who live in a house on campus. It’s given him a better perspective on coaching.
“It’s good to have these guys around, to say, ‘Hey, it’s not the end of the world when you lose a game,’” Patsos said. “They give you a pretty worldly view. There are people dying in El Salvador and stuff like that. Or there are people on missions, and so you’re really lucky to be coaching here and all that. From that sense, it’s good.”
Patsos admits he is a different coach now than he was at Maryland. He has learned to temper his language and his demeanor. His better self-possession hasn’t made him any less successful as a coach. Loyola, which had won only one game the season before Patsos arrived, reached the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament semifinals last year, finishing with an 18-13 record. This season, the Greyhounds are 14-11 overall and in third place in the MAAC standings, two games in back of first-place Rider.
“I have calmed down since I got here,” Patsos said. “I’ll tell you what: the Jesuit setting has helped me. . . . It’s been a great fit. I’m lucky to coach here. Do I like working for the Jesuits? Yeah, it’s great. Do I watch what I say on the bench? Yes, I’ve gotten better at that. I’ve matured.”
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Comments (11)
This article is about coaching. There's so much worng here.
The Catholic Church does not think "sperm should be given the same status as a fully developed human." You don't have to be in the "top quartile of the intelligence distribution" to know that.
The idea that the Catholic Church is "leading the way" in backwards treatment of women is an insupportable distoriton.
The issue of harvesting stem cells from the unborn is a dead debate. Stem cell research itself was never the issue. You can call yourself a rationalist but you lost that debate.
"If human embryonic stem cell research does not make you at least a little bit uncomfortable, you have not thought about it enough."
-- James A. Thomson
That's not the pope, but the scientist who first found a way to isolate human embryonic stem cells. He sought moral guidance from other sources because he knew the moral quandry he had forced upon the pubulc.
And he's the one who, with Shinya Yamanaka, eventually found a way to produce embryo-free genetically matched stem cells.
Call yourself a rationalist, but that doesn't necessarily make all the scientists on your side, particularly the vanguard.
You're free to think what you want. Enjoy it. Think I'm wrong as you will.
But when I'm right or wrong, I'm right or wrong and Catholic. I'm not right or wrong because I'm Catholic. Let's rationally --- and morally --- discuss that litany of issues apart from what you and I are or claim to be.
February 15, 2008 2:50 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on February 15, 2008 14:50
Humblecelt:
Thanks for writing in. It's important for rationalists to be reminded that seemingly intelligent people can easily delude themselves in the name of religion. Given how well you write, I'll go out on a limb and guess you're at least in the top quartile of the intelligence distribution. Thus, you surely understand how important it is to give every member of society the same rights. Ergo, to be a Catholic, you must have convinced yourself that the Catholic Church is not misogynistic.
Unfortunately, those not blinded by Catholic dogma -- not to mention the fear of spending an eternity in hell -- understand that Catholic Church doctrine treats women as inferior. Given that this doctrine was developed at a time when men were expected to treat women as inferior, there is no puzzle why Catholic doctrine does so. (If you are rusty, go back and read St. Paul for his offensive views on women. If you want a more amusing source, I recommend the Lego Bible.)
Of course, whether women are allowed to be priests is neither here nor there in the grand scheme of things. But, as Steve pointed out, Catholic dogma against birth control is unforgivable. Here we are in the 21st century, and the Catholic Church still thinks sperm should be given the same status as a fully developed human. You mentioned Mother Theresa: she was the worst offender of all, discouraging women living in poverty from using contraception. Outrageous.
It's too bad the Pope can't take a page from the Morman playbook: when the heat gets to be too much, or when you are in danger of being totally marginalized, just get a vision. The Mormans did away with polygamy and racisms against blacks (at least superficially) without any messy fighting.
The world is still very backward when it comes to treating women, though. And the Catholic Church has been leading the way for centuries.
After reading your post again, I do have to take my assessment of your intelligence down a notch with this comment:
"Perhaps if folks would either a) ignore what they don't believe (do you go around bashing Hindu and Buddists) or b) take the time to learn what Catholics actually teach and believe."
You may have noticed that, in the United States, Buddhists and Hindus are not leading the fight against a woman's right to choose, or against stem cell research, or against gay marriage. Religious people often make the mistake of thinking rationalists are against religion mainly because of its preposterous claims. But that's not right. We do think the claims are preposterous, but everyone is free to think whatever they want. What we object to is when the crazy claims spill over into the public arena, and impinge negatively on other's rights. And there is no denying that the Catholic religion -- at least the leaders of the Catholic church -- fit that bill.
February 15, 2008 12:39 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on February 15, 2008 12:39
>>Any organization that abuses even one child is offensive.
Really? Name one that deals with children routinely, that can meet that standard - the AARP probably doesn't count.
Just one, please. Thanks.
I'm not saying it's all okay because no organization can meet that standard, I'm saying don't tar an entire organization because of the actions of a few.
Trying to hide/conceal those actions is another matter, of course.
February 15, 2008 9:53 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on February 15, 2008 09:53
HumbleCelt:
"Why do you have such a problem with religion, especially with Catholicism?"
Oh, Catholicism stands on its own as a problem religion: it's misogynist views of forcing all women, even the poorest, to spew up more little Catholics every time they have sex is just the beginning, easy to say by the biggest holder of real estate (the Church, that is) on the planet.
I don't see the Church of Rome selling any of that gold or real estate to help the poor women who become pregnant thanks to inane Church dogma.
Then there's Catholicism's marked hypocrisy, given that the Church allowed abortion until "quickening" - first movement of the fetus - until 1869.
(You want some REALLY juicy stuff, read about the Rennaissance Popes. Popes having kids that became Popes, married Popes, Popes with mistresses, popes that started wars and led armies, popes that murdered...not a lot of real Christian love in any of those losers, who prove that the Church is no more a true religion than a Stephen Colbert cult.)
Then, of course, there's the hundreds, probably thousand years of abuses by Catholic clergy of innocent CHILDREN - which despicable priests were moved from parish to unsuspecting parish by the Church hierarchy, up to and including the Pope. Not to mention, according to CATHOLIC DOGMA, that each priest is "called by God" to the priesthood.
Really. Great job, God. Pedophile priests.
Oh yeah, right, Catholic women are *so loved* by the church that they can't even serve as altar boys, nor are they allowed to use birth control or any other way to control constant pregnancy except by the ludicrous, easily mocked "rythmn" method.
I mean, it was only six years ago that the Church finally decided that enjoying sex was OK! What led to this extremely late Church revelation? The loss of thousands of Catholics from the church each year?
Maybe you get the idea why the buffoonish Catholic Church is an easy target, sort of like Pat Robertson: crazed dogma robots with no sense of reality and zero relevance to modern humans.
I mean, come on, we left the rest of the Dark Ages behind, why do some people insist on dragging this brain-dead religion along year after year?
February 15, 2008 3:20 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on February 15, 2008 03:20
Humblecelt says.."The church teaches that homosexuality is a disorder"
And you say we are the problem. What part of disrespeccting other people do you not get?
Instead of defending Catholism, perhaps an open view of the religion might serve a greater purpose.
I merely pointed out how women are not equal under Catholic teachings, and those same people protect and defend pedophilesm, while telling their membership to have unwanted children.
Unwanted children are defensless in our modern society and Catholism does not protect the children, they abuse them!
Any organization that abuses even one child is offensive.
How would you feel if it was you or your child being abused by that small percentage?
Patrick
February 14, 2008 6:03 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on February 14, 2008 18:03
Humblecelt says.."The church teaches that homosexuality is a disorder"
And you say we are the problem. What part of disrespeccting other people do you not get?
Instead of defending Catholism, perhaps an open view of the religion might serve a greater purpose.
I merely pointed out how women are not equal under Catholic teachings, and those same people protect and defend pedophilesm, while telling their membership to have unwanted children.
Unwanted children are defensless in our modern society and Catholism does not protect the children, they abuse them!
Any organization that abuses even one child is offensive.
How would you feel if it was you or your child being abused by that small percentage?
Patrick
February 14, 2008 6:02 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on February 14, 2008 18:02
Humblecelt:
The difference is that Miami and FSU are simply football teams. They don't claim to be the world authority on morality. The rate of priests committing sexual offenses is about the same as the rate in the general public, but these men, and the men that hide them, hold themselves up as second only to God in righteousness. We all fail to live perfect moral lives, but there is no defense for those who live immorally while claiming the high ground (and the tithes of millions of people).
I wish it were as easy as you say to simply ignore Catholic dogma, but the church won't let us do it. They constantly release public (and often offensive) opinions on all sorts of things. Did you read Pope Benedict's statement on the role of women in the church (from back when he was Cardinal)? Read that and tell me that the church isn't anti-women. I would be happy to live and let live, but the church sure isn't happy to do so with all of its proselytizing
February 14, 2008 5:00 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on February 14, 2008 17:00
Well, we've got indecipherable in the first post, followed by insulting, followed by a deliberate misreading.
This internet thingie isn't always the great communication device it's supposed to be.
February 14, 2008 4:47 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on February 14, 2008 16:47
Amazing, every time there is an article about Catholics, the bashers come out of the woodwork. Why do you have such a problem with religion, especially with Catholicism?
The Catholic Church is not anti-women as evidenced by the respect they show towards most revered saints such as Mary and Theresa. Because the church feels that natural birth is more biblical, they are assaulted for saying we don't like women? Because they believe in the soul and the right of all life to exist?
The church teaches that homosexuality is a disorder (and simple physiology supports that) just as bestiality or other behavior that the human body was not designed for. But because it does not advocate against them, but rather that we should love all people equally.
Sure there were pedophile priests, about 3-4% of the priesthood suffered from this. Amazingly, this is the same percentage as the general population yet where is the lawsuits and abuse towards civil servants and coaches? Yes, abusive priests are bad, and I regret the Church tried to hard to hide it. Again, this is not so different than other parts of society - how many families have a story about that certain uncle?
Perhaps if folks would either a) ignore what they don't believe (do you go around bashing Hindu and Buddists) or b) take the time to learn what Catholics actually teach and believe.
This story was about the good that happens when a coach learned that world problems are bigger than sporting events. Where is the outrage about programs such as Miami or FSU that recruit thugs and hide their offenses? This coach took the high road and tried to install a sense of respect, maturity and faith (notice it was multi-faith, not just Catholic players). Yet Candide and Patrick were too consumed with hate to notice the postive.
February 14, 2008 4:42 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on February 14, 2008 16:42
recently, A cathjolic school in texas deemed it necesary to not allow a female coach over male4 athletes.
I guess the Pope's view of women is embraced by American's even if it means giving up American rights and privelages, as well equality, the purpose of religion.
I guess Cath9olics are not as diverse as they would like to believe with this quote from thge author.."No one at the school insists that Patsos have only Catholic players on his team, though he says he tries to recruit kids from the Catholic high school leagues..."
Appears that the Catholic Church is seperatists oriented and lacks trhe ability to be diverse and open-minded.
No differnet than the Church that tells you how many kids to have and whom to have it with.
The Catholic Church is still paying for all the pedaphile lawsuits they are in in America, protecting their pedaphile priests from prosecution for the crimes they committed aginst children!
Patrick
February 14, 2008 2:38 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on February 14, 2008 14:38
The purpose of sports at Catholic schools is to keep students too busy to read and think -- lest they see how ridiculous Catholic dogma really is.
February 14, 2008 1:46 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on February 14, 2008 13:46