Unfortunately at the D1 hoops/football level sometimes you have to take character concerns and hope you can change them or put them in your culture and it changes them.
But I can tell you when I coached D2/D3 baseball I would go to events dressed like a regular fan/parent/friend. Get there early and watch pre game habit, watch them in the dugout, post game, etc.
If I can get a talented kid who has zero issues off the diamond its one less thing I had to worry about...I could coach, make their experience better, etc. But if I had a team with some slap ****s it just became a bigger headache.
I also recruited parents too. I could tell within 5 minutes almost all the time if this was or wasnt a parent I wanted around the program. I made it clear at the college level the only time I'd include you was finances or repeated behavioral issues. I wasnt going to respond to playing time, the way I did stuff, etc. The player can come in and talk to me. They may not always like the way the convo goes but it will be the truth. And if it came to practice/game ideas I was always open. Coaching at lower levels I never had a full time assist so at times I had to have eyes on 30-35 guys...doing numerous different things. I was always open to suggestions, what we may be not doing enough of, etc.
