This is an opinion piece.

If Ricky Austin and Andre Parks started talking, it’s almost a sure thing they would have more in common than just about anybody else they know.

Seeing the conflicting emotions of the two coaches after Thursday’s Class 1A state championship games, it’s hard to imagine they would share any common ground.

One coach was choked up talking about coaching his daughter to yet another state championship while the other was consoling his sobbing son after a heartbreaking loss.

Austin’s Spring Garden girls won their third straight state championship with a convincing 73-43 win over Brilliant. Parks’ Brantley Bulldogs lost 69-67 to R.C. Hatch in a game that was in doubt until the Bobcats made one more clutch play in the final minute.

But listening to each man in his postseason press conference, it was almost as if they were reading from the same script. Both expressed pride in the character of their players. But, more specifically, both allowed themselves a moment to shed the title of coach and simply be dads to two of the best players in the state.

Ace Austin and Jayden Parks are two of the state’s most prolific scorers. In two Final Four games at Legacy Arena, Austin scored 72 points, grabbed 21 rebounds and dished out 19 assists. The Alabama signee was two assists shy in the title game from having a triple-double in both Final Four games.

Jayden Parks was an even more prolific scorer in Birmingham, accounting for 78 points in two games.

Austin was named Miss Basketball as a senior. It’s a virtual lock she will win the award again.

Ricky Austin did not try to dampen praise for his daughter/point guard.

“I haven’t said this much, but I think she’s one of the best players I’ve seen since I’ve been coaching,” he said. “It’s been an honor to coach her. The legacy that she’s left, you can talk about points, you can talk about championships, but all the road trips that we took this year, and no matter where we were, we come out of the locker room and little boys, little girls, lined up wanting her to autograph shoes and autograph hats and autograph basketballs, and how she influenced those kids, and how I think they look at maybe an undersized player, but somebody that’s committed and worked hard. Moving forward, maybe we’ll see some more Ace Austins out on the court one day. To me, that’s an unbelievable legacy that you can affect so many people.”

Like Ace Austin, Jayden Parks has been a multi-sport star throughout his high school career. He still has a baseball season to play, but his career of playing for his father is over.

“I can’t even explain how great was to get to do this with my dad. So, it’s just special. Really special,” Jayden Parks said. “He’s always been there, and his support means a lot to me.”

Andre Parks said he would have it no other way.

“I’ve always tried to provide and be the best dad that I can be,” Andre Parks said. “There’s a lot of things I’ve done in life that I’m proud of but the thing I’m most proud of is being a dad. I know a lot of times it’s not easy being a coach’s son and sometimes he takes the brunt of what I give to the team, but he’s handled it the right way and I’ve just been proud.”

That’s a sentiment that Ricky Austin can certainly relate to.