Coach Bob Sang - Marvin Wetzel Interview

WHY AM I HERE? AFTER I AM GONE WILL ANYONE OUTSIDE OF MY FAMILY EVEN KNOW I HAVE BEEN HERE? HAS MY LIFE COUNTED FOR SOMETHING ? HAS MY LIFE MATTERED? THESE ARE A FEW OF THE QUESTIONS MANY PEOPLE ASK THEMSELVES WHEN THEY REACH A CERTAIN POINT IN THEIR LIVES. AS I APPROACH MY 58TH YEAR, I NOW FIND MYSELF AT THAT POINT.

DURING MY HIGH SCHOOL DAYS I MET AND MARRIED THE MOST WONDERFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD ! SHE HAS BEEN MY LOYAL HELPMATE FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND HAS STOOD BESIDE ME THROUGH SOME VERY TRYING AND TROUBLED TIMES. I THINK A COACH’S WIFE SHOULD QUALIFY FOR SAINTHOOD LONG BEFORE SHE REACHES THE PEARLY GATES. I KNOW MY WIFE DOES.. IT TAKES A VERY SPECIAL WOMAN TO BE THE WIFE OF A COACH. SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS. WITHOUT HER I WOULD HAVE ACHIEVED NOTHING OR BEEN NOTHING. BEFORE WE MARRIED I HAD FLUNKED OUT OF COLLEGE AND WAS WANDERING AIMLESSLY THROUGH LIFE. SHE SETTLED ME DOWN AND GAVE MY LIFE MEANING. I WENT BACK TO COLLEGE AND SHE WENT WITH ME AND HELPED PUT ME THROUGH. . WITHOUT HER THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO COLLEGE DEGREE. WITHOUT HER I WOULD NEVER HAVE BECOME A COACH.

SHE ALSO GAVE ME 3 INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL DAUGHTERS WHO ARE JUST AS BEAUTIFUL ON THE INSIDE AS THEY ARE ON THE OUTSIDE. THE INSIDE IS THE SIDE THAT COUNTS. MY OLDEST DAUGHTER IS AN ENGLISH TEACHER WITH A “PASSION” AND A GIFT FOR TEACHING YOUNG PEOPLE HOW TO READ. MY MIDDLE DAUGHTER HAS GONE INTO THE MEDICAL FIELD AND HAS DEDICATED HER LIFE TO MAKING PEOPLE FEEL BETTER THROUGH HEALING. MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WORKS FOR ONE OF THE LARGEST CHRISTIAN OUTREACH MINISTRIES IN THE WORLD AS SHE IS HELPING TO PUT HER HUSBAND THROUGH LAW SCHOOL. ALL 3 ARE IN THE “PEOPLE” BUSINESS. ALL 3 ARE SERVANTS. IF LIVING MY LIFE WITH MY FAMILY WERE MY ONLY EXPERIENCE IN THIS WORLD MY EXISTENCE HERE WOULD BE MEANINGFUL AND WELL WORTH IT. THEN THERE IS COACHING.

AS IF IT WERE ONLY YESTERDAY , I VIVIDLY REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE CALLED ME COACH. I WAS STILL IN COLLEGE AND VOLUNTEERING AS A 7TH GRADE BASKETBALL COACH AT MY OLD HIGH SCHOOL. THE VARSITY HAD FINISHED PRACTICE AND AS THE VARSITY COACH WAS LEAVING HE SIMPLY SAID: “ GOODNIGHT COACH.” NOT EVEN MY NAME, JUST COACH. IT WAS TRULY A DEFINING MOMENT IN MY YOUNG LIFE. THE VARSITY COACH NEVER KNEW AT THE TIME THAT HIS INNOCENT FAREWELL HAD JUST GIVEN BIRTH TO A WHOLE NEW CAREER. HE HAD JUST GIVEN BIRTH TO A BRAND NEW COACH. THAT CHRISTMAS MY DAD BOUGHT ME A JACKET IN MY SCHOOL COLORS OF ORANGE AND BLACK WITH THAT SPECIAL TITLE EMBRODERED ON THE FRONT. COACH. I WORE IT EVERYWHERE I WENT AS IF IT WERE A HOLY ROBE. YOU SEE, THAT WORD, COACH, HAS ALWAYS HAD A SPECIAL MEANING TO ME. IT HAD A REVERENCE ABOUT IT. IT WAS THE TITLE OF A PROFESSIONAL LIKE DOCTOR , OR FATHER OR RABBI. IT WAS EVEN MORE THAN THAT. THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT ANYONE CAN PAY YOU IS TO CALL YOU A “GOOD COACH.” IT REALLY MEANS YOU ARE A GOOD TEACHER, DOCTOR, LAWYER, STRATEGIST, MOTIVATOR, PARENT, COUNSELOR, PHYCHIATRIST, PSYCHOLOGIST, A FRIEND AND ,MOST IMPORTANTLY A ROLL MODEL. IT MEANS HONESTY, INTEGRITY, CHARACTER, A PASSION FOR DOING WHATS RIGHT AND A HIGH SENSE OF VALUES. A GOOD COACH HAS TO BE ALL THESE THINGS.

SOMEONE ONCE SAID THAT YOU CAN KNOW YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PROFESSION IF IT CHOOSES YOU INSTEAD OF YOU CHOOSING IT. I REMEMBER SITTING IN CHURCH AND ATTENDING SUMMER CHURCH CAMPS AS A YOUNGSTER AND LISTENING TO THE PREACHERS TALKING ABOUT ANSWERING A “CALLING” FROM GOD TO FULL TIME CHRISTIAN SERVICE. I REMEMBER THINKING HOW WONDERFUL AND REASSURING THAT MUST BE.

I WANTED SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUT I DIDN’T WANT TO BE A PREACHER. I LATER REALIZED THAT GOD NEEDED PEOPLE IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE. MAYBE THERE WERE SOME OTHER PROFESSIONS OUT THERE THAT “CALLED” YOU TO SERVE. THAT COMPELLED YOU TO A POINT WHERE YOU COULD NOT RESIST. I NOW KNOW THAT COACHING IS ONE OF THOSE PROFESSIONS.

SO WHAT EXACTLY IS A GOOD COACH ? DO YOU MEASURE BY THE WORLD’S STANDARDS AS I USED TO DO.? HOW MANY GAMES DO YOU HAVE TO WIN?

THE WISEST MAN IN THE BIBLE WAS KING SOLOMON. NOT ONLY WAS HE THE WISEST BUT HE WAS ALSO THE RICHEST. HE MAY HAVE BEEN THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE WORLD FOR HIS TIME. HERE IS A MAN WHO ACHIEVED AND RECEIVED EVERY THING HIS WORLD HAD TO OFFER. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT EXISTED AT THAT TIME THAT HE COULDN’T HAVE. YET HE PLAINLY TELLS US IN THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES THAT IN THE END IT WAS ALL VANITY. WORTHLESS AND UNFULLFILLING. AS I THINK BACK ON MY 33 YEARS, I THINK OF ALL THE TIMES I THOUGHT, IF I COULD JUST WIN THIS ONE GAME I WOULD BE HAPPY AND VALIDATED AS A COACH. THIS ONE WIN WLL PROVE THAT I AM A GOOD COACH. IT NEVER HAPPENED. EACH TIME I GOT THAT ONE BIG WIN THERE WAS ALWAYS ANOTHER ONE THAT I JUST HAD TO HAVE. IT WAS LIKE BEING IN A RACE WITH NO FINISH LINE. THEN WHAT DOES IT TAKE? HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS ? FOR ME IT TOOK A STROKE AND SUBSEQUENT RETIREMENT TO FIND THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

IN JANUARY OF MY 33RD YEAR OF COACHING I ACCEPTED A NEW COACHING JOB. I HAD ENJOYED MODERATE SUCCESS IN MY CAREER, BY THE WORLD’S STANDARDS, BUT NOTHING REALLY GREAT. NO STATE OR EVEN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. I HAD ENJOYED 19 CONSECUTIVE YEARS WITHOUT A LOSING REGULAR SEASON. THREE MONTHS AFTER ACCEPTING THAT NEW JOB , ON SAT. NIGHT, APRIL 28TH I SUFFERED A STROKE AND MY LIFE WAS CHANGED FOREVER. IT WAS CONSIDERED A “MILD” STROKE, IF THERE IS SUCH A THING, A T.I.A. THE DOCTORS SAID. IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN MY NECK SO MY BRAIN NOR MY SPEECH, EYES, OR HEARING WERE AFFECTED. BECAUSE IT HAD HAPPENED IN SUCH A SMALL AREA OF MY NECK IT DID LEAVE ME PARALYZED ON MY RIGHT SIDE. I AM STILL PARTIALLY PARALYZED TO THIS DAY. OF COURSE I HAPPENED TO BE RIGHT HANDED. JUST MY LUCK. SUDDENLY, OVERNIGHT, WINNING A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME JUST DIDN’T SEEM TO BE ALL THAT IMPORTANT ANYMORE. I SPENT 2 WEEKS IN THE HOSPITAL DOING THERAPY. IT WAS LIKE HAVING AN APPOINTMENT WITH PAIN 3 TIMES A DAY. I TRIED TO COME HOME AFTER MY FIRST WEEK BUT MY MIDDLE DAUGHTER WOULDN’T LET ME SO I STAYED FOR THE SECOND WEEK. SINCE MY MIND WAS UNAFFECTED, MY NEW EMPLOYERS WERE GREAT TO ME AND DECIDED TO ALLOW ME TO CONTINUE .. I HAD TO LEARN TO WALK AGAIN SO WHILE I WAS DOING THAT, THEY BOUGHT ME A SMALL MOTORIZED CONVEYANCE SIMILAR TO A GOLF CART CALLED A JOHN DEERE GATOR. PRACTICE HAD TO BEGIN ON JULY 15, JUST 2 AND A HALF MONTHS AFTER MY STROKE, AND I COULDN’T WALK. I HAD TO WEAR A LEG BRACE JUST TO STAND UP. I BEGAN RELEARNING HOW TO WALK BY USING A 4 LEGGED WALKER. I EVENTUALLY WORKED MY WAY TO A 4 PRONGED CANE, MY CANE COULD STAND UP BY ITSELF, EVEN THOUGH I COULDN’T. BY THE TIME THE SEASON BEGAN I HAD WORKED MYSELF UP TO JUST A REGULAR CANE. I NEVER THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT THE STRUGGLE. I NEVER REALIZED HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE WATCHING ME. I NEVER REALIZED HOW MANY PEOPLE CARED OR WOULD BE AFFECTED BY MY TRIAL. ONE OF THE MANY REDEEMING FACTORS OF ATHLETICS AND COACHING IS THAT IT TEACHES YOU ALWAYS TO PUSH AHEAD, TO OVERCOME, TO FIND A WAY TO WIN. MY ASSISTANT COACHES WERE GREAT. THEY ALL HAD BIG STRONG HEALTHY BODIES. SOMETHING I USED TO TAKE FOR GRANTED BUT CERTAINLY NOT ANYMORE. THEY HAD TO LITERALLY CARRY ME AROUND AT TIMES. OFTEN LIFTING ME OUT OF THE GATOR OR MY CAR AND INTO A CHAIR ON THE PRACTICE FIELD.

IT WAS ABOUT THIS TIME THAT I BEGAN TO REALIZE THE REAL ANSWER TO THAT AGE OLD QUESTION ABOUT HOW TO TRULY MEASURE SUCCESS. PEOPLE WERE SO GREAT TO ME. WHEN I WAS RECOVERING IN THE HOSPITAL ONE ON MY FORMER PLAYERS WHO WORKED THERE AND HAD RISEN TO THE POSITION OF THE HEAD OF THE ENTIRE X-RAY DEPARTMENT, VISITED MY BEDSIDE OFTEN AN OFFERED TO GO AND CUT MY GRASS OR WASH MY CAR OR ANYTHING ELSE I NEEDED TO HAVE DONE AT HOME. PEOPLE WERE TELLING ME WHAT AN INSPIRATION I WAS TO THEM,. WHEN MY STORY APPEARED IN OUR LOCAL PAPER I BEGAN TO RECEIVE A FLOOD OF POSITIVE RESPONSES. LETTERS, CARDS, E-MAILS AND COMMENTS ON THE STREET AND IN VARIOUS PUBLIC PLACES. WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND APPRECIATION. FROM PEOPLE I DIDN’T KNOW OR EVEN MET. BUT THEY KNEW ME. NOT BECAUSE OF ME., BUT BECAUSE I WAS A COACH. AN OFTEN MALIGNED BUT A VERY HIGH PROFILE AND SECRETLY REVERED POSITION. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WOULD LOVE TO BE, OR THINK THEY COULD BE, A COACH .

I STAYED ON MY NEW JOB FOR 2 YEARS AND ONLY WON A TOTAL OF 3 GAMES. AGAIN I BEGAN TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I WAS NOT ABLE TO WIN FOOTBALL GAMES. AFTER ALL THE SUCCESS I HAD ENJOYED THROUGH THE YEARS AND ALL THE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS I HAD LEARNED ABOUT LIFE WHILE DEALING WITH MY STROKE, I WAS BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE A FAILURE . AFTER THE END OF MY SECOND SEASON, WITH ONLY 1 VICTORY , AND FEELING A LEVEL OF EXAUSTION I HAD NEVER FELT BEFORE I RELUCTANTLY RETIRED. I MUST ADMIT TO FEELING A LITTLE DOWN. AFTER 33 YEARS, THE PROSPECT OF LIFE WITHOUT COACHING WAS MORE THAN A LITTLE SCARY.

IT WAS THEN, WHEN I WAS BEGINNING TO REACH MY LOWEST POINT , THAT AN AMAZING THING BEGAN TO HAPPEN ALL OVER AGAIN. ONCE MY RETIREMENT WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE PAPER , I AGAIN BEGAN TO RECEIVE A FLOOD OF WELL WISHES. WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SO MANY WORDS OF APPRECIATION FROM PEOPLE WHO’S LIVES I HAD CROSSED SOMETIME IN THE LAST 33 YEARS. SO MANY X-PLAYERS AND RIVAL COACHES WHO I HAD THOUGHT HATED ME WERE WISHING ME WELL AND WANTING TO SHAKE MY HAND AND EVEN HUG ME.. I WAS OVERWHELMED AND CERTAINLY HUMBLED. ONCE WHILE ATTENDING A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL GAME, I WAS WAITING FOR THE CROWD TO LEAVE . I STILL HAVE TROUBLE WALKING IN CROWDS. I FELT A TAP ON MY SHOLDER AND TURNED TO FACE THE REFEREE WHO HAD JUST OFFICIATED THAT GAME. HE HAD TEARS IN HIS EYES AS HE PRECEEDED TO TELL ME THAT HE HAD SEEN ME IN THE STANDS BEFORE THE GAME AND JUST WANTED TO SHAKE MY HAND AND THAT I HAD ALWAYS BEEN HIS FAVORITE COACH. . HE THEN CONTINUED TO TELL ME ALL THE GAMES OF MINE HE HAD OFFICIATED OVER THE YEARS AND THAT WE HAD BEEN ON THE FIELD TOGETHER FOR SOME OF MY BIGGEST WINS. HE NAMED THEM OFF AND HE WAS RIGHT. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT I HAD BEEN HIS INSPIRITION FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. IT SEEMS THAT ABOUT THE TIME OF MY STROKE HE HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE AND HAD COMTEMPLATED RETIRING FROM OFFICIATING. THEN HE SAW THE ARTICLE ABOUT MY STROKE IN THE PAPER AND THAT I WAS GOING TO CONTINUE TO COACH .. HE DECIDED THEN AND THERE THAT IF I COULD DO IT HE COULD TOO.,AND HE DID. HE HAD ALSO SHARED MY LOVE FOR THE GAME AND DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE IT. HE WAS SO GLAD HE DIDN’T AND HE JUST WANTED TO THANK ME . BECAUSE OF ME HE DIDN’T QUIT AND HE WAS STILL A PART OF THE GAME HE LOVED. I WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY.

I WAS SO MOVED THAT I TOO BEGAN TO CRY. SO HERE WE HAD 2 GROWN MEN STANDING ON A FOOTBALL FIELD EMBRACING IN A CRYING JAG. ONE A COACH THE OTHER AN OFFICIAL. TALK ABOUT AN ODD COUPLE. TWO NATURAL ENEMIES. THE LION SHALL LAY DOWN WITH THE LAMB. COACHING CREATES BONDS WITH FELLOW COACHES THAT ARE ETERNAL. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. WE HAVE ALL HAD THOSE FEW SPECIAL FRIENDS THAT YOU MAY NOT SEE OR TALK TO FOR MONTHS OR YEARS AT A TIME BUT WHEN YOU DO GET TOGETHER YOU PICK RIGHT UP WHERE YOU LAST LEFT OFF, AS IF YOU SEE EACH OTHER EVERY DAY. ONE COACHING FRIEND ACTUALLY TOLD MY OLDEST DAUGHTER THAT I HAD “SAVED HIS LIFE.” ALL I HAD REALLY DONE WAS TALK HIM OUT OF QUITTING HIS COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM. HE STAYED AND EVENTUALLY EARNED A STARTING POSITION, HIS DEGREE AND ALSO BECAME A COACH. IT WAS JUST A PHONE CALL I HAD MADE TO HIM IN RESPONSE TO A CALL I HAD RECEIVED FROM HIS DAD WHO KNEW HE WAS ABOUT TO QUIT.

I BEGAN TO REFLECT UPON THESE TWO INCIDENTS AND MY 33 YEARS OF COACHING . I WAS STARTING TO FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT MYSELF. WHEN I WAS SUDDENLY HIT BY A STARTLING AND SOBERING REALITY. I HAD CERTAINLY NEVER INTENDED TO INSPIRE THAT OFFICIAL OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR THAT MATTER. I HAD NEVER INTENDED TO SAVE ANYONE’S LIFE OR EVEN REALIZED THAT I HAD PLAYED SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART IN SO MANY LIVES OVER THE LAST 33 YEARS. I CERTAINLY CAN’T TAKE CREDIT FOR ANYTHING. I WISH I COULD. I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW OR HADN’T EVEN MET MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WHO WERE TELLING ME HOW MUCH I HAD MEANT TO THEIR LIVES. I WAS JUST BEING A COACH. I WAS JUST TRYING, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, TO WIN A FOOTBALL GAME.

SO ALL THESE MANY ACCOLADES WERE NOT A TRIBUTE TO ME AFTER ALL , BUT A TRIBUTE TO SOMETHING MUCH, MUCH BIGGER THAN ME. IT WAS A TRIBUTE TO A GREAT PROFESSION. IT WAS A TRIBUTE TO COACHING. THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN AROUND THE GLOBE DOING THE SAME THING I HAD DONE , AND DOING IT MUCH BETTER... HOW CAN YOU TOUCH THE LIFE OF A PERSON YOU NEVER EVEN MET? THE ANSWER TO THIS RIDDLE IS SIMPLE. I NEVER TOUCHED THEIR LIVES. COACHING DID.

SO WHAT WORDS OF ADVICE DO I HAVE FOR MY FELLOW COACHES WHO ARE STILL OUT THERE ON THE JOB? DON’T MAKE THE CRITICAL MISTAKE OF MEASURING YOUR OWN SELF WORTH BY THE UNPREDICTABLE PERFORMANCE OF A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE. THE LONGER YOU COACH THE MORE YOU WILL REALIZE THAT THERE ARE SO MANY CIRCUMSTANCES DIRECTLY INVOLVING WINNING AND LOSING THAT YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER. FOR THIS REASON YOU WILL RECEIVE TO MUCH BLAME FOR LOSING AND TO MUCH CREDIT FOR WINNING. COACHING , AT BEST IS A ROLLER-COASTER RIDE. IT CAN BE THE BEST OF THE BEST OR THE WORST OF THE WORST. YOU CAN GO FROM THE PENTHOUSE TO THE OUTHOUSE IN A MATTER OF HOURS, AND THIS MAY HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR. YOU WILL GIVE YOUR LIFE’S BLOOD TO HELP SOME WHO WILL NOT APPRECIATE YOU. THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN THE ONES YOU HELP THE MOST WILL HURT YOU THE MOST. THIS IS JUST THE WAY OF THE WORLD AND THE GOOD COACH WILL ALWAYS RISE ABOVE IT. CONTINUE ON ! KEEP FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT. WE ARE LIVING IN A WORLD WHERE COACHING MAY BE THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE , OUTSIDE OF THE MILITARY, THAT STILL TEACHES DISCIPLINE AND OTHER “HARD CORE” VALUES THAT HAVE MADE THIS NATION GREAT.YOU CERTAINLY ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. PROBABLY MUCH MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW. FROM THE FIRST MOMENT YOU PLACED THAT WHISTLE AROUND YOUR NECK YOU PLANTED A SEED THAT STARTED A RIPPLE IN THE WATER THAT JUST KEEPS REPRODUCING ITSELF OVER AND OVER. WHAT BETTER INVESTMENT CAN YOU MAKE WITH YOUR LIFE THAN INVESTING IT IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE? YOU ARE HELPING TO SHAPE OUR FUTURE. WHAT OTHER PROFESSION, OUTSIDE OF FULL TIME CHRISTIAN SERVICE CAN IMPACT SO MANY LIVES IN A WAY LIKE COACHING CAN? AS A CHRISTIAN IT IS STILL HARD FOR ME TO IMAGINE HOW A NON-CHRISTIAN COACH CAN SURVIVE THE CONSTANT AND INTENSE PRESSURE OF THIS PROFESSION. MANY DON’T. ONLY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE PEACE THAT COMES FROM KNOWING JESUS CHRIST AS MY PERSONAL SAVIOR HAS PRESERVED AND SUSTAINED ME THIS LONG. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS UNDER THOSE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, THAT SUNDAY, THE LORDS DAY, IS ONLY A DAY AWAY. WHERE THERE WILL BE PEACE AND JOY IN THE MORNING BECAUSE JESUS WILL STILL BE LORD OF ALL. WHEN MONDAY COMES YOU WILL HAVE THE STRENGTH TO START ALL OVER AGAIN, BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT COACHES DO. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ANOTHER FRIDAY NIGHT AND EVEN ANOTHER SEASON. BUT IF THERE’S NOT, IT DOESN’T MATTER, EVERY DAY THAT YOU GO TO WORK YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. AFTER ALL,YOU ARE WORKING IN ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST IMPORTANT PROFESSIONS. YOU ARE A ROLE MODEL. “YOU ARE A COACH!”

DEDICATED TO A COACH’S COACH

COACH BOB SANG
HUNTINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
HUNTINGTON , WEST VIRGINIA

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

COACH ROSS IS CURRENTLY RETIRED AFTER 33 YEARS OF COACHING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEVEL. HE HAS WRITTEN SEVERAL ARTICLES FOR “SCHOLASTIC COACH” AND “COACH” MAGAZINES AS WELL AS BEING A FREQUENT CLINIC SPEAKER AND CAMP INSTRUCTOR. HE STILL HOLDS THE RECORD AS THE WINNINGST COACH IN RACELAND HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY, RACELAND,KENTUCKY.

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Coaching: A Life That Matters By : Bill T. Ross WHY AM I HERE? AFTER I AM GONE WILL ANYONE OUTSIDE OF MY FAMILY EVEN KNOW I HAVE BEEN HERE? HAS MY LIFE COUNTED FOR SOMETHING ? HAS MY LIFE MATTERED? THESE ARE A FEW OF THE QUESTIONS MANY PEOPLE ASK THEMSELVES WHEN THEY REACH A CERTAIN POINT IN THEIR LIVES. AS I APPROACH MY 58TH YEAR, I NOW FIND MYSELF AT THAT POINT. DURING MY HIGH SCHOOL DAYS I MET AND MARRIED THE MOST WONDERFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD ! SHE HAS BEEN MY LOYAL HELPMATE FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND HAS STOOD BESIDE ME THROUGH SOME VERY TRYING AND TROUBLED TIMES. I THINK A COACH’S WIFE SHOULD QUALIFY FOR SAINTHOOD LONG BEFORE SHE REACHES THE PEARLY GATES. I KNOW MY WIFE DOES.. IT TAKES A VERY SPECIAL WOMAN TO BE THE WIFE OF A COACH. SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS. WITHOUT HER I WOULD HAVE ACHIEVED NOTHING OR BEEN NOTHING. BEFORE WE MARRIED I HAD FLUNKED OUT OF COLLEGE AND WAS WANDERING AIMLESSLY THROUGH LIFE. SHE SETTLED ME DOWN AND GAVE MY LIFE MEANING. I WENT BACK TO COLLEGE AND SHE WENT WITH ME AND HELPED PUT ME THROUGH. . WITHOUT HER THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO COLLEGE DEGREE. WITHOUT HER I WOULD NEVER HAVE BECOME A COACH. SHE ALSO GAVE ME 3 INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL DAUGHTERS WHO ARE JUST AS BEAUTIFUL ON THE INSIDE AS THEY ARE ON THE OUTSIDE. THE INSIDE IS THE SIDE THAT COUNTS. MY OLDEST DAUGHTER IS AN ENGLISH TEACHER WITH A “PASSION” AND A GIFT FOR TEACHING YOUNG PEOPLE HOW TO READ. MY MIDDLE DAUGHTER HAS GONE INTO THE MEDICAL FIELD AND HAS DEDICATED HER LIFE TO MAKING PEOPLE FEEL BETTER THROUGH HEALING. MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WORKS FOR ONE OF THE LARGEST CHRISTIAN OUTREACH MINISTRIES IN THE WORLD AS SHE IS HELPING TO PUT HER HUSBAND THROUGH LAW SCHOOL. ALL 3 ARE IN THE “PEOPLE” BUSINESS. ALL 3 ARE SERVANTS. IF LIVING MY LIFE WITH MY FAMILY WERE MY ONLY EXPERIENCE IN THIS WORLD MY EXISTENCE HERE WOULD BE MEANINGFUL AND WELL WORTH IT. THEN THERE IS COACHING. AS IF IT WERE ONLY YESTERDAY , I VIVIDLY REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE CALLED ME COACH. I WAS STILL IN COLLEGE AND VOLUNTEERING AS A 7TH GRADE BASKETBALL COACH AT MY OLD HIGH SCHOOL. THE VARSITY HAD FINISHED PRACTICE AND AS THE VARSITY COACH WAS LEAVING HE SIMPLY SAID: “ GOODNIGHT COACH.” NOT EVEN MY NAME, JUST COACH. IT WAS TRULY A DEFINING MOMENT IN MY YOUNG LIFE. THE VARSITY COACH NEVER KNEW AT THE TIME THAT HIS INNOCENT FAREWELL HAD JUST GIVEN BIRTH TO A WHOLE NEW CAREER. HE HAD JUST GIVEN BIRTH TO A BRAND NEW COACH. THAT CHRISTMAS MY DAD BOUGHT ME A JACKET IN MY SCHOOL COLORS OF ORANGE AND BLACK WITH THAT SPECIAL TITLE EMBRODERED ON THE FRONT. COACH. I WORE IT EVERYWHERE I WENT AS IF IT WERE A HOLY ROBE. YOU SEE, THAT WORD, COACH, HAS ALWAYS HAD A SPECIAL MEANING TO ME. IT HAD A REVERENCE ABOUT IT. IT WAS THE TITLE OF A PROFESSIONAL LIKE DOCTOR , OR FATHER OR RABBI. IT WAS EVEN MORE THAN THAT. THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT ANYONE CAN PAY YOU IS TO CALL YOU A “GOOD COACH.” IT REALLY MEANS YOU ARE A GOOD TEACHER, DOCTOR, LAWYER, STRATEGIST, MOTIVATOR, PARENT, COUNSELOR, PHYCHIATRIST, PSYCHOLOGIST, A FRIEND AND ,MOST IMPORTANTLY A ROLL MODEL. IT MEANS HONESTY, INTEGRITY, CHARACTER, A PASSION FOR DOING WHATS RIGHT AND A HIGH SENSE OF VALUES. A GOOD COACH HAS TO BE ALL THESE THINGS. SOMEONE ONCE SAID THAT YOU CAN KNOW YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PROFESSION IF IT CHOOSES YOU INSTEAD OF YOU CHOOSING IT. I REMEMBER SITTING IN CHURCH AND ATTENDING SUMMER CHURCH CAMPS AS A YOUNGSTER AND LISTENING TO THE PREACHERS TALKING ABOUT ANSWERING A “CALLING” FROM GOD TO FULL TIME CHRISTIAN SERVICE. I REMEMBER THINKING HOW WONDERFUL AND REASSURING THAT MUST BE. I WANTED SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUT I DIDN’T WANT TO BE A PREACHER. I LATER REALIZED THAT GOD NEEDED PEOPLE IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE. MAYBE THERE WERE SOME OTHER PROFESSIONS OUT THERE THAT “CALLED” YOU TO SERVE. THAT COMPELLED YOU TO A POINT WHERE YOU COULD NOT RESIST. I NOW KNOW THAT COACHING IS ONE OF THOSE PROFESSIONS. SO WHAT EXACTLY IS A GOOD COACH ? DO YOU MEASURE BY THE WORLD’S STANDARDS AS I USED TO DO.? HOW MANY GAMES DO YOU HAVE TO WIN? THE WISEST MAN IN THE BIBLE WAS KING SOLOMON. NOT ONLY WAS HE THE WISEST BUT HE WAS ALSO THE RICHEST. HE MAY HAVE BEEN THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE WORLD FOR HIS TIME. HERE IS A MAN WHO ACHIEVED AND RECEIVED EVERY THING HIS WORLD HAD TO OFFER. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT EXISTED AT THAT TIME THAT HE COULDN’T HAVE. YET HE PLAINLY TELLS US IN THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES THAT IN THE END IT WAS ALL VANITY. WORTHLESS AND UNFULLFILLING. AS I THINK BACK ON MY 33 YEARS, I THINK OF ALL THE TIMES I THOUGHT, IF I COULD JUST WIN THIS ONE GAME I WOULD BE HAPPY AND VALIDATED AS A COACH. THIS ONE WIN WLL PROVE THAT I AM A GOOD COACH. IT NEVER HAPPENED. EACH TIME I GOT THAT ONE BIG WIN THERE WAS ALWAYS ANOTHER ONE THAT I JUST HAD TO HAVE. IT WAS LIKE BEING IN A RACE WITH NO FINISH LINE. THEN WHAT DOES IT TAKE? HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS ? FOR ME IT TOOK A STROKE AND SUBSEQUENT RETIREMENT TO FIND THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. IN JANUARY OF MY 33RD YEAR OF COACHING I ACCEPTED A NEW COACHING JOB. I HAD ENJOYED MODERATE SUCCESS IN MY CAREER, BY THE WORLD’S STANDARDS, BUT NOTHING REALLY GREAT. NO STATE OR EVEN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. I HAD ENJOYED 19 CONSECUTIVE YEARS WITHOUT A LOSING REGULAR SEASON. THREE MONTHS AFTER ACCEPTING THAT NEW JOB , ON SAT. NIGHT, APRIL 28TH I SUFFERED A STROKE AND MY LIFE WAS CHANGED FOREVER. IT WAS CONSIDERED A “MILD” STROKE, IF THERE IS SUCH A THING, A T.I.A. THE DOCTORS SAID. IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN MY NECK SO MY BRAIN NOR MY SPEECH, EYES, OR HEARING WERE AFFECTED. BECAUSE IT HAD HAPPENED IN SUCH A SMALL AREA OF MY NECK IT DID LEAVE ME PARALYZED ON MY RIGHT SIDE. I AM STILL PARTIALLY PARALYZED TO THIS DAY. OF COURSE I HAPPENED TO BE RIGHT HANDED. JUST MY LUCK. SUDDENLY, OVERNIGHT, WINNING A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME JUST DIDN’T SEEM TO BE ALL THAT IMPORTANT ANYMORE. I SPENT 2 WEEKS IN THE HOSPITAL DOING THERAPY. IT WAS LIKE HAVING AN APPOINTMENT WITH PAIN 3 TIMES A DAY. I TRIED TO COME HOME AFTER MY FIRST WEEK BUT MY MIDDLE DAUGHTER WOULDN’T LET ME SO I STAYED FOR THE SECOND WEEK. SINCE MY MIND WAS UNAFFECTED, MY NEW EMPLOYERS WERE GREAT TO ME AND DECIDED TO ALLOW ME TO CONTINUE .. I HAD TO LEARN TO WALK AGAIN SO WHILE I WAS DOING THAT, THEY BOUGHT ME A SMALL MOTORIZED CONVEYANCE SIMILAR TO A GOLF CART CALLED A JOHN DEERE GATOR. PRACTICE HAD TO BEGIN ON JULY 15, JUST 2 AND A HALF MONTHS AFTER MY STROKE, AND I COULDN’T WALK. I HAD TO WEAR A LEG BRACE JUST TO STAND UP. I BEGAN RELEARNING HOW TO WALK BY USING A 4 LEGGED WALKER. I EVENTUALLY WORKED MY WAY TO A 4 PRONGED CANE, MY CANE COULD STAND UP BY ITSELF, EVEN THOUGH I COULDN’T. BY THE TIME THE SEASON BEGAN I HAD WORKED MYSELF UP TO JUST A REGULAR CANE. I NEVER THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT THE STRUGGLE. I NEVER REALIZED HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE WATCHING ME. I NEVER REALIZED HOW MANY PEOPLE CARED OR WOULD BE AFFECTED BY MY TRIAL. ONE OF THE MANY REDEEMING FACTORS OF ATHLETICS AND COACHING IS THAT IT TEACHES YOU ALWAYS TO PUSH AHEAD, TO OVERCOME, TO FIND A WAY TO WIN. MY ASSISTANT COACHES WERE GREAT. THEY ALL HAD BIG STRONG HEALTHY BODIES. SOMETHING I USED TO TAKE FOR GRANTED BUT CERTAINLY NOT ANYMORE. THEY HAD TO LITERALLY CARRY ME AROUND AT TIMES. OFTEN LIFTING ME OUT OF THE GATOR OR MY CAR AND INTO A CHAIR ON THE PRACTICE FIELD. IT WAS ABOUT THIS TIME THAT I BEGAN TO REALIZE THE REAL ANSWER TO THAT AGE OLD QUESTION ABOUT HOW TO TRULY MEASURE SUCCESS. PEOPLE WERE SO GREAT TO ME. WHEN I WAS RECOVERING IN THE HOSPITAL ONE ON MY FORMER PLAYERS WHO WORKED THERE AND HAD RISEN TO THE POSITION OF THE HEAD OF THE ENTIRE X-RAY DEPARTMENT, VISITED MY BEDSIDE OFTEN AN OFFERED TO GO AND CUT MY GRASS OR WASH MY CAR OR ANYTHING ELSE I NEEDED TO HAVE DONE AT HOME. PEOPLE WERE TELLING ME WHAT AN INSPIRATION I WAS TO THEM,. WHEN MY STORY APPEARED IN OUR LOCAL PAPER I BEGAN TO RECEIVE A FLOOD OF POSITIVE RESPONSES. LETTERS, CARDS, E-MAILS AND COMMENTS ON THE STREET AND IN VARIOUS PUBLIC PLACES. WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND APPRECIATION. FROM PEOPLE I DIDN’T KNOW OR EVEN MET. BUT THEY KNEW ME. NOT BECAUSE OF ME., BUT BECAUSE I WAS A COACH. AN OFTEN MALIGNED BUT A VERY HIGH PROFILE AND SECRETLY REVERED POSITION. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WOULD LOVE TO BE, OR THINK THEY COULD BE, A COACH . I STAYED ON MY NEW JOB FOR 2 YEARS AND ONLY WON A TOTAL OF 3 GAMES. AGAIN I BEGAN TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I WAS NOT ABLE TO WIN FOOTBALL GAMES. AFTER ALL THE SUCCESS I HAD ENJOYED THROUGH THE YEARS AND ALL THE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS I HAD LEARNED ABOUT LIFE WHILE DEALING WITH MY STROKE, I WAS BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE A FAILURE . AFTER THE END OF MY SECOND SEASON, WITH ONLY 1 VICTORY , AND FEELING A LEVEL OF EXAUSTION I HAD NEVER FELT BEFORE I RELUCTANTLY RETIRED. I MUST ADMIT TO FEELING A LITTLE DOWN. AFTER 33 YEARS, THE PROSPECT OF LIFE WITHOUT COACHING WAS MORE THAN A LITTLE SCARY. IT WAS THEN, WHEN I WAS BEGINNING TO REACH MY LOWEST POINT , THAT AN AMAZING THING BEGAN TO HAPPEN ALL OVER AGAIN. ONCE MY RETIREMENT WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE PAPER , I AGAIN BEGAN TO RECEIVE A FLOOD OF WELL WISHES. WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SO MANY WORDS OF APPRECIATION FROM PEOPLE WHO’S LIVES I HAD CROSSED SOMETIME IN THE LAST 33 YEARS. SO MANY X-PLAYERS AND RIVAL COACHES WHO I HAD THOUGHT HATED ME WERE WISHING ME WELL AND WANTING TO SHAKE MY HAND AND EVEN HUG ME.. I WAS OVERWHELMED AND CERTAINLY HUMBLED. ONCE WHILE ATTENDING A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL GAME, I WAS WAITING FOR THE CROWD TO LEAVE . I STILL HAVE TROUBLE WALKING IN CROWDS. I FELT A TAP ON MY SHOLDER AND TURNED TO FACE THE REFEREE WHO HAD JUST OFFICIATED THAT GAME. HE HAD TEARS IN HIS EYES AS HE PRECEEDED TO TELL ME THAT HE HAD SEEN ME IN THE STANDS BEFORE THE GAME AND JUST WANTED TO SHAKE MY HAND AND THAT I HAD ALWAYS BEEN HIS FAVORITE COACH. . HE THEN CONTINUED TO TELL ME ALL THE GAMES OF MINE HE HAD OFFICIATED OVER THE YEARS AND THAT WE HAD BEEN ON THE FIELD TOGETHER FOR SOME OF MY BIGGEST WINS. HE NAMED THEM OFF AND HE WAS RIGHT. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT I HAD BEEN HIS INSPIRITION FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. IT SEEMS THAT ABOUT THE TIME OF MY STROKE HE HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE AND HAD COMTEMPLATED RETIRING FROM OFFICIATING. THEN HE SAW THE ARTICLE ABOUT MY STROKE IN THE PAPER AND THAT I WAS GOING TO CONTINUE TO COACH .. HE DECIDED THEN AND THERE THAT IF I COULD DO IT HE COULD TOO.,AND HE DID. HE HAD ALSO SHARED MY LOVE FOR THE GAME AND DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE IT. HE WAS SO GLAD HE DIDN’T AND HE JUST WANTED TO THANK ME . BECAUSE OF ME HE DIDN’T QUIT AND HE WAS STILL A PART OF THE GAME HE LOVED. I WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY. I WAS SO MOVED THAT I TOO BEGAN TO CRY. SO HERE WE HAD 2 GROWN MEN STANDING ON A FOOTBALL FIELD EMBRACING IN A CRYING JAG. ONE A COACH THE OTHER AN OFFICIAL. TALK ABOUT AN ODD COUPLE. TWO NATURAL ENEMIES. THE LION SHALL LAY DOWN WITH THE LAMB. COACHING CREATES BONDS WITH FELLOW COACHES THAT ARE ETERNAL. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. WE HAVE ALL HAD THOSE FEW SPECIAL FRIENDS THAT YOU MAY NOT SEE OR TALK TO FOR MONTHS OR YEARS AT A TIME BUT WHEN YOU DO GET TOGETHER YOU PICK RIGHT UP WHERE YOU LAST LEFT OFF, AS IF YOU SEE EACH OTHER EVERY DAY. ONE COACHING FRIEND ACTUALLY TOLD MY OLDEST DAUGHTER THAT I HAD “SAVED HIS LIFE.” ALL I HAD REALLY DONE WAS TALK HIM OUT OF QUITTING HIS COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM. HE STAYED AND EVENTUALLY EARNED A STARTING POSITION, HIS DEGREE AND ALSO BECAME A COACH. IT WAS JUST A PHONE CALL I HAD MADE TO HIM IN RESPONSE TO A CALL I HAD RECEIVED FROM HIS DAD WHO KNEW HE WAS ABOUT TO QUIT. I BEGAN TO REFLECT UPON THESE TWO INCIDENTS AND MY 33 YEARS OF COACHING . I WAS STARTING TO FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT MYSELF. WHEN I WAS SUDDENLY HIT BY A STARTLING AND SOBERING REALITY. I HAD CERTAINLY NEVER INTENDED TO INSPIRE THAT OFFICIAL OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR THAT MATTER. I HAD NEVER INTENDED TO SAVE ANYONE’S LIFE OR EVEN REALIZED THAT I HAD PLAYED SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART IN SO MANY LIVES OVER THE LAST 33 YEARS. I CERTAINLY CAN’T TAKE CREDIT FOR ANYTHING. I WISH I COULD. I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW OR HADN’T EVEN MET MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WHO WERE TELLING ME HOW MUCH I HAD MEANT TO THEIR LIVES. I WAS JUST BEING A COACH. I WAS JUST TRYING, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, TO WIN A FOOTBALL GAME. SO ALL THESE MANY ACCOLADES WERE NOT A TRIBUTE TO ME AFTER ALL , BUT A TRIBUTE TO SOMETHING MUCH, MUCH BIGGER THAN ME. IT WAS A TRIBUTE TO A GREAT PROFESSION. IT WAS A TRIBUTE TO COACHING. THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN AROUND THE GLOBE DOING THE SAME THING I HAD DONE , AND DOING IT MUCH BETTER... HOW CAN YOU TOUCH THE LIFE OF A PERSON YOU NEVER EVEN MET? THE ANSWER TO THIS RIDDLE IS SIMPLE. I NEVER TOUCHED THEIR LIVES. COACHING DID. SO WHAT WORDS OF ADVICE DO I HAVE FOR MY FELLOW COACHES WHO ARE STILL OUT THERE ON THE JOB? DON’T MAKE THE CRITICAL MISTAKE OF MEASURING YOUR OWN SELF WORTH BY THE UNPREDICTABLE PERFORMANCE OF A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE. THE LONGER YOU COACH THE MORE YOU WILL REALIZE THAT THERE ARE SO MANY CIRCUMSTANCES DIRECTLY INVOLVING WINNING AND LOSING THAT YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER. FOR THIS REASON YOU WILL RECEIVE TO MUCH BLAME FOR LOSING AND TO MUCH CREDIT FOR WINNING. COACHING , AT BEST IS A ROLLER-COASTER RIDE. IT CAN BE THE BEST OF THE BEST OR THE WORST OF THE WORST. YOU CAN GO FROM THE PENTHOUSE TO THE OUTHOUSE IN A MATTER OF HOURS, AND THIS MAY HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR. YOU WILL GIVE YOUR LIFE’S BLOOD TO HELP SOME WHO WILL NOT APPRECIATE YOU. THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN THE ONES YOU HELP THE MOST WILL HURT YOU THE MOST. THIS IS JUST THE WAY OF THE WORLD AND THE GOOD COACH WILL ALWAYS RISE ABOVE IT. CONTINUE ON ! KEEP FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT. WE ARE LIVING IN A WORLD WHERE COACHING MAY BE THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE , OUTSIDE OF THE MILITARY, THAT STILL TEACHES DISCIPLINE AND OTHER “HARD CORE” VALUES THAT HAVE MADE THIS NATION GREAT.YOU CERTAINLY ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. PROBABLY MUCH MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW. FROM THE FIRST MOMENT YOU PLACED THAT WHISTLE AROUND YOUR NECK YOU PLANTED A SEED THAT STARTED A RIPPLE IN THE WATER THAT JUST KEEPS REPRODUCING ITSELF OVER AND OVER. WHAT BETTER INVESTMENT CAN YOU MAKE WITH YOUR LIFE THAN INVESTING IT IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE? YOU ARE HELPING TO SHAPE OUR FUTURE. WHAT OTHER PROFESSION, OUTSIDE OF FULL TIME CHRISTIAN SERVICE CAN IMPACT SO MANY LIVES IN A WAY LIKE COACHING CAN? AS A CHRISTIAN IT IS STILL HARD FOR ME TO IMAGINE HOW A NON-CHRISTIAN COACH CAN SURVIVE THE CONSTANT AND INTENSE PRESSURE OF THIS PROFESSION. MANY DON’T. ONLY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE PEACE THAT COMES FROM KNOWING JESUS CHRIST AS MY PERSONAL SAVIOR HAS PRESERVED AND SUSTAINED ME THIS LONG. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS UNDER THOSE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, THAT SUNDAY, THE LORDS DAY, IS ONLY A DAY AWAY. WHERE THERE WILL BE PEACE AND JOY IN THE MORNING BECAUSE JESUS WILL STILL BE LORD OF ALL. WHEN MONDAY COMES YOU WILL HAVE THE STRENGTH TO START ALL OVER AGAIN, BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT COACHES DO. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ANOTHER FRIDAY NIGHT AND EVEN ANOTHER SEASON. BUT IF THERE’S NOT, IT DOESN’T MATTER, EVERY DAY THAT YOU GO TO WORK YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. AFTER ALL,YOU ARE WORKING IN ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST IMPORTANT PROFESSIONS. YOU ARE A ROLE MODEL. “YOU ARE A COACH!” DEDICATED TO A COACH’S COACH COACH BOB SANG HUNTINGTON HIGH SCHOOL HUNTINGTON , WEST VIRGINIA ABOUT THE AUTHOR COACH ROSS IS CURRENTLY RETIRED AFTER 33 YEARS OF COACHING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEVEL. HE HAS WRITTEN SEVERAL ARTICLES FOR “SCHOLASTIC COACH” AND “COACH” MAGAZINES AS WELL AS BEING A FREQUENT CLINIC SPEAKER AND CAMP INSTRUCTOR. HE STILL HOLDS THE RECORD AS THE WINNINGST COACH IN RACELAND HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY, RACELAND,KENTUCKY.


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