Has the Gold Standard Been Raised - Or Lowered

  Recently, we received a USBC press release announcing that two guys, Hank Boomershine and Joe Slowinski had earned the status of USBC "Gold" Coach (see page 12), which, according to the release, brought the total of Gold Coaches to 16. When we saw that, we thought ‘Great. They are very deserving. ‘But our second thought was "16?!" – We thought there were more than 30 Gold coaches . . . so we did a little research. . .

  . . .Turns out it was one of those rare occasions when we were right; there were 36 Gold Coaches until USBC decided that all of them had to "re-certify." And only 16 have done so thus far.

  Before going any further, please allow me to say that this column is not to bash USBC in any way, shape or form. I’ve never been a coach myself, but I have kept up with the program since the 1980’s, and I have the privilege of being the chair of Bowling’s Coaches Hall of Fame committee, so I know a little about it and why coaches, both certified and non-certified, are a tremendous asset in the industry.

  If anything, maybe this is a case where people just need better communications. As this is being written, two major events are underway – the BPAA Summit in California, and the USBC Masters in Vegas, so it is a bad time to get official comments. But when everyone gets back to Arlington, I will speak to them and write another column; hopefully next month. Then, if any bashing is required, we will try to do it in a constructive way.

  Right now, we just have a lot of questions . . . like "Why should a Gold Coach have to re-certify?" We thought it was the pinnacle of the profession; a lifetime achievement. It seems to us that asking Gold Coaches to 're-up’ is the equivalent of the PBA asking legends of the game like Dick Weber, Earl Anthony and Don Johnson to go to the PBA School to keep their membership.

  For you youngsters out there, that actually happened when the PBA started their Players School in the early 80’s, and some folks are still complaining about it today. "An insult!" they shouted.

  Does the same principle apply to coaches? Airline Captains have to get re-trained every few years and are forced to retire at age 60. On the other hand, if someone earns a black belt in Karate, do they take it away when they get old or their skills diminish?

  And what happens if the ‘former’ Gold Coaches decide to take a hike? Will they be sued if they don’t stop using the title fast enough? Will they have to tell students that they are "Former USBC Gold Coaches?" Won’t the program lose credibility without their names and reputations?

  When we looked at the list of the 16 "new" Gold Coaches, and the 20 who have until August to re-join the club, we are impressed by both lists. Among the sweet 16 are names like Rod Ross, Lou Marquez, Richard Shockley, Bill Spigner, Randy Stoughton, and Gordon Vadakin.

  But yet to earn their new stripes are equal or even bigger names in coaching – Fred Borden, Sam Baca, Pat Costello, Jeri Edwards, Palmer Fallgren, Ron Hoppe, Mike Lastowski, Susie Minshew, Michelle Mullen, Susie Reichley, Del Warren, Carmen Salvino, and others.

  Carmen Salvino?! If he doesn’t qualify to be a Gold Coach, then who does? And wasn’t Fred Borden the original USBC (USA Bowling at the time) coach; and didn’t he write the original curriculum? Are they asking these legends to prove in a few tests what they have already proven in a lifetime of achievement with integrity and credibility beyond question?

  And not only that, but it is my understanding that they must pay USBC a substantial amount of money (if they re-qualify) to keep the title most of us thought was theirs forever.

  I plan to speak with Carmen about this soon; because I know he is a man of unwavering principle. I can’t imagine him paying USBC for this – based on his stand regarding the annual Hall of Fame ceremonies (he won’t come unless they pay his expenses, and they won’t) it seems unlikely. He probably thinks USBC should pay him for use of the name Salvino – and many might agree.

  Other great coaches have refused to get involved in USBC’s program altogether; coaches like Tom Kouros, Dick Ritger, Bob Strickland, Jeanette Robinson, Bob Rhea, the late great Bill Taylor, Jeanette Robinson, and John Jowdy to name a few.

  I remember when the program first started there was talk of "Grandfathering" well known coaches into the ranks, but for whatever reason, it did not happen. Jowdy says that he was once offered a free pass to become a USBC Gold Coach, but he turned it down because he thought the program needed him more than he needed it.

  Having said all that, there is nothing wrong with USBC making money on their Coaching Program. Capitalism is the American Way; even though they are classified as a non-profit organization. But wouldn’t it be wiser to make the money from the silver and bronze coaches? There are more than 2500 of them.

  As I said, there are two sides to this story; and we will bring more next month . . . and hopefully, satisfactory answers to many of the questions posed herein.