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Girls Hoop Tourney Is Close To Mitchell Coach's Due Date

Eric Horchy/SUNCOAST NEWS

Stephanie Koslin is not letting a small thing like being 8 months pregnant and having a 16-month-old at home keep her from coaching the J.W. Mitchell High School girl's basketball team.

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: January 16, 2008

TRINITY, FLA - TRINITY, FLA - TRINITY – Mitchell High School girl's basketball coach Stephanie Koslin has an extra team member on board to watch over this season.

The new addition doesn't score a lot of points or rebound or play good defense, in fact, doesn't even step foot on the court. But the newbie's there for every practice, every meeting and every game and is with Coach Koslin every step of the way – literally.

That's because Koslin – in her seventh year coaching and teaching physical education at Mitchell – is eating, sleeping and breathing for two this basketball season.

Now 38 out of 40 weeks into her pregnancy with her second child, Koslin has coached through the entire season thus far without a snag.

She still holds her normal load of P.E. classes, runs practices and patrols the game day sidelines as always, and she plans to keep going until her due date.

Like all life experiences though, there is a bit of a learning curve.

"Yeah, it's definitely been a learning process," Koslin said after a recent home game. "I think the girls have been really good because they know I'm tired."

Along with the fatigue factor, she said the most difficult aspect is the hours and lack of time it allows her to be home with her 16-month-old son, Logan.

"I live across the county so I can't even go home and see him for an hour and come back, that's the hard one for me," she said of game nights.

Aside from these two downfalls, Koslin said it is mostly life-as-usual. Her easygoing personality and sense of humor can keep her going as well.

"I've had a couple refs tell me that they'll 'T' me right away if I wanted so I could sit down," she said, joking about some of the reactions she has received this season. "So I thought that was nice of them."

She had a smiling response when asked if it has helped her deal with the girls during practices as well.
"Oh yeah, I can just blame it all on the hormones, of course. I do that all the time," she said.

"But I think the girls know that I haven't been yelling as much, too," she said. "I guess that's probably a good thing though, because you're not supposed to get stressed out anyway."

What can also help make up for any hardships is the play of her young team.

Though the Mustangs have hit some rough patches throughout the season, Koslin has her team sitting in third place in Class 6A, District 7 play as the district tournament approaches.

"They're doing well, they're young," she said. "I think we have a good chance to come out of districts first or second. We've got as good a shot as anybody."

There is one little catch that may come with the district tournament and beyond, though. Those games are planned to be held at Alonso High School on Feb. 1 and 2.

Koslin's due date is Feb. 5.

Her likely absence – almost assured if Mitchell pushes past the District 7 tournament – is not a concern, noting that her assistants are more than able to handle the team.

"They're fine. They'll have no problems, I have confidence in them."

Clearly when Koslin eventually goes into labor, it'll be time to put down the clipboard for a while. However, she has not had any personal concerns or regrets about working through pregnancy, and also said the vast majority of people around her have shown nothing but support.

Other than some exhaustion – and the belly – it is business as usual for all involved on the Mitchell hardwood.

Although she's obviously looking forward to the newest addition to the Koslin family, there is one other little thing she has taken away from this year's experience.

"I'm definitely not going to be pregnant during the season again," she said.

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