A wise man once penned the immortal words that he was “born of goodly parents”. I too was raised by a pair of parents who showed their love for me in ways I didn’t always understand, but that I now truly appreciate. Entering my thirtieth season of coaching football, and having had a love for the sport for as long as I can remember, at this time I wish to focus on how I was raised in the arena of coaching football.
My dear father, who has moved on from this mortal existence, always had a love for football and passed that love on to his two sons. Dad and I did not always have the best communication skills with each other, but when it came to football we could talk for hours. I have a vague memory of Dad showing off my ability to recite all of the NFL teams when I was quite young. I’m not sure who was more proud of my NFL knowledge…him or me.
Joining the Navy before he would graduate from high school, Dad had limited experience playing football. Being a bit smaller in stature, he did not possess the body of your average football player. I heard stories of his younger days which demonstrated that he was a tough one who could throw a mean punch when necessary. Given the proper opportunities, I could imagine Dad being either a fullback or inside linebacker, while contributing heavily on special teams. Whatever the case, Dad loved football and it was from him I learned to love the sport also.
When I entered the profession of coaching football, I don’t know how it made Dad feel…he never told me. He did support me though, attending games for three of the four institutions I have coached for. Even today I reflect back a bit on memories with Dad when I head to the game field.
Mike Drake was the defensive coordinator at Western New Mexico University when I first met him. He recruited me to play for the Mustangs. For my last season as a player, Coach Drake was named head coach. He hired me the following season as his assistant offensive line coach. Tim Jarequito, my offensive line coach during my senior season, was also instrumental in getting me hired. As a staff, we worked long hours and I learned more about football than I had ever imagined even existed. We were required to wear a collared shirt, tie, and slacks to the office daily. Twelve to sixteen hour days of work were not uncommon, while no stone ever went unturned in search of success. From Mike Drake, who has also left this mortal existence, I learned professionalism. I learned hard work is not only expected from the players. I learned that enthusiasm goes a long way in leading a team. I learned that coaches must care for their players.
Dwight Muskrath more or less accepted me as a hire not of his choosing. The principal of Huntington Park High School, Marjorie O’Hanlon, fulfilled his long-standing request for another assistant coach by giving him me. Coach Muskrath let me coach, and because of that I continued to grow in the profession.
Al Padilla, the closest to a father I have had in coaching, hired me as his offensive line coach at East Los Angeles College. Football was being brought back to the school after having been dropped for some years. Coach hired other coaches who had much more experience coaching offensive line than what experience I had, but he assigned them to other positions. Despite the lack of confidence from those other coaches, Coach Padilla always supported me and helped me grow in the profession by quietly sharing his wisdom and knowledge of the game of football. During the two seasons I coached at ELAC, many were the nights Coach and I would spend discussing offensive line play well after the rest of the staff had headed home. Al taught me that football is not the most important part of life and should not be taken too seriously. Hard work is expected by all, yet teaching the players their position is most important.
Possessing a mere five years of coaching experience, I interviewed with Brent Carder at Antelope Valley College. The interview came about due, in part, to a strong recommendation from Al Padilla. Unlike the previous schools I had coached at, AVC had an extremely successful football program and history. Coach Carder was looking to make a change after his long-time, and highly succcessful, offensive line coach switched to coaching defensive line. I was tabbed to fill the need of offensive line coach. I was the lone member of the coaching staff with no ties to the Antelope Valley…an “outsider”…not readily accepted by the coaching community in the AV. Still, I was hired and put in charge of the offensive line by a man looking for what he felt was the best hire. Coach Carder was the most business-like coach I had come across. He treated all aspects of football with a very professional manner which required utmost discipline by all of those involved in the program. For seventeen seasons I fulfilled the role of offensive line coach, for Brent Carder, to the best of my abilities. Coach allowed me to coach the offensive line in ways which appeared, at times, unorthodox to him. From Coach Carder I learned that there is no such thing as being overprepared.
Upon Coach Carder’s retirement, Perry Jehlicka was hired as the next head football coach at AVC. Immediately I was challenged professionally when I was switched to coaching defensive line. After some initial growing pains, I settled in to the position and gave it my full effort. During the next five seasons I learned more about defense from Perry than I had ever imagined possible. When he chose to switch me back to coaching offensive line, I felt much more prepared and in tune with how defenses are run.
To say that I have been raised right in football is not just a flippant statement…it is the truth. Each coach I have worked for, and with, has helped me grow professionally and personally. Collectively they have taught me a respect for the sport and a commitment to the athletes. They have taught me that although football is important, it is not the most important.
Now that I am one of the more experienced in the profession, I am trying to leave the sport at least as good as it was when I entered the profession. I respect the game and those who take part in it. I’m thankful for what football coaching has given me in the sense of experiences and relationships.
There is no doubt that football coaching surely, in all aspects of my life, has affected my…”View From The Sideline”…