And he said he would never let his zeal to win cloud his judgment. Parents in the Milwaukee area, however, are not alone in wondering whether coaches hesitate to expose troubled student athletes - especially when championships are at stake. That's why the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association requires coaches to bench students at least one game for drug or alcohol use. WIAA deputy director Frank McCormick said the same rule applies to other extracurricular activities. But the spotlight shines brightest on student athletes because of the high priority given athletic achievement by coaches, parents and other boosters, he said.
People look there, and they tend to judge a school.
The statewide association, however, is silent on a coach's responsibility to discipline athletes on other issues, such as those related to eating disorders or performance-enhancing substances, many of which are legal. Seminar organizers hope other coaches will follow the example of coaches such as Nicolet's Quam and notify parents when their athlete children stray toward unhealthy behavior. Likewise, she has heard of wrestlers dehydrating themselves with excessive steam baths to drop weight. Waukesha girls gymnastics coach Kim Chynoweth said she has counseled two students with eating disorders and another with a drug problem. Wauwatosa parent Barbara Lynch said coaches can influence students to make good choices.