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Tell us a little about yourself?
I was born and raised in Pendleton Oregon until 1976 when our family moved to Bend. I attended Pilot Butte MS and Mountain View HS and graduated in 1984. While at Mountain View, I participated in Football, Basketball and Track & Field. I was selected Honorable Mention All-American as a defensive back for MV and went on to accept a scholarship to Oregon State University in the fall. In the winter months, I high jumped 7’0″ at the Oregon Indoor Track meet. That mark still stands as a State record today. In the spring, I cleared 7’0″ 1/4″ at our District track meet to set the outdoor state HJ record. That record stood for around 10 years before Chris Nelson broke it. I had the honor of coaching Damian Olson in 1997 and watched him break the record again with a jump of 7’3.5″. That record still stands today.
After starting football at OSU in the fall of 1988, I realized that my body isn’t cut out for the rigors of collegiate football. Too many concussions. I was fortunate to transfer my scholarship to Track & Field and competed four years for the Beavers in the long jump, triple jump, high jump, multiple sprints and relays. The program was cut my senior year, and without a degree, I returned home to work at Ken’s Ice Co. in Bend. I ended up managing the business and had an opportunity to become part owner.
While managing Ken’s Ice, I met my future wife, Susan Pollock. Realizing I didn’t want to spend all my time at work and wanting to spend more time with Susan, I left Ken’s Ice. This was the most difficult decision I’d ever mad in my life since I worked for Ken since I was fourteen years old. I knew the ice business, I was good at it, and now I was taking a gamble.
Susan and I married March 10, 1990. I worked multiple jobs, sold cars, delivered beer, started a automotive detail business and was in a rock and roll band called “Count Zero”. All that time, I just didn’t find my traction in life. I wasn’t a very happy young man and one day, my wife made a comment that “if this is what our life is going to be, I’m not sure I want to be a part of it”. At about the same time, I ran into Bill Smith (my high school track coach) at Safeway. He asked me when I was going to get back to college and become a teacher. I asked him why he kept asking me this question (he’d asked multiple time before as I was a volunteer coach at Mtn. View). Bill told me I had a gift. I was a teacher. I didn’t really fully understand, but the next week I put in my 6 month notice that I was leaving Bachelor Beverage company. My boss at the time, Brad Wales, was disappointed and pulled me into his office stating that I had a real future in the business. When I told him I was going back to college to become a teacher, he stood up, shook my hand and told me that was the best decision I’d ever make in my life.
I am just realizing now how much I’m typing. Let’s shorten this up…
I graduated in 1995 with a Masters of Arts in teaching. I was the head track and field coach at Monroe middle/high school while going to school. Upon returning to Bend, I took a 1/2 time teaching job at Tumalo Elementary. I delivered beer to fill the rest of my paycheck, coached football at Redmond HS and was the head track and field coach at Mountain View HS.
In 99′ I was hired as a teacher at Mountain View. I was teaching computer aided drafting. I didn’t really enjoy that job, and when Summit started hiring, I was the second teacher hired behind Karen Rosch. This was the start of an incredible journey with Summit Track & Field. The story is long, so unless I want to write a book….. I’ve been at Summit since it started and here I am typing instead of coaching with the COVID-19 virus going around.
In what capacity are you currently involved in youth sports?
I have coached for Central Oregon Track Club (we started it in the 90’s) and currently coach for Mondo Track Club in addition to being the head coach at Summit. I’ve coached Middle School basketball and volleyball as well. I am in my 30th year of coaching
In what past capacities have you been involved?
I’ve been a volunteer, an assistant coach and a head coach. I guess I have covered all the positions you can.
What do you love about youth sports?
My favorite thing about youth sports is that the focus is on development and personal enjoyment. In our sport in particular, it isn’t necessarily about the score at the end of the contest. It’s about personal improvements. We learn life lessons as we develop as athletes. I personally believe that track & field is incredibly similar to the struggles one may have in real life. Track and field can help prepare a student-athlete for future situations. It teaches resilience.
What is your specialty/calling/driving force in youth sports?
My specialty is definitely motivation. My students let me know very clearly that they are inspired daily. They look forward to team meetings. The one on one contact allows me to help an athlete see what their true potential is. I guess I have the gift of “vision”. I can see what an athlete can do before they can.
What’s some wisdom you’d be willing to share with us?
I guess the wisdom I’ve gained over the years is that you can never put limitations on yourself. We all get comfortable with the average. We need to push outside of our comfort zones and challenge ourselves to do things we never thought possible. Never set your own personal goals on other peoples limitations. Our potential is limitless if our own self-doubt is removed. It’s all about perspective and what you believe you can do.
Who has influenced your view/path in youth sports?
My influences are so many. My biggest is Bill Smith. He is my hero. He was my high school track coach and he continues to be my hero today. It is more about his attitude towards life and his incredible energy and interaction with students. He is my biggest. In addition, Clyde Powell, Robin Fallon, Don Hoiness, Jack Lutz, John Nehl, Paul Vallerga, Paul Smith, Dave Hood, Jim and Carol McLatchie, Josh Cordell, Lisa Zimmerman, Mac McCormick, and finally Ken Moyer, the owner of Ken’s Ice. He was like a father figure to me. He gave me so many skills that I use today. I can do electrical work plumbing, carpentry, etc…etc. Ken believed that you can do it all yourself and don’t have to hire anyone to do it for you. I believe this as well!
Anything else to add?
We never stop learning. Inspiration is all around us. All we have to do is listen to student-athletes and anyone in our lives that we engage with. Pull from all of those people. Every single one of us has strength and weakness. Help people recognize their strengths so that the weaknesses they have remain a distant part of who they become. Perspective is EVERYTHING! BE GREAT!