[Donut]

What do we count an adult coach who was a student team member just 2 years ago? Our coach this year was a member from 2 years ago who still mentors the team.

Anyway, I think student or adult coaches can work well, it just depends on what kind of experience you have; many students I think are not well suited to be a coach, but the same I can say for many adult mentors as well. Your entire drive team should be capable of deciding things for their own, with the coaches main job being to direct things on the field and communicate with the other teams when the drivers are busy controlling their own robot. Match strategy and such should be a joint discussion, and is easy to take part in for any drive member; I was coach last year, and part time shooter operator this year, but I did relatively the same role except this year I could operate controls rather than telling what to do.

On the student coach note; a student coach should NEVER feel intimidated by an adult coach. I have never felt intimidated by an alliance coach (student or adult), perhaps times I've been a little frustrated or confused by their decision making, but I've always made sure to put in my suggestions. If a student is intimidated, they are either not fully ready to be a coach, or the adult coach is doing something far beyond what they should be doing. Adults and students can be equally capable of strategizing and directing alliance play.