I agree with you, even though there are many more variables when coaching near, or past, retirement age. Health being the most obvious example, but there are many more that aren’t as apparent to many fans who haven’t gone through the rigors of a college season, that doesn’t begin or end with the game schedule. It takes an enormous amount of energy to travel to AAU tournaments, high school games, overseas competitions, media obligations, speaking engagements, promotions, etc. Those obligations happen over the whole calendar year, and in addition to coaching your own team, which always has ups and downs, even in a program that has the unparalleled success rate that Geno’s has sustained.
My point being that at some point, sometimes unexpectedly, your body or mind just says enough is enough, no matter how much you still love the game. One other thought that fans might consider is that anyone who has coached as long as Geno has, and has had the unbelievable success he has obtained; one of their main considerations of when to pull the plug is whatever else happens, I just don’t want it to end badly.
On a positive note Geno has the type of outlook and personality to continue for the foreseeable future, and I hope he does because he does a lot to advance the women’s game. Another positive is that when you deal with young adults on a daily basis it always makes you feel younger yourself, even if your body needs a masseuse, hot tub, or very large glass of wine when you get home. JMO
