As much as his faith and priorities help him to stay grounded, he wasn’t prepared for how much losses would hurt — especially the coin-flip games that could have gone either way.
As Sargent said: “The wins are short-lived. The losses are with you forever.”
The Raiders have had four defeats by three points or fewer and another in double overtime. Those have a long shelf life.
“That’s probably been (the hardest part) — not only our losses, but how we’ve lost them," he said, admitting he dwells on “all the decisions, all the things that go into it and whether I’m staying the same with my disposition with our team. You can second-guess all of that.
“There’s also the mental rest that you don’t have a ton of. I’m trying to handle that in a healthy way so I can lead our staff and players. I’m kind of learning through the fire.”
Sargent had higher expectations than hovering around .500. But the Raiders, who are 11-11 overall and 5-6 in the Horizon League, still have time to recover.
“I’m incredibly thankful for the patience of our team with me — not only being in my first year, but that I went from their assistant to their head coach. I’m trying to find healthy ways when I have to point out the critical part — to not lead them to believe I think it’s all their fault. I’m taking ownership of it, too.”
While his maiden season has been a grind, Sargent has a retreat in Waynesville where he knows he can always recover.
That’s where the 36-year-old coach and wife Jill are raising their four kids: Gracie, 10; CJ, 7; Jordy, 5; and Landry, 2.
But he can’t completely unplug.
His kids have become too attached to the Raiders for that.
“I have a basketball family. They’re all into it. They’re devastated when we lose, and they’re happy for dad and our team (after wins). They go through it, too. It’s great,” he said.
Sargent was a two-time All-Summit League pick at South Dakota State, and the former Jill Young had such a standout career at the school that she was inducted into its Athletic Hall of Fame last August.
“She’s unbelievable in how she’s been right by my side in this whole journey,” Sargent said.
But while it helps to have a wife who understands hoops and the rigors of coaching, Sargent wants to be a model for his kids in handling tough times.
“Being able to teach through that and let them see me go through the losses, I know that’s valuable for them. They’re seeing their dad fail and (wondering) how do you respond to that? It’s something I’m aware of,” he said.
“Same with our players. As much as I hate (losses), I know God has me in a position right now to lead that well.”
Though he’s learning how all-consuming the job can be, he’s also grateful to be in select company as one of 355 Division-I head coaches.
“I do consider it an honor. It’s a journey few get to take,” he said.
“The guys who have done it for 10, 20, 30 years and kept their principles and their integrity … I have the utmost respect for them.”
THURSDAY’S GAME
Wright State at Youngstown State, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+, 101.5, 1410
About the Author