They are in it to win it on and off the basketball court at Herriman High School.
On this episode of the Supercast, it’s “game on” as we talk to players and coach Doug Meacham about their love of basketball and how it builds character in a culture of teamwork and camaraderie.
Audio Transcription
Doug Meacham:
Players see me getting rattled and riled up. It's a natural tendency for them to start to lose focus and I'm trying to look for every advantage for us to win a game.
Carlo Mulford:
Culture has really become a tight-knit group of friends and success that the school has never seen in basketball.
Cale Barclay:
We made it to the semifinals last year and now, right now, we're on pace to hopefully win the region.
Stockton:
Confidence is the biggest thing.
[Music]
Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. They are in it to win it on and off the basketball court at Herriman High School.
On this episode of the Supercast, it's “game on” as we talk to players and coach Doug Meacham about their love of basketball and how it has built character and a culture of teamwork at Herriman High School.
[Music]
We're here at Herriman High School today to talk with the boys' basketball coach Coach Meacham. Thanks for taking time to talk with us. You're a counselor here, a coach here. It's a very busy season with class changes and the season well underway so thank you very much for taking the time.
Doug Meacham:
You bet. I appreciate having the opportunity.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about what you love about coaching basketball.
Doug Meacham:
There's probably easier to talk maybe what I don't love because there's so many things that are just awesome. I think just listening to these guys talk about their experience in terms of how they approach things and their leadership qualities, to just watch young men grow, is to me the biggest satisfaction. To get some of those emails back after things have happened in their life there are great accomplishments. That to me, that's the reward. Basketball is a part of it, but you know I think molding young men has been the biggest thing. As former coaches have had such a huge impact on me, you know, I hope to do the same.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about some of those coaches in your life that have had an impact.
Doug Meacham:
Well, I go back to my high school coaches Coach Knight, Coach Eccles, guys who always would say things like, you know, “The things that you're learning now will impact you later in life” and they do. And how they handled their business with their families with just them as individual people was impressive to me. I was fortunate to be a walk-on at the University of Utah with Coach Majerus for a few years. I was a grad assistant with him and so I was around just a phenomenal team and a staff that I just learned so much. It was just amazing to experience that part of it and when I was sitting there sitting at some of those practices is where I thought you know I probably need to do something along the lines of coaching basketball.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's fantastic I love that you've built on those experiences and are now providing those to so many other students. When I mentioned to your principal that I was going to be interviewing you for the podcast, other principals overheard that and said “Oh yeah, he's the guy you want to talk to.” So your reputation is really out there for being such a great coach and a great support to these students. Tell me what is your how would you summarize your approach to coaching?
Doug Meacham:
My approach to coaching is how I would want my own son to be coached. I want to give them a hundred percent. I don't want to ask them to do something that I wasn't willing to do myself. I loved being around teams that understood how to play for the team. Those are the special players and sometimes that takes a few years to break some habits of looking for their own. The generation we live in now is you know you get on these AAU teams and it's all about I've got to figure out how to get my shots and I got to get my opportunity. To combat that with your success will grow once your teammates are thriving. I think as you look at you know Carlo, his last game he had six assists and one turnover. He's a guy that can go and make a basket anytime he wants but he's understanding that it all comes back to him when he puts his teammates first. He'll carry that message into his life.
Anthony Godfrey:
Right, that sense of teamwork is so important and it translates into so many other situations well beyond high school basketball. Tell me about the impact you've talked about watching young men grow. Tell me about the growth that you've seen and the changes that you've seen in these student athletes who've been part of the program.
Doug Meacham:
These guys– for me, it's they've had a work ethic. This is one of the first groups that I have to kick them out of the gym. It's one of those things where if they can't get into the gym here they go find a church. They understand that that's part of it and they've learned to fall in love with the process. Every time after a win I'll say that this maybe isn't how you imagine this win went but it was awesome. Because the expectations for each individual are all slightly different sometimes but they can always have that feeling of you know we did it. It was accomplishment. That's what's fun to watch, is the little switch go over to my role might be that I take three shots this game but I'm gonna make them the best three shots and do my part with the little things that don't get a lot of attention.
Anthony Godfrey:
Figure out your part and make the most of that. How do you set a tone during the game? I always admire how coaches are able to contain themselves and make the most. I mean there's only so much you can do during the game, the preparation comes before that. Talk to me about that sideline mentality.
Doug Meacham:
Yeah, I always tell our parents and players I'm gonna be on the refs for about five percent of the game the other 95 I'm gonna be coaching and teaching. I think if players see me getting rattled and riled up it's a natural tendency for them to start to lose focus and I'm trying to look for every advantage for us to win a game. If I lose focus with one of my players because they think the ref is taking it to us then they're losing the big picture of it. So I think having some experience has helped me with that but I also know that you know I always tell these guys before a game “Hay's in the barn”. Some of them I had to explain what that term meant but they understand we did our work and now let's go and enjoy the rewards.
Anthony Godfrey:
You mentioned hay in the barn. Have you ever run the picket fence?
Doug Meacham:
Similar versions, just haven't called it the picket-
Anthony Godfrey:
Look, I want to be assistant coach for one day for two minutes and I want you to let me call ‘run the picket fence.’
Doug Meacham:
Well, the problem is some of these guys haven't even seen Hoosiers.
Anthony Godfrey:
They haven’t? That's required.
Doug Meacham:
I agree there are some I've shown them scenes and we'll finish Hoosiers
Anthony Godfrey;
I think UHSAA has a requirement in the rulebook that you have to watch Hoosiers.
Doug Meacham:
I agree.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well, I can't thank you enough for coaching here at Herriman High School and for the tremendous positive impact you're having on these boys.
Doug Meacham:
I appreciate it. Thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
Don't go away. When we come back players talk about how they play hard and learn together and support each other as a team with basketball helping them learn lots of life lessons.
Never miss an episode of the Supercast by liking and subscribing on your favorite podcasting platform. Find transcripts for this episode and others at supercast.jordandistrict.org.
Break:
It's something all parents need to know in the event of an emergency in one of our schools. Hi, I'm Matt Alvernaz, a former law enforcement officer at Army Ranger, now school safety coordinator for Jordan School District. We're talking about the Standard Response Protocol, or SRP.
Knowing SRP will help to keep everyone safe and informed if there is an emergency in one of our schools or buildings. Standard Response Protocol provides consistent, clear, shared language and actions for all students, staff, first responders, and parents. It is language that can be applied to any emergency situation. The SRP actions now used in all schools statewide are HOLD, SECURE, LOCKDOWN, EVACUATE, and SHELTER. To educate yourself and your children on these actions, visit schoolsafety.jordandistrict.org.
Anthony Godfrey:
Coach tell us about these three players we're going to talk with.
Doug Meacham:
These are our three captains and they represent our team and program and they were selected by teammates and coaches. They embody the word student athlete. When you have leaders that go out not only say they get out and do you know what's needed to be done. This is Stockton. He's a senior and he's got an offer to go play at Green River. It'll probably be some others you know down the road but just a great student. He's our sharpshooter on the court. This is Carlo Mulford he's been starting here since he's a freshman and he's just a gym rat. And gym rat in basketball terms is awesome. Just means he wants to stay after as long as possible.
Anthony Godfrey:
Right.
Doug Meacham:
And it's it's why he's where he's at.
Anthony Godfrey:
He keeps Kobe hours.
Doug Meacham:
Yes, he does. He understands that and he's got an offer to SUU and some other junior colleges and others are interested in. He’s only a junior so he'll have others coming down the road. And Cale Barclay here he's committed to SUU and 4.0 student. You know, all the teachers when they talk about any one of these guys they always say “Hey, they are great in their classes” and they understand that. They take that as a priority and it's really easy to coach these guys.
Anthony Godfrey:
Introduce yourselves guys and tell me about being part of Coach Meacham's team.
Stockton:
I'm Stockton. Just since Meach has been here, it's been two years that I played for him now. It's my second year and just the culture change has been such a big thing for me. The confidence I've gained from playing with him and his belief is just so big for not only me but our team in general.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me you're the sharpshooter so what are the elements of great basketball shot?
Stockton:
Yeah, I mean just gotta get your feet, gotta get your elbow under. I mean, confidence is the biggest thing. if you're struggling with confidence you're not gonna be a good shooter so always believe in yourself.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. Is there some self-talk that you do during the game or is it all just happening to you and you're in the moment?
Stockton:
I feel like sometimes it's in the moment. You don't ever want to tell yourself you're not gonna make a shot. You always want to have that next play mentality like coach says a lot.
Anthony Godfrey:
The next play mentality. That's great. I love that.
Carlo Mulford:
I'm Carlo Mulford and playing for Meacham has been a great experience for me. These past few years have been great for our program and he just really helps build our confidence. Our culture has really become a tight-knit group of friends and we really want to see each other succeed. He takes a lot of time he takes a lot of sacrifices time out of his day to come help us prepare and get better and you know time out from his own job. I really appreciate that and it's been a great experience.
Anthony Godfrey:
He says you have a great work ethic. Talk to me about the hours you put in. Is it ever hard to stay at the gym longer?
Carlo Mulford:
It's definitely hard, but it's just you know, motivation will get you really far but discipline will just get you even further. There's a lot of days where I'm too tired, or feel like I'm too tired. I don't want to go put in the extra work but it's just a discipline that will just keep you going. Keep you in the gym to continue to get better.
Anthony Godfrey:
I feel the same way about clearing my email inbox. Ten more emails, come on ten more. Let's do it. Okay, how about how about you tell me about your experience.
Cale Barclay:
Yes, I'm Cale Barclay and the last two years, basketball has been the best basketball that I've ever been a part of. First two years here our team struggled. Didn't have a lot of camaraderie or like team togetherness and then Meacham came in and a culture change. Just a huge like energy boost really was the biggest thing and we've seen success that the school has ever seen in basketball. Made it to the semifinals last year and now right now we're on pace to hopefully win the region. That's never been done. Our biggest goal is a state championship and that's what we're looking forward to right now.
Anthony Godfrey:
I love the sound of that. You talked about teamwork. Tell me about how you've learned to rely on each other and talk to me about leadership as a team captain.
Stockton:
Yeah, so I think the biggest thing is just like being friends along with being teammates. Like, we all the time that we're spending outside of school and outside of basketball is usually together. We're all hanging out all the time. So we enjoy each other's presence. Coach says a lot to find guys that you like to work with so the coaching staff that he has he loves to be around. And that's the same with like the players. I just love these guys so it makes it makes it easy to go to battle for ‘em and want to want to do things to make each other better.
Carlo Mulford:
So like he said, we're all best friends. If we're not in the gym together then we're out you know messing around, hanging out with each other at someone's house. So I mean, we've all grown up together so what Meacham has done for us, you know really pushing our culture for a team environment, team basketball. Being able to play for each other and not just ourselves and wanting goals for our team to succeed.
Cale Barclay:
Yeah, I mean there's always been a friendship between all of us. I mean most of our rotation and players we've all played together since second grade. We've all had really tight like not only friendship, but we believe in each other and we know what we're all capable of. So if we're not performing to that standard then we know how to what things to say or what certain things to just keep us motivated and keep on going. I think that's the biggest thing too.
Anthony Godfrey:
I love that. How has being a part of this program changed you? Coach talked about you being student athletes and being really strong students. What's the relationship between being a student and an athlete and have you been changed in this program?
Stockton:
Well yeah, I mean like Cale said in the first two years here it was it was a struggle. Obviously, we're all good, good friends before, but the sense of togetherness wasn't to the standard we would have wanted it at. Ever since Meach came here he just kept that togetherness. I mean we all struggled at the start but ever since he's come in we've really just took that role to a whole other level.
Carlo Mulford:
I mean yeah, what it's done for me personally, a lot. He introduced the “Eyes Up, Do The Work!” program which is really good for not only us but it also brings in a bunch of the other captains in the school. We all get to learn from someone that'll come in and teach us and have us look out for not just our teammates but others around the school. Which is very good for not just us, but everybody really. The example we have for others in the school I know it's really good for everybody.
Anthony Godfrey:
And that focus on helping support you off the court has had an impact on the court clearly.
Carlo Mulford:
Sure. Yeah, like the other people within the school obviously, you know, we look out for them I want to be good examples of them. I'm sure that's why our turnouts for the games are a lot better this year because you want to be a friend of people. You want to be a good example to people, and other people want to be around you if you're that person for them.
Anthony Godfrey:
It's got to feel good to see that support.
Carlo Mulford:
Oh yeah, for sure. We appreciate it.
Cale Barclay:
Yeah, the student athlete part of it, I mean Meacham's a counselor here at Herriman so he's always checking up on our grades and everything.
Anthony Godfrey:
He has access.
Cale Barclay:
Yeah, it's really easy. So he's been good about making sure that people are in the classroom because he preaches ‘how you do anything is how you do everything’. So if you're good in the classroom, staying on top of your grades, then you're gonna be successful everywhere else. So that's a big focus of ours and I think that's helped the team because then there's not people sitting out for grades and doing homework and all that stuff. Everybody can be there on time, all that type of stuff so it's good.
Anthony Godfrey:
You kind of just turned into a motivational speaker. I'm kind of amped now I'm ready to maybe not get out on the court, maybe get into a meeting and really you know get after it. Anyway, you guys are all super impressive. Coach talked about some of the opportunities that you have. Tell me what's what's next for you after Herriman High.
Stockton:
Well, I just received an offer about a couple days ago to play at Green River College Community College in Washington. That's obviously a huge thing to me. Seeing my success and all the work that I've put in to get to this level. I'm super thankful for that. Obviously, I'm not sure what I'm gonna do yet, just kind of play it by ear, but I'm very interested in that and yeah we'll see. Anthony Godfrey:
Okay, great.
Carlo Mulford:
I'm not quite sure whether I want to go straight into college or serve an LDS mission. I'm gonna just see what my options are for you know at Southern Utah already where I have a scholarship and College at Southern Idaho. Whether my opportunities would be best for me to go right now or like after my senior year or you know to serve a mission if that would be best. Also, you know the other schools I'm talking to, hopefully, I can you know gain some more interest in other schools and look at my opportunities there.
Anthony GOdfrey:
It's early in that process.
Carlo Mulford:
I got a couple years.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.
Cale Barclay:
Yeah, so I actually signed to Southern Utah a couple months ago right before the season. Super excited about it. That'll be the spot I go next year. I'm not going on a mission, so I'll be there in 2025. I'm just super excited about it.
Anthony Godfrey:
From Mustang to Thunderbird.
Cale Barclay:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's the name for your autobiography now. Okay and then there'll be another mascot after that.
Cale Barclay:
Yeah, that’s the goal.
Anthony Godfrey:
We just need that whole progression. Well, thanks a lot for talking with me. It's gonna be really exciting to watch the rest of the season and best of luck with everything.
Students:
Thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, education is the most important thing you'll do today. We'll see you out there.
(upbeat music)