PROVO — If the family that plays together stays together, what about the Bigelows, Lambs and Judkinses?
These dual-sport families are pulled in different directions during different seasons.
Consider last weekend for the three Cougar families:
Mark Bigelow made his senior-season debut with the BYU men's basketball team in the Marriott Center against Southern Utah. Meanwhile, his wife, Terra, was in Philadelphia with her teammates as the women's soccer team beat Villanova to advance to the NCAA's Elite Eight.
Karen Lamb, BYU women's volleyball head coach, guided her team to the Mountain West Conference tournament semifinals in San Diego. Her husband, Barry Lamb, coached linebackers when BYU fell 3-0 Saturday to rival University of Utah at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
And as BYU women's basketball head coach Jeff Judkins directed his team in its season-opener win against Weber State in Ogden, daughter Jenna Judkins was with the Cougar volleyball team in Southern California.
Sometimes, the sports overlap in families makes for interesting compromises.
As the basketball team was being introduced at the Nov. 1 "Cougar Tip-off" at the Marriott Center, Mark Bigelow was absent. He was escorting Terra Bigelow onto South Field as the Cougar senior soccer players were featured at the regular-season finale.
Mark, dressed in his basketball warm-ups, made a mad dash for his team's on-court contest after the pregame events were over and Terra's team had taken the field.
It's more of the same today, as Mark starts at forward in the Marriott Center when the basketball Cougars play host to Utah Valley State College, while Terra starts at forward in Storrs, Conn., as the soccer Cougars face UConn in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.
"That's just part of the sacrifices you have," he said. "You're both playing college athletics, but at the same time, it's tough."
While scheduling conflicts can create obstacles, the Bigelows have each other for instant empathy on challenges on the playing field, in the classroom and at home.
Sometimes, financial or family matters come into play when both are athletes. One may have to drop sports to help provide financially.
In the case of former BYU athletes Reno and Sunny Mahe, the latter took a year's absence from a heralded collegiate volleyball career because she was pregnant with the couple's first child. She gave up a possible senior season this year, instead relocating with her husband for his rookie season with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.
For the Lambs, coaching two different sports during simultaneous fall seasons is demanding.
"This year has been a little tougher," said Karen. "The last few years, there's only been twice we were on the road at the same time. This year, even with the Thursday night (home) games, Barry has had to go recruiting."
Karen Lamb quit coaching at Washington State 15 years ago when the demands of job and family became to great. At the time, Larry Lamb also was working as a coach — at Idaho.
Lamb, who was required to travel extensively to build a struggling program she inherited, opted to stay home instead of hiring a nanny.
"It wasn't much fun, and it wasn't what we felt we wanted for our family," she said. "I made the decision to not work — and it kind of coincided with Barry going to (coach at) San Diego State."
In San Diego, she coached part time with the U.S. national team and later volunteered as a BYU assistant a couple of years when Barry was hired. By the time her youngest child started grade school, Lamb was ready to return to full-time coaching.
"I'll tell you what the saving grace is — that we get out of practice at 3 o'clock and I'm home by 3:30, when the kids get out of school," she said. "Sometimes I can get home a bit earlier — I really try to be there for them at night."
Other graces are cell phones, older-teen children who help shuttle around siblings and watchful neighbors to make sure no impromptu parties begin when the Lambs are gone.
Pressure, particularly because of the football team's struggles, was felt.
"I think we've felt that — I've felt that pressure. Some days we just get into bed and laugh because we're so tired. If we get one thing done at home — one load of laundry — it's a good day. If our kids have a vegetable or fruit (at dinner), it's a good day."
Jeff Judkins wants to make up for missed opportunities with his older children by being more supportive in attending events of middle-child Jenna and her two younger siblings.
"My kids have been understanding of my role as a coach and my responsibilities," said Judkins, the third-year women's coach who has also worked with Utah and BYU men's teams. "I've tried to do better with my last three."
He proudly points out that he didn't miss one of Jenna's volleyball games at Skyline High last season, despite overlap of volleyball and basketball season. Since she's a redshirt freshman setter with the Cougars this season, she hasn't played — so he hasn't needed to attend games. But he's toying with having her join him for basketball practice this season.
"I'll try to play her a little bit on the scout team," he said.
Jeff Judkins' challenge is next year, when Jenna Judkins begins her collegiate playing career and BYU's basketball practice starts just as the volleyball team hits midseason. Games start overlapping in November, with postseason volleyball extending into December.
"If they make the NCAA tournament, it will really be hard," Jeff Judkins said. "Maybe I'll have to adjust my basketball schedule."
E-mail: taylor@desnews.com