Week 8
School: Waltrip High School
Years Coaching: 32
How long have you been coaching? Where did your career begin? College\university you attended?
- I am completing my 32 Year of Coaching. My first coaching position was at Clack Middle School in Abilene Texas, we were a feeder school for Cooper High School. Randy Allen hired me and began the process of teaching me what it truly means to be a High School Head Football Coach. I played college football at Harding University and received my bachelor's degree from Abilene Christian and my master's from Lamar University.
Why do you coach?
- I coach with the vision of "Training athletes in the way they should go, to thrive and not simply survive in an ever changing and complex world". That is a long way of saying life is a struggle and I want them to be able to struggle with strength, courage and dignity. We don't decide whether life is hard or not, we all know that it is hard, and I pray we give them the tools to struggle well.
- My coaching philosophy is based on the Four-Square Life (Randy Allen Shared this philosophy with me). This is based on the principles from the Bible (Luke 2:52) that we are all made up of Four Parts Mental, Physical, Spiritual and Social. This is the lens that we see every athlete we impact, and we do our best to foster growth in all four aspects. We apply these principles through our programs Four Pillars: Intention, Integrity, Intensity and Interaction. Intention is the "why" of being coaches and athletes, Integrity is the how we carry out the process, Intensity is our level of focus and enthusiasm, and Interaction is our community of team.
What is the most rewarding\fulfilling part of your job?
- We live in a world that is seeking to take by any means necessary our attention. When we have an athlete become aware that he is valuable because he exists and that service is the key to success, we know that they are now able to become the best version of themselves on the field, the classroom and the community. We want all the student athletes that we come into contact with to "own their lives and be the hero of their own story". We believe this happens by working for the together, selflessly, for highest goal possible and putting team first.
In your opinion, what is the most misunderstood thing about the coaching profession?
- The most misunderstood part of the coaching profession I believe is the absolute totality of commitment required to cultivate a culture of success. The amount of distraction is almost unmeasurable in building a relationship with a young person strong enough to get them to "risk" giving fully to a process that does not guarantee "success". I believe the greatest challenge we face. Our goal is to show them that a person who is disciplined, motivated, intentional and sincere will be a success.
Please share the importance of what your staff/ players are doing for your community?
- I am truly thankful and proud of my staff and the Waltrip Community. This program has had three head coaches in less than a year. The athletes desire to be a "team" is evidence by the genuine concern for their teammates. I believe our greatest accomplishment as a football program, is how we have bonded as a team. I hope we have been and will continue be positive examples of service to the most important resource we have as a society, our young people. I believe athletics is the greatest at-risk program we have as a and I am privileged to play a part in serving as a coach and mentor in the Houston Independent School District.