No longer being "the coach" has caused major changes in the Cravens family's lifestyle. His wife, Linda, has since taken a full-time job, and Joe has become "Mr. Mom" — the guy who helps with carpooling his younger daughter Shelby, 15, and other kids to school, or to volleyball and softball practice, or does the grocery shopping, makes out the bills and goes to the video store. Those were among myriad tasks he'd never done before — and had no idea how to do.

"My wife and I have done a complete role reversal," Joe said. "I'd like to change jobs back. I'd like to give her her old job back. When you coach, that's your world. It's a whole new world now, let me tell you.

"The thing I really miss more than anything is the relationship with the kids and feeling like you have a positive impact on their lives. It's very rewarding for me to get calls from my former players, or have guys come by the house ... feeling like a kid was a bit of a knucklehead when you got him he grew into a pretty good man."

That's the part of the job he'll always miss — until he gets another chance to coach again.

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E-mail: rhollis@desnews.com