How long have you been coaching?
19
Where did your career begin?
I acquired my MBA from Salem University and my undergraduate degree from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. While attending CSU, I was a member of two NAIA National Championship Football Teams. After college, I began coaching at Whitehall Middle School in Columbus, Ohio as the Defensive Coordinator. Since then, I have been coaching for 19 years across multiple sports.
**Why do you coach? (share coaching philosophy\why you decided to coach on high school level, etc.) **
Great middle and high school coaches poured into my development as a young athlete because they identified my potential and passion for athletics. From that, my goal as a coach has always been to help my athletes experience success. I desire to challenge and devise interesting experiences to stretch and help them grow. Coaching at the high school level is rewarding because I can create a space for young people to forget about the problems they may be having in the classroom or personally while building other skills to assist them in reaching their goals. My "Coaching Philosophy" is simply "DO YOUR JOB", "MAKE DAILY DEPOSIT ON GETTING BETTER" , and "STACKING GOOD DAYS ON TOP OF GOOD DAYS"
**What is the most rewarding\fulfilling part of your job? **
The most rewarding part of my job is seeing signs of growth in our youth. Watching a new behavior learned or modified, daily improvement in a skill, a glimpse of excellence or "flow" where there were only halting steps previously, and seeing guys earn opportunities/scholarships to play at the next level.
In your opinion, what is the most misunderstood thing about the coaching profession?
The most misunderstood thing about the coaching profession is that coaches are only concerned about player production on the playing field (touchdowns, blocks, tackles, etc.). On the contrary, we are tasked to take players where they can't take themselves by assisting them with creating daily habits that will yield success both on the playing field and in their lives outside of football. **I enjoy the relationships and creating moments with teams that we will remember and cherish many years later and hearing from players about the many milestones and victories they experience in their lives.
Please share the importance of what your staff/ players are doing for your community?
The things we do as a team spill out to the community. Our team is a representation of the town or community we serve. The games we play, events, and activities we host become a gathering place and a source of community pride. The positive things we do as staff and players build the spirit of the community and help develop pride and a culture of unity.
