Coach says challenge will be matchups in tougher Class AAA
High school coaches must learn to multi-task to handle the numerous responsibilities that go with the job.
Harlem coach Kim Chambers' two teams - the boys and girls basketball teams - both finished third in the Columbia County Christmas Tournament in Evans.
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"It is a tough thing to do," said Greenbrier boys' basketball coach Casey Dees. "Some people think we just coach out there. But there are so many little things we have to worry about."
Imagine having to handle the responsibilities of coaching two teams in a year, including worrying about paperwork, scheduling and coaching.
Harlem coach Kim Chambers coaches two teams - in the same season.
Chambers is at the helm of both the boys and girls basketball teams at Harlem.
"I have no idea how he does it," Dees said. "It takes a special person to be able to handle coaching two teams at the same time."
For Chambers, it's no big deal.
"It's not as big a load as some might think," he says. "I have great kids and great assistants to make sure everything goes smoothly."
Chambers took over the coaching responsibilities for both teams, taking the girls' job over for Melissa Chase.
Because he lives too far to drive home after school and return to coach the late boys' practice sessions, Chambers found that coaching the girls team has allowed him to fill in the gap of time.
"I would be here anyway," he said. "I figured I might as well coach the girls."
Chambers says the extra team hasn't caused him to lose focus or distract him from devoting the necessary time to each team.
"There aren't any stories of coach going into the wrong locker room or getting confused or anything," senior Sonjay Boyd said. "Sometimes you can tell he is a little tired, but that doesn't stop him from being a great coach."
The evidence in Chambers' impact can be seen in the results for both teams early in the season.
Both the girls and boys teams finished third in the Columbia County Christmas Tournament. It was the first time a Harlem team had won a game since 1999.
"I real happy with the effort of our kids," he said after the tournament. "We are getting to the point when we are gelling as a team."
The boys team also posted an impressive early season win over Hephzibah, as well as swept two games against Lakeside.
"We are satisfied with the way we have played early in some ways," junior Andre McCladdie said. "We have won some big games but also lost a few we probably shouldn't have."
Chambers will say that the biggest challenge he faces is not coaching two teams, but trying to make the playoffs in one of Class AAA's toughest regions.
The Bulldogs must now face off against Richmond Academy, Thomson, Butler, Glenn Hills, Hephzibah, Cross Creek, Burke County and others.
"We are going to struggle this year," Chambers said. "This region is unbelievable. All of the teams are athletic. We are just going to have a tough time making the playoffs."
Not making the playoffs might be the best case scenario for Chambers. A playoff appearance could force a conflict with a third team - he's also the golf coach.