While many Warren fans anticipated and praised Paul Trina’s choice of Steve Arnold as the next Harding head football coach in the winter of 2011, the timing was horrible. The announcement was made in late November, shortly after the end of the 2011 football season and just weeks before the launch of the 2011-12 basketball campaign. As usual, Steve and his coaches showed up for afternoon basketball practice, but got a big surprise. It went something like this:
After a long day of media demands, Arnold showed up for the team’s four o’clock practice session. To his surprise, the team was AWOL, absent without leave.
“I turned to Richie Chapman, my top assistant, and asked, ‘Didn’t we say practice was at four o’clock’?”
Chapman confirmed it, but the gym was empty. No players showed up for practice. When they checked the locker room, senior Jesse Hardin was seated in front of his locker, looking dejected. Steve was glad to see him, because he had an important question for his starting point guard.
“Where’s everybody at?” he asked.
“Coach, they’re not coming. They were mad that you left practice early yesterday,” Hardin explained. “They don’t think that you care about us anymore.”
Arnold’s response was immediate and assertive. “Jesse, call those guys and tell them to get here. NOW!”
To learn what happened next, get your copy of BORN TO LEAD. It will be available at Amazon in eBook and paperback formats on May 30. You can pre-order the electronic version today, and it will be delivered to your electronic device on the day of the launch. Paperbacks will be available at the Harding Cafetorium on Saturday, May 30, when Coach Arnold hosts a launch event and an inaugural book signing. The event begins at 11 a.m., and the public is invited to attend.