Winds of Change

by Ryan Krzykowski

Full disclosure — I’m not really into change.  People talk about how they enjoy living in a place where the seasons change.  I don’t care about that at all.  People tend to enjoy variety when it comes to food, clothes, music, etc.  Give me something I like over and over again every day and I’m pretty happy with that.  Not saying I’m right — I realize it’s kind of weird.  I just don’t care much for change.  I’m a big fan of stability and predictability. 

So heading into the summer/fall of 2026, the changes happening all around me feel jarring.  The school where I teach will have a new principal.  They promoted an outstanding assistant principal from within, but still, major change.  Our math department will have four new teachers coming into our group of eleven.  Lots of new faces there, big change.  At home, our youngest will head to college in a couple months, and our 22-year old who spent a year living with us after earning a degree and starting his career has moved out.  Huge change.

On the coaching side, my role within our school’s football program has also changed.  I have stepped back from the position I held for the past three seasons, when I served as the team’s receivers coach.  My new job description is taking shape, still in the development process, but mostly for marriage/family reasons, it will involve reduced responsibility on the football side, along with much greater flexibility for me.  I’ll be in more of a support role, still invested in the program and its people, but with fewer daily duties.

A fair question: why am I writing about this?  Is this interesting reading for anyone?  That’s tough for me to answer, you can judge for yourself if anything here is relatable, but I think my point is this: in our efforts to use sports to change lives and use our coaching influence to make a positive difference, we have to fit all that into our lives in a way that works for us and the people who love us.  That being the case, change is not only inevitable, but probably necessary from time to time.  If nothing else, this becomes a season of pruning for me, a time to reconsider priorities both in my coaching role and at home.

So while I might not get excited about the year’s first snowfall, or care about leaves falling from trees, I can see the benefit and embrace these life changes I’m experiencing.  Change can be great, and I’m praying this one is.

Let’s Coach With Purpose…