Imagine having your basketball coach at the dinner table, in the car rides, and even during family movie night. For Senior Mia Fahey, that’s just a normal day.
Mia, a star basketball player at Galileo High School, is known for her impressive performances on the court. But what sets her apart from other players is her unique relationship with her coach for the last 2 years—who also happens to be her dad, Coach Nate Fahey. While the dynamic comes with challenges, Mia describes it as an experience that has shaped her both as an athlete and a person. “It was tough [being coach’s daughter] in the beginning,” Mia says, “But I got used to it as the years went by. It was hard because he’s your dad, but on the court, he’s not, he’s a coach.”
Mia notices her dad treats her differently than other teammates. “There’s more pressure to succeed,” Mia admits. “You want to impress your coach, but he’s also your dad, so he goes harder on you than anyone else. Sometimes, if he’s frustrated with the team’s performance, he’ll take it out on me because he knows I can handle it.”
This added pressure has sometimes made her feel disconnected from teammates at times. “When he’s frustrated, it can feel like I’m stuck in the middle,” Mia says. “It’s like ‘Oh Coach Nate is yelling at me, but Coach Nate is also my dad’. There’s always this conflict between your dad and your role as a basketball teammate.”
Although there are times when her dad has been harsh on her, Mia also finds it inspiring. She wants to make her parents proud and takes pride in hearing others say, “She plays well—that’s Nate’s kid.”
But despite the expectations, Mia sees having her dad as her coach as an advantage. “The best part is the ride home after games and practices,” she says. “It’s more comforting because your dad understands you more than other coaches would if you’re having an off day or when you are sick.”
Balancing the roles of coach and father can be tough, but Mia believes her dad manages it well. He treats her like every other player on the court and expects her to work just as hard. At home, however, the dynamic shifts. “At home, he’s more of a supporter,” she explains. “With the team, it’s about everyone, but at home, it’s more personal.”
Though being the coach’s kid hasn’t gone unnoticed by teammates, Mia says the team is generally supportive of her dad. “They know my dad is more optimistic compared to the last coach,” she says. “However, there’s always the possibility that someone might think, ‘Mia got that because her dad’s the coach.'”
Looking ahead, Mia believes this is the perfect team for her dad to coach in terms of the level of competition. However, if she played at a higher level, she’d prefer her dad to enjoy the game from the sidelines rather than coaching her.
In the future, Mia likes the idea of coaching a basketball team herself, saying, “Basketball has been such a huge part of my life, and I’d love to pass on what I’ve learned. I know how much a coach can influence a player, and I want to be that kind of mentor for the next generation.”
