Ex-Dieruff coach Stoudt adjusting to new role

FROM THE MORNING CALL

Don't get him wrong. Tom Stoudt loves his new job.

He just doesn't want to do it forever.

Stoudt is the former Dieruff High boys basketball coach in his first season as the lead analyst on RCN4 cable's high school coverage.

He said there's much to like about his new gig compared with his old one.

"You don't take a loss home with you," he said in offering one example.

But while getting "a great seat" at a lot of the top games is fun, Stoudt said he still misses coaching.

"That's all I've ever done in my adult life," he said. "It's in your blood. I even miss the losses."

Until another coaching opportunity comes along, Stoudt is pleased to stay connected to the game through broadcasting.

"It has been a neat experience; I've enjoyed it," he said. "Gary Laubach [RCN4's lead announcer] has helped me out tremendously. I'm trying to learn and get better each day. It's not as easy as it looks."

It's especially not easy when you have a nephew and one of your former players involved in one of the games you're analyzing.

That's what happened on Tuesday night when RCN4 televised Central Catholic's win over Nazareth. Stoudt's nephew, Seth, scored a game-high 21 points for the Vikings. Tom coached Seth the last two seasons at Dieruff.

"It was hard for me," Stoudt admitted. "There were times when he missed a shot and I wanted to say, 'C'mon Seth, take it to the basket!' But I had to be aware of the task at hand and be a professional. Deep down, I am rooting for Seth, but outwardly you have to be as objective as possible. Still, it was weird to be watching him play and not be on the sidelines with him."

Besides his nephew, Stoudt knows almost all of the players and coaches in the Lehigh Valley Conference.

One of his biggest assets is his familiarity with the teams.

"Many of the kids still call me coach," Stoudt said. "It's a plus to know the coaches and know what they're thinking in certain situations. I still talk to them before the game and try to get as much insight as possible. Just like when you're coaching, you have to prepare."

Stoudt hopes that maybe some people with connections to other schools will watch him and realize "maybe I do know a little something about basketball."

Dieruff's record in recent seasons was not an indictment of Stoudt's coaching ability, because the Huskies simply didn't have the same personnel and resources as other teams around the league.

Stoudt, a 1978 Dieruff graduate, wore his heart on his sleeve during games, but always attempted to do the right things with the kids at his alma mater, making sure that discipline was instilled while always letting them know he was in their corner.

He still works at the school as a home and school visitor.

"No matter what happened with me, you can't help but want the best for those kids," he said.

While his seasons at Dieruff were generally done by Valentine's Day, Stoudt's season as an analyst is expected to extend deep into March as Liberty, Allen, Central Catholic and even a few others seem capable of long runs in the state tournament.

"We're already had some great games in some great atmospheres like that Liberty-Allen game a few weeks ago," Stoudt said. "I'm really looking forward to what's coming up."

Rusty to stay sharp

NASCAR racing legend Rusty Wallace has gotten his contract extended through 2014 by ESPN.

Wallace, a rival of the late Dale Earnhardt and a popular figure in the sport as it rose to prominence in the 1980s and '90s, does a lot of studio work for ESPN as well as Nationwide and Sprint Cup series races. He has even been an analyst on two Indy 500 broadcasts.

Storm watch in effect

ESPN also extended the contract of Hannah Storm and announced plans to use her more extensively on some of the bigger events. She will be an on-site host on the worldwide leader's coverage of the Super Bowl, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, as well as the NBA Finals. She came to ESPN from the CBS News in 2008.

Thumbs up

With all of the Super Bowl analysis just warming up, HBO's latest edition of "Real Sports" delivers an entertaining look at issues beyond the strengths of the Steelers and Packers. Most intriguing are the behind-the-scenes looks at Fox analyst Troy Aikman and NBC contributor Peter King.

Aikman, who had more concussions than any quarterback, said he doesn't dwell on the increased health concerns associated with head injuries.

King's all-pro work ethic and strange work hours are revealed during his segment.

There were also reports on why so many NFL players have squandered millions of dollars and the health problems that are bound to catch up with the obese linemen loading up NFL rosters.

Thumbs up, too

Phillies radio announcer and good guy Scott Franzke was recently named Pennsylvania sportscaster of the year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

Thumbs up, three

Service Electric TV2 has added video-on-demand capability for its high school and college sports coverage. Now you can attend a local game and still be able to watch it again and again, even if you forgot to program your DVR. RCN4 has had the same VOD feature for several years.