I'd say kids more often lack discipline, not guidance from coaches. Certainly, many of them lack guidance from a strong male parental figure in their youth and that contributes to a lack of discipline, but the coaches may actually be the first guidance they've ever really had.
I'm not clear on your original statement. I'm not sure if you think coaches didn't give him the guidance to be successful or whether you think coaches weren't honest with the kid as to the level of his talent.