“Coach only plays certain last names” mythology

I don’t want to invalidate anyone’s personal experience, this is just mine, with 16 years as a small school head coach.

I have always heard complaints from people saying that “it only matters what your last name is” and that “coaches at small towns only play kids from the important families” and I’ve just generally found that whole line of thinking just remarkably off base. I see it more on more on TikTok and social media these days as well.

First of all. The kid who just moved into town? His parents can bitch about me just as much as rich parents that have been in town forever. That kids parents might actually care even less about “ruffling feathers” than an established community member.

Secondly, why would I care how much money a parent has? I get paid by the school. I’ve had one parent in 16 years buy us some warm-up gear and it didn’t earn his kid any playing time.

I’ve had to coach school board members kids, superintendents kids, etc and it’s a mixed bag.
Sometimes the kids are talented hard workers, sometimes they are entitled. Either way, I play the kids that are going to help me win games and I think 99% of other small school coaches do as well.

I know that every time I hear a parent say, “yeah I didn’t play in high school, I didn’t have the right last name.” It makes me recoil because I know there view on reality might be a bit skewed.