[Qbot2640]

Many people are saying that this should be up to the team and what works best for them. That would be fine if the team competed alone.

Leave it up to the alliance if it is truly an "individual" decision - so a team that believes this role should be filled by a non-college student member does not have to endure the possibility of an alliance partner's adult coach trying to tell them what to do.

Yes - it's rare...but there are rude and aggressive adult coaches* out there, and in my opinion one is too many. Especially when the alternative is teaching a student to fill the leadership role. I have heard all the arguments for having adult coaches...and there are good ones...but none outweigh the negative effect of the dominating adult coach on a young driver.

*Yes, a student coach can be rude and aggressive too...but that is a different thing - not nearly as intimidating.