It's not always easy when Dad's the coach

But there are some wonderful experiences, father-son duos say.

Chase Culbertson (15) of Tecumseh is guarded by Derek Tincher (22) of Shawnee during a game last season. Both senior stars have the opportunity to play for their fathers.

Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic Chase Culbertson (15) of Tecumseh is guarded by Derek Tincher (22) of Shawnee during a game last season. Both senior stars have the opportunity to play for their fathers.

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By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer Updated 11:06 AM Friday, February 10, 2012

SPRINGFIELD — Roger Culbertson and his son, Tecumseh High School senior Chase Culbertson, joke that their favorite part of the school year is soccer season.

It’s the one season they’re apart. Roger is the Arrows’ head coach for both the basketball and baseball teams, meaning Chase gets a double dose of the father-son scenario — making soccer a new experience.

“It’s a lot more enjoyable for me,” Roger said. “I can just be a dad.”

Four area high schools have fathers coaching their sons. Three head coaches — the Culbertsons at Tecumseh, Greeneview coach Bill Green and his son, senior Eric; and Yellow Springs coach Brad Newsome and his son, junior Roland — all coach their sons, while an assistant, Shawnee’s Steve Tincher, is on the varsity bench with his sons, senior Derek and freshman Andrew.

Each family said the father-son coaching situations have advantages and disadvantages, but it’s mostly a great experience.

For the Culbertsons, it’s been both fun and hard.

“I’ve always wanted it to be fair for him, and looking back, I’m not sure that it always has been,” Roger said. “He’s been great from his end. He’s listened and he’s very coachable. He’s done everything I’ve ever asked and plays his role.”

For Chase, though, it’s status quo. He said his dad treats him just like everyone else.

“We don’t do anything different than anyone else,” Chase said.

At home, Roger said basketball doesn’t come up much, and they’re definitely not watching game film together.

“I try to leave that on the court,” Roger said. “I wanted to him to enjoy the experience of playing basketball with his friends. I don’t want to interfere with that while we’re at home. He’s handled it well, too.”

Growing up, Chase said he enjoyed being around both the baseball and basketball programs.

Tonight, the Arrows (13-4, 6-2) travel to Shawnee (11-5, 7-1) in a key Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division game. With a win, Shawnee will clinch the league title. Tecumseh needs a win to stay alive in the division race.

When the season’s over, both of the Culbertsons said they’ll look back on the season and be happy they could share it together.

“I always looked forward to playing in that gym,” Chase said. “I never really put too much thought into it that this is it.”

“As a dad, I’m very proud of him,” Roger said. “It’s been good, but it’s been hard.”

The Tinchers

Steve Tincher, the junior varsity basketball coach at Shawnee, gets the special opportunity to watch both of his sons play together on the varsity squad.

Derek is one of the team’s leaders as a senior, while Andrew, along with fellow freshman Jaden Greenwood, is seeing lots of playing time.

“It’s probably something I’ll cherish a little bit more down the road than I am right now,” Steve said. “It has its moments right now.”

Steve said he’s probably tougher on Andrew than he should be during his freshman year.

He also coaches the Braves’ golf team, and said he did the same thing with Derek when he was a member of that team as a freshman.

“I’m getting better each year at it,” Steve said.

Steve coached Derek at the junior varsity level, but Andrew, who was looking forward to playing for his dad, bypassed the junior varsity, going to straight to the varsity team.

Andrew said having his dad on the bench has been a good thing.

“He really helps me, keeping me calm and giving me advice I need,” Andrew said. “He just really knows what to say to me.”

For Derek, playing for his dad is nothing new. He played for him in both golf and basketball, and understands he’s going to be tough on him.

“We pretty much have the same relationship either way,” Derek said. “He expects a lot out of me.”

He’s the same way with Andrew.

“He’s tough on us, which is a good thing,” Andrew said. “I think we both really appreciate that.”

At the same time, they do a great job of keeping athletics at the school.

“I’m proud of both them,” Steve said. “They both work hard, they set good examples and they’re easy for me to manage, being a dad.”

The Greens

Bill Green and his son, Eric, spent plenty of time in the gym during Green’s first go-round as the Rams’ head coach. Bill coached Greeneview from 1980 to 2000, and after he retired, he began coaching his son in third grade.

“It’s something I’ve gotten pretty used to over the years,” Eric said. “It’d be weird if I didn’t play for him.”

But when Rocky Rockhold resigned midway through the season five years ago, the school asked Green to come back.

“I wasn’t going to do it,” Bill said. “I just wanted to sit up in the stands and watch.”

His main reason for hesitating was knowing it’d be tough on his son. He readily admits that he definitely was tough on him at the lower levels.

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