Rock women’s basketball head coach Bobby McGraw is more known for his advice when it comes to things on the basketball court, not his relationship advice.
“If you find the right person and you know you’re with the right person, make sure you make time for that person,” McGraw said. “Your basketball career will end in four years, your life with that person could potentially last the next 45 to 50 years, so always make time for that person. If it’s a special person and they got a special place in your heart, always find time for them.”
McGraw, a former Pennsylvania State Trooper, has dealt with his fair share of gruesome events and individuals. Comparing that to when a player of his is having trouble with a significant other, the two aren’t even close.
“I’ve literally sat across the desk from numerous murders, people who have committed heinous acts against children,” McGraw said. “So when one of my players is having an issue with their significant other, it may be the end of the world to them at that point in time, but it’s a lot easier to deal with that than all my past experiences and its college, my players get over breakups pretty quickly.”
Although, McGraw did mention that his players usually turn to his assistant coaches for dating advice before they come to him, but he does lend some words when they come to him because he is a counselor in a way for his players.
“When it’s my place, or when they specifically seek me out it absolutely is my job and it’s my place as a counselor and they know it’s an open door policy and they can always come to me,” McGraw said.
Being a student athlete, it doesn’t leave much time to have a social life, especially in the middle of the season. McGraw gave the example of that this weekend the team has a home game on Saturday at 1:00 p.m., with a 9:00 a.m. shoot, so that leaves very little time to go out on Friday night which is a prime party night.
“We try to do our best to make sure our student athletes have a social life because happy players are productive players,” McGraw said.
Dating today has evolved into something completely different from generations past, such as co-ed dorms and when girls had to be home at a certain time on campus. McGraw said from his personal experience, playing at Clarion University in the early 90’s, there were no co-ed floors in the dorms.
“Its a completely different atmosphere when it comes to dating now,” McGraw said. “Is that for the best, I don’t know the answer to that, I just know it’s completely different.”
