There are jobs and there are passions.
More so than any high school/youth sports coach I have ever known, 1980 St.
Helena High graduate Joe Densberger uttered this phrase more times than I can
count, “Coaching is not my job but it’s my passion.”
Helena High graduate Joe Densberger uttered this phrase more times than I can
count, “Coaching is not my job but it’s my passion.”
After 25 seasons, Densberger revealed on social media his decision to step away
from coaching on Friday.
from coaching on Friday.
Densberger said: “After a 25 year run of coaching high school basketball I've
decided it's time to step away, I just wanted to take a minute to thank all that I've
coached with, the many players I've worked with, many of whom have become
close friends over the years, and lastly the parents that have been there for support
and encouragement. You have all been a huge part of my life and I will miss you
all! It's been an amazing run, Thank you all.”
decided it's time to step away, I just wanted to take a minute to thank all that I've
coached with, the many players I've worked with, many of whom have become
close friends over the years, and lastly the parents that have been there for support
and encouragement. You have all been a huge part of my life and I will miss you
all! It's been an amazing run, Thank you all.”
One thing I want to make clear, I’m not writing this to break news. My media career
ended in Dec. 2014 but my writing passion has never left.
ended in Dec. 2014 but my writing passion has never left.
Yours truly texted Densberger, who works for Trinchero Family Estates, after having
seeing his post. Densberger cited more job responsibilities along with the need for
a break after 25 years as his reason for stepping away from the sideline. Densberger,
however, added that he has not closed the door on a return to coaching at some
point in the future. Besides his aforementioned increased responsibilities at his job,
Densberger added that he needed a break after 25 years of coaching.
seeing his post. Densberger cited more job responsibilities along with the need for
a break after 25 years as his reason for stepping away from the sideline. Densberger,
however, added that he has not closed the door on a return to coaching at some
point in the future. Besides his aforementioned increased responsibilities at his job,
Densberger added that he needed a break after 25 years of coaching.
Densberger’s coaching career is mostly linked to basketball, coaching at Vintage as
a JV head coach and varsity assistant under Russ Critchfield and later Mike Flohr.
As his son, John, got older, he returned to St. Helena, coaching the JV team while
Tom Hoppe and Ray Particelli coached varsity. After Hoppe resigned, Densberger
took over as the varsity head coach. The win-loss record was 39-67 but Densberger’s
strength was getting younger players ready for varsity and being a buffer between
player and varsity coach.
a JV head coach and varsity assistant under Russ Critchfield and later Mike Flohr.
As his son, John, got older, he returned to St. Helena, coaching the JV team while
Tom Hoppe and Ray Particelli coached varsity. After Hoppe resigned, Densberger
took over as the varsity head coach. The win-loss record was 39-67 but Densberger’s
strength was getting younger players ready for varsity and being a buffer between
player and varsity coach.
His coaching career, however, also involved baseball. Densberger was the Saints
varsity baseball coach for two seasons (2005-2006). The 2005 St. Helena team
went 10-8, which marked the first winning season since 1982 (10-8) and first
non-losing campaign since 1988 (13-13):
varsity baseball coach for two seasons (2005-2006). The 2005 St. Helena team
went 10-8, which marked the first winning season since 1982 (10-8) and first
non-losing campaign since 1988 (13-13):
Densberger has also regularly helped St. Helena Little as a volunteer umpire and
occasionally as a coach. Most recently, he also helped the Saints as a JV assistant
coach.
occasionally as a coach. Most recently, he also helped the Saints as a JV assistant
coach.
I have repeatedly said, youth sports coaches in California don’t do it for the money.
At the high school level, whether they are a teacher or off campus, they get just a
small stipend of about $3,000 per year (give or take a few). That’s about enough to
pay for a year supply of beef jerky. There is not just the coaching games aspect.
There is time spent at practice in and out of season along with time spent scouting
opponents. Then there are the parents. Most of them have the right intentions but
there are a select bunch of bad apples that can louse up the basket.
At the high school level, whether they are a teacher or off campus, they get just a
small stipend of about $3,000 per year (give or take a few). That’s about enough to
pay for a year supply of beef jerky. There is not just the coaching games aspect.
There is time spent at practice in and out of season along with time spent scouting
opponents. Then there are the parents. Most of them have the right intentions but
there are a select bunch of bad apples that can louse up the basket.
Then you factor in how off-campus coaches have no security in that even if they
have a winning percentage of Vince Lombardi and do all the right thing for the kids,
they still have to reapply for their jobs after every season. Densberger did not like
that reality but he dealt with it enough to where he coached whether his kids were
involved or not. To deal with that reality, you really have to love coaching.
have a winning percentage of Vince Lombardi and do all the right thing for the kids,
they still have to reapply for their jobs after every season. Densberger did not like
that reality but he dealt with it enough to where he coached whether his kids were
involved or not. To deal with that reality, you really have to love coaching.
In my past career of sports reporter (1996-2014 if you include my college years),
I had many interactions with Densberger. We still text from time-time and he sees a
colleague of mine (Anthony Goode) regularly since Densberger’s employer gets
service from mine. If you ever got the three of us together, the conversation might
take an off-ramp or three.
I had many interactions with Densberger. We still text from time-time and he sees a
colleague of mine (Anthony Goode) regularly since Densberger’s employer gets
service from mine. If you ever got the three of us together, the conversation might
take an off-ramp or three.
I related with Densberger on three fronts. For openers, he went to St. Helena High
at the same time as a cousin on my mom’s side. His dad (Roy) and my grandfather
(Alfredo) worked together at Charles Krug Winery. Alfredo (known as Nonno to me)
had a nickname for anyone that talked too much. The nickname was Pappagallo
(English translation is parrott). Roy Densberger and I shared that common ground.
Suffice it to say, Joe and his brother, Will, enjoyed a chuckle out of that story. Roy
also went to St. Helena High at the same time as my mother and two aunts.
at the same time as a cousin on my mom’s side. His dad (Roy) and my grandfather
(Alfredo) worked together at Charles Krug Winery. Alfredo (known as Nonno to me)
had a nickname for anyone that talked too much. The nickname was Pappagallo
(English translation is parrott). Roy Densberger and I shared that common ground.
Suffice it to say, Joe and his brother, Will, enjoyed a chuckle out of that story. Roy
also went to St. Helena High at the same time as my mother and two aunts.
In my interactions with Joe Densberger, we frequently agreed with the notion that
kids competing at big schools and small schools are like apples and oranges. Are
there small school kids that would get swallowed up at large schools? Absolutely.
However, there are also large school kids at the end of the bench that would not
be impact players at small schools. Since Densberger coached at both Vintage
(1,800 enrollment) and St. Helena (about 500 enrollment), I always gave his opinion
on this matter credence because he had seen both because it was more objective
than others.
kids competing at big schools and small schools are like apples and oranges. Are
there small school kids that would get swallowed up at large schools? Absolutely.
However, there are also large school kids at the end of the bench that would not
be impact players at small schools. Since Densberger coached at both Vintage
(1,800 enrollment) and St. Helena (about 500 enrollment), I always gave his opinion
on this matter credence because he had seen both because it was more objective
than others.
One aspect, however, where Joe and I were adversaries but he eventually saw the
light was the University of Nebraska, where yours truly graduated in 1997 and his
son (John) in 2012. Densberger’s family has roots in Nebraska but being the
contrarian, Joe was an Oklahoma fan until John decided to go to Nebraska. Joe,
it’s about time you saw the light.
light was the University of Nebraska, where yours truly graduated in 1997 and his
son (John) in 2012. Densberger’s family has roots in Nebraska but being the
contrarian, Joe was an Oklahoma fan until John decided to go to Nebraska. Joe,
it’s about time you saw the light.
So much of the sports media/coach relationship in a small town is not just about,
“How do you feel about the execution of the pick and roll?” It is about finding fresh
ways to tell stories and developing an interest in your sources along with ways you
can relate to them. Regardless of outcome, Densberger was always gracious with
his time and answered questions honestly.
“How do you feel about the execution of the pick and roll?” It is about finding fresh
ways to tell stories and developing an interest in your sources along with ways you
can relate to them. Regardless of outcome, Densberger was always gracious with
his time and answered questions honestly.
All kidding aside, you made a difference in many lives as evidenced by the
responses you have received on social media. Hopefully, this step away from
coaching is simply a pause button but there are other passions you’ve more than
earned the right to enjoy.
responses you have received on social media. Hopefully, this step away from
coaching is simply a pause button but there are other passions you’ve more than
earned the right to enjoy.
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