THE C L A C K A M A S P R IN T
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FEB. 2 5 , 2 0 1 5
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Coaches balance basketball
and family life
story and photo by Jack Spencer
Family and a basketball team, two of the most
difficult groups of people we may ever come across.
Neither can work without good chemistry and team
work. W hat would happen if these two groups col
lided? Would it be an advantage having such strong
chemistry before you even hit the court?
Here at Clackamas Community College we hap
pen to have multiple cases of family basketball. For
instance on the m en’s basketball team, freshm an
guard Matt Fiskum and his father, assistant coach
Paul Fiskum. On the women’s side co-head coach Jim
Martineau and his wife, assistant coach PJ Martineau.
Having someone you have known for a long time
out on the court with you has to give an advantage.
Basketball is such a tight knit game that the develop
ment of chemistry could be the difference between
a 20 point win and a 20 point loss. Players only have
one to two years to develop this chemistry, it’s crucial
to establish quickly. In the case of CCC basketball,
the chemistry has been developing over the course
of many years.
“I’ve coached him (Matt Fiskum) pretty much since
he was a kid.” said coach Fiskum. “It’s not unusual to
be on the floor with Matt, at all.”
Paul was Matt’s coach from fourth to eighth grade.
He doesn’t see it as an advantage, but more along the
“We don’t miss out on
family time as much as
some other coaches do.”
- PJ Martineau
lines of insight. With coaching and watching his son
progress he knows the ins and outs of Matt’s game.
Pau treats Matt as just another player, but the family
dynamic is there regardless. For a coach or athlete
to have that insight and that family dynamic must
be incredibly supportive, but also possibly difficult.
W hat trials might come up if the two worlds were to
ever collide on the court?
Coaches Jim, in white, and PJ Martineau watch in anticipation as thèir team tries to pull out a victory in their game against Chemeketa on Feb. 8.
“There are no trials as long as I rem ember the
number one rule, I may think I am in charge during
the game, but I definitely know that PJ is in charge
the rest of the time,” said Jim Martineau.
Jim and P J Martineau have been coaching together
at CCC for 16 seasons, making the NWAC tourna
ment each season as well as taking home one NWAC
championship since Jim was made the head coach.
They seem to have no trouble balancing basketball
and family. It may even seem like they have found a
way to benefit from it.
“We don’t miss out on family time as much as some
other coaches do,” said PJ Martineau.
Family time does seem to be something that can
fall behind while coaching or playing basketball, it
is a time demanding activity. The Martineaus have
no issue with it.
Wednesday, Feb. 25:
Women’s basketball at Mt. H ood
5:30 p.m.
Men’s basketball at Mt. H ood
7:30 p.m .
Saturday, Feb. 28:
Men’s basketball vs Linn-Benton
4 p.m .
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