A coaching change can make any athlete nervous about what it might mean for the future of any program.
For veteran Bearden wrestlers Logan Roberts, Will Hauke, and Jack Cardwell, the transition to a new head coach became less about uncertainty and more about growth, leadership, and raising the standard inside the room.
Roberts, one of the program’s seniors, entered the season navigating a head coaching change late in his high school career. While the timing caught him by surprise, he said the adjustment was smoother than expected.
“I wasn’t really expecting it, especially for how far I was into my career, but it ended up being a good change,” Roberts said.
Because Coach Daniel Harvey had already been involved with the program, Roberts had built a relationship early, easing the transition. That familiarity, along with the support of teammates, kept him motivated throughout the change.
“My friends and my coach were really what kept me focused,” Roberts said. “They kept practice fun and enjoyable and made me want to keep coming back.”
As a senior leader, Roberts said he felt a responsibility to help underclassmen adapt to the new coaching style. Having experienced different approaches throughout his career, he worked to keep teammates aligned during the early stages of the transition.
“The gap between coaching styles was hard to bridge at first,” he said. “Making sure everyone was on the same page felt important so we could grow together.”
The change sparked personal growth as well. Roberts said the season boosted his confidence and reshaped his understanding of leadership
“In the past, I looked up to captains as second coaches,” he said. “This year, it was my turn to step up.
“Leadership means communicating, understanding and helping your teammates when they need it.”
For Hauke, a junior stepping into a larger leadership role, the coaching change brought excitement rather than concern. He said he trusted the new direction immediately.
“I wasn’t worried at all,” he said. “I had total faith in Coach Harvey, and…I think it made the team stronger.”
While the team embraced the new staff quickly, Hauke said the increased intensity demanded leadership.
“When practice started getting harder, the team needed to be pushed,” he said. “The standard went up drastically this year, and the culture grew with it.”
Cardwell, also a junior, described the transition as challenging early on but rewarding over time. Adjusting to the new coaching methods required patience and communication.
“Getting used to the new coaches was difficult and confusing at first, but getting to know them on a personal level helped me adapt,” Cardwell said.
That became the advice he shared with younger wrestlers facing a coaching change for the first time.
“I told them to get to know the coaching staff,” Cardwell said. “They’ll enjoy it more once they do.”
Cardwell believes his experiences in the program from demanding practices to constant feedback prepared him for a leadership role.
“I’ve learned how to communicate and make newer wrestlers feel welcome,” he said. “I want everyone in the room to improve, not just myself.”
He pointed to improved team bonding and discipline as the most noticeable results of the coaching change.
“The team became more comfortable around the coaches and more disciplined at tournaments and duals,” Cardwell said. “I tried to make everyone feel welcome, but also kept people in check when it mattered.”