Rodney Klein
Brent Ross
Parents coaching their children in sports is nothing new.
However, this year in the Tri-Eastern Conference there are two fathers who are head coaches for boys teams that have special interest in squads other than their own.
Northeastern’s Brent Ross and Lincoln’s Rodney Klein both have daughters playing varsity basketball this season.
Ross watches his daughter, Merissa, play for Centerville, while Klein’s daughter Kylei is a junior at Lincoln.
Recently, Northeastern played a boys-girls doubleheader at Centerville. After helping the Bulldogs win their game, Merissa Ross was across the court from her father rooting against his team in the second contest that night.
“It’s a unique sitiation,” Brent Ross said. “It’s her school, it’s where she grew up and those are all of her friends. She should be doing that.”
Having ties at two rival schools is sometimes difficult.
“I know deep down, he’s rooting for me to play well,” said Merissa Ross, who is a senior. “It’s the same for me. I want Centerville to play well, but I want the best for my dad.”
“It’s a complicated situation,” she said with a laugh.
For the Kleins, they are almost always together.
“My daughter and I really have a strong relationship,” Rodney Klein said. “There are so many things we have in common and basketball happens to be one of them. We also come to school together every morning.”
Kylei Klein agreed with her father.
“My dad and I are incredibly close,” she said. “We spend all of our time together and I live at the gym.”
Kylei Klein
Merissa Ross
Dad and Coach
Both fathers draw the line as they watch their daughters on the court.
“I just watch her play and I couldn’t be more proud,” Brent Ross said. “It’s probably harder for her.”
“It’s really hard in the stands, but she’s got enough coaches correcting her,” he added. “She doesn’t need her dad yelling at her.”
Klein echoed that sentiment.
“I want her to always understand that I love her whether she rebounds or doesn’t rebound,” Rodney Klein said. “On game night, I’m strickly dad. I just love to watch her play.”
But there is a difficult part for Rodney.
“I really don’t like for anybody to push her around,” he said with a grin.
Another similarity between both dads is fielding basketball questions from their daughters.
“She always asks,” Rodney Klein said of Kylei. “She a very inqusitive person, who wants to get better.”
Kylei Klein often asks for help from her dad.
“He’s such an amazing coach,” she said. “He’s so smart and he understands the game.”
“If I do something wrong, I know what he’s thinking before he tells me,” she continued. “He gives such great advice and so awesome to talk to.”
Rodney Klein is proud that he and his wife Kelly, along with sons Tyler and Michael are very supportive of Kylei and each other.
“That’s the thing I enjoy the most,” he said.
Brent Ross has some simple thoughts for Merissa after watching one of her contests.
“I try to sit up high (in the stands),” he said. “The thing I ask her after games is did you play 100 percent and did you have fun? I try to wait for her to ask before I help her with something.”
“She could be a great coach,” Ross said of his daughter, who is a soccer player as well. “I talk to her about strategy. I tease her that she chose soccer because it was something I didn’t know anything about.”
However, basketball is much different for Merissa.
“It’s a lot of pressure because I want to play well for him, but at the same time I have comfort because he’s there,” Merissa said. “He’s always dad no matter what happened. If I want more advice, then he will tell me.”
Watching Dad
Merissa enjoys watching her father on the sideline during his games.
“I learn a lot,” she said. “I’ve always been in a gym when I’m with my dad. That’s what helps me out with knowing the game. I love going to his games because they are exciting.”
Kylei smiles when she talks about her dad the coach.
“I love watching my dad,” she said. “My dad is so hysterical to watch because he gets so into it. He’s so intense. Even when he’s mad, he’s encouraging.”
“He’s such a fun guy to be around,” she added. “My dad has always been one of my biggest role models I have in my life in every way. I strive to be like my dad.”
This Week
Northeastern, Centerville and Lincoln will all be in action this week.
Northeastern’s boys host an eight-team tournament on Monday and Tuesday. Centerville’s girls have a regular season game at home with Anderson Prep on Tuesday.
Lincoln’s girls entertain three other teams in a tourney on Wednesday, the Golden Eagles welcome Daleville in boys basketball on Saturday.