One of the things I’ve learned halfway through my sophomore year of coaching is that the learning doesn’t stop.

Coaches pursue knowledge to such a vigorous, borderline psychotic degree, that it supports an entire industry. Books are scoured for the finer points of tactics, practice drills and game management. Game film is studied and broken down as if it were shot by Zapruder. Seminars are put on in giant auditoriums and conventions are attended by thousands as every coach of every sport tries to gain an edge.

When a representative from Proactive Coaching spoke at Powell High School a few months ago, I attended thinking it might make for an interesting story for the paper. I did not write a story. I did buy two books.

At Northwest College, I’ve had the privilege to work for and with experienced and successful coaches, and a similar sentiment is being shared among them.

Years of experience help you to understand the game, but, eventually, the tenure you’ve earned can work against you.

As a coach reaches a certain level of comfort — whether by age, success, or job security — it can be harder for them to accept change. And once a coach feels they “got it,” that program is in trouble.

Even if the game doesn’t change, the athletes do. And for college coaches, the constant player turnover means the need for constant adaptation.

That realization set in for Northwest soccer coach Rob Hill following a season that ended with first-round playoff exits for both the men’s and women’s programs.

“The principles of soccer remain the same, but at this point it doesn’t matter how much soccer knowledge I have. It’s how I deal with the people and get them all together,” Hill said.

New trends in music and slang might be the most noticeable change between generations, but are also the most trivial. Hill said it’s how today’s college athlete interacts and works (or doesn’t work) with each other, that is the key.

“It’s a different generation we’re dealing with,” Hill said. “I have to adapt to that and deal with it in a different way.”

Hill said he knows his program can’t repeat the same process to repeat the success of just a few years ago, when the Trappers made runs to the district tournament in 2012 and 2013, and earned a bid to the national tournament in 2013.

“OK, that hasn’t worked,” Hill said. “I’ve just got a flag waving in front of me. It’s time for change.”

Even NWC wrestling coach Jim Zeigler, a national champion and member of the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association Hall of Fame, admitted before this season that what’s worked in the past isn’t guaranteed to work in 2015.

That recognition and acceptance is a challenge for coaches — who are, however unfairly, typically known for their stubbornness — but necessary for those who want to evolve and thrive in a familiar environment with a brand new population.

Both Hill and Zeigler are putting a bigger emphasis on regional recruitment instead of cherry picking All-Star talent from across the western United States.

The idea is that athletes who have had to work for everything they have will be more valuable to a program than athletes who have coasted on talent, and whose youth coaches have helped enable an entitled attitude.

“I took some time to really rethink our approach to this,” Zeigler said at the start of this season. “My adjustment in going to local-type kids is I think they’re throwback-style kids. They’ll run through a wall for you.”

The trick, especially in team sports, is how to get them to all run through the wall together.

During the volleyball season, one of our first missions was to bring the players together and create a team. Then, a family. It sounds corny, but if the majority of our meetings weren’t centered around team bonding, and instead focused on scouting or strategy, I don’t believe we would have accomplished as much as we did.

There’s no doubt that team chemistry, communication and work ethic have always played important roles in college sports. But perhaps they now need more attention and cultivation than ever before.

Those who don’t identify, accept and learn from new generations may be doomed to fail.

“You’ll just continue to be baffled about why we’re not coming together,” Hill said. “You have all this talent and then it doesn’t come together and you’re like ‘what the heck is going on here?’”