The below passage came in from former Robert D. Edgren Eagles wrestler Alyssa Rodriguez, a tribute to her Eagles coach Justin Edmonds. And I mean, what a tribute.
Which leads me to ask SportsBlog Nation, who is or was your favourite coach, and why? What lasting impression did your favourite coach leave you? What will you best remember about that coach? In what ways did that coach motivate you to get the most out of yourself? Team? Unity? Character? Responsibility?
Shout it out. Name, school and the years that coach was your coach.
Now, some prose from the girl known in Eagles country as A-Rod:
Mr. Edmonds
“Squeeze,” yelled the head coach of the high school’s wrestling team, as he stood by in the coaches’ corner, on his toes. Filled with excitement, he could not help but almost get on the mat himself as he watched one of his two female wrestlers about to finish her male opponent. Just as the referee brought his hand down to the mat inferring a pin, the whole room suddenly filled with a roar of cheers, but through all of it, I could hear the approval of my coach, Mr. Edmonds.
Yes, the female wrestler I was referring to was myself, but I could have never even hoped to have achieved anything in the sport of wrestling, if it had not been for Mr. Edmonds.
Mr. Edmonds is the type of teacher every student wants to be friends with. He is quirky, laid back, and is always up for telling a humorous joke or story. No matter how gloomy your day is going, he has the perfect story to brighten your day. Not only do I get to see him as my wrestling coach, but he is also the infamous art teacher. During art class especially, you can always find him talking and telling stories. Whenever he opens his mouth, it is as if the whole room is silent and attentive, interested to hear what he has to say next, whether it is advice on something serious, or something funny, like how to keep boys in check. Mr. Edmonds may be well known for his way with words, but the one thing that really distinguished him, was his laugh. It was contagious.
“If I had a time machine, I’d go back to the age of seventeen, just so I could rough him up a little”, a reference to Duncan, one of the students, who never listens because he just always seems to be in his own world. At this point, Mr. Edmonds does one of two things. He either throws his head back, stomps his feet on the ground, and laughs in a loud cackling manner, that you can’t help but just laugh with. Or in his chair, he would sort of hunch over and with his belly jumping, start giggling silently with his big brown eyes peering over the top of his glasses.
From the very first moment I met Mr. Edmonds (my freshman year in Japan), I have always seen this side of him. In fact, his class was my very first class when I started school.
Now that I decided I want to go out for the wrestling team, I didn't know if I would still receive the same kindness from him, or if he wouldn't take me seriously, especially since I was one of the captains of the cheerleading team. With all the courage I had, I went up to Mr. Edmonds. During class, I know him as my funny teacher, but now standing in front of him with a serious question, I don't think he could have been more intimidating.
With a serious face, and all the courage I could muster, I said, “I would like to come out for your wrestling team.” In the middle of that sentence, a look came across his face that I hadn't seen before; it was a look of disbelief. But once he realized the question was genuine, and that I was serious and determined, the look very quickly changed to one of approval and enthusiasm. He began scrambling everywhere to get me the information I needed in order to start. And from that moment onwards, I felt like he actually believed in me, and one thing I was in dire need of, was belief.
I have been wrestling at every tournament we have had, and now it seems to all have come to an end. We have one final large tournament and it is finally sinking in that I’m at my last wrestling practice. I feel really sick, so Mr. Edmonds tells me I should just go home and rest up before we leave on Sunday. Knowing that this is my very last practice, I don’t want to go home. Instead I think I’ll just let him know, that I will just sit on the sides and watch. “I don’t want to go home yet, can I just stay here?” I asked.
“Is everything okay?” replied Mr. Edmonds. All of a sudden, a rush of emotions come over me, and I start crying. “I don’t want this to end. This sport couldn’t be more individual, but I’ve never been on a team that felt more like a family,” I tell him while I try to hold back my tears, trying to show him that I’m still that strong individual he learned to know me as.
For the first time, he himself seems to break down right in front of me. Yet, in such a way, he also is trying to be strong for the both of us. He then tells me how proud and honored he was to have me on his team. And that he would have loved to have had me walk through his wrestling door earlier. Just hearing everything he had to say, made the situation all the more heartbreaking to know that I’ve had someone all along who had faith in me from the first time the words me and wrestling were used in the same sentence.
Mr. Edmonds from the moment I’ve met him has always been one of my favorite people to have met in Japan. I have realized what an amazing person he is, but I didn’t know how big an impact he made in my life until I thought about why I feel as though I am able to do anything I put my heart into. When I thought about it, his name was the first to come to mind. I wanted to try something new, and from the very beginning, he believed in me. He taught me to believe in myself, and to never let fear be the reason I don’t do something in life. He pushed me to be not only the best wrestler I could physically be, but the best person I can be. Because of him, I realized that I am a much stronger person than I though myself to be.
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Thanks A-Rod
"Prepartion for Life" is what it is all about.. It's seems we had a better year than I knew ..... & Thanks Coach Roy Foley for giving to me, where ever you are!!!
Coach Morton
All of those coach's are great, but coach Alan Morton is the saving of Seoul American Football. The new staff is also a changed. The deffence (ran by Morton) is unstopable, the offense needs some help. Yokota is going to have to throw the ball, because on the field you have Joe Mclean as a MLB, the best DE 's in the legue, and plus the best line backer's in pacific history, but the coach is the reason of this.
Coach Stovall
Coach Stovall was my favorite coach. He was a good coach who kept us motivated. I am not surprised to see him winning in Rota. He always seemed relaxed when he was with the Red Devils.
Mr edmonds
This is Kevin Radford the 168 far east champion but I'm kinda the same as A-rod and she's a good friend of mine. But I got here my 7th grade year and that was my first class and naturally Mr. Edmonds was asking everybody if they wrestled or wanted to come out, everyone declined but i was the one few middle schoolers that actually came out. I was nothing in the beginning and with his help year after year I grew exponentially. Ever since I first met him he has never changed and he was a good friend of mine made my stay in misawa very enjoyable. He is one of the main benefactors that created the person I am today. When I've ever needed help he was all ears listening to every word i've had to say. As A-rod said if you know him his laugh will cause everyone in the room to laugh with him. Mr. Edmonds is a great person, teacher, and friend. I wish I was there to enjoy another season with him. He is a very straight-foward person and that might turn some people away but it lets you know whats on his mind. I've wrestled for him for 4 years and i had hoped 5 but he taught me how to humble myself to wrestling as he noticed my talent at a young age. He also drilled in everyone of his wrestlers head that your opponent is made of the same thing that you are.(Flesh, blood, and bones) He also told us that no body is better than anybody else and that you shouldn't underestimate you opponent. He seems to have a story to any situation that you could think of. A great mentor and coach who has supported my brother, my best friend, and I as we were all had recieved high hopes from him in our upcoming high school career. I cant count the amount of times he's told me not to end up like louie lee who went undefeated until the championship match and got his head stuck and got thrown. Im not saying that he is perfect and as some of the other wrestling coaches know he is quick to stand up for what he believes in. He has always supported his girls wrestlers because he doesnt beg them to come out they choose on their accord and stick by their dedication. He instills in us to treat the girls like we would any other person and they become like a new member to our wrestling family. What I've learned from him I could no way thank him for enough. But I'll try my hardest, by striving to reach a state title so that he knows that his wrestlers can go to achieve greatness. I may have moved away to a different school and trojan in name only but I believe that I will always be an Edgren Eagle and all thats because of Mr. Edmonds. I will strive for the best always soaring among the clouds only as eagles do.
Yokota Coaches
As a three sport athlete for Yokota, I've been able to work under a few great coaches. Coach Pujol (predominantly known for Football, but also the boys soccer coach for the past few years) is the reason Yokota is a top football contender each year. He works day and night for countless hours doing all he can to make our team a better one. I could go on for quite a while listing the numerous things he does to make us better athletes, as well as better people, but I'll let Yokotas game performance prove that. Along with Coach Pujols are dedicated asst. coaches, such as; Coach Matt Grant, Charlie Capps, Glenn Shimabukuro, and Mike Miano. They put in just as much time as all of the dedicated players, even though they might not get as much of the glory. Without our thankless coaches putting up with failure, ridiculous questions, and other bad habits or mistakes, any Yokota team would not have gotten as far or accomplished as much as they have, and will have in the future.
Now for our goofy, but caring, Coach Kitts. Being a part of a wrestling team is like joining a second family. No other sport understands what it's like to have a 24/7 commitment, and Kitts understands that and makes it easier for the wrestlers to have this commitment. Yes, people see him as a goofy guy, but they don't see the part of him that's caring and hardworking. He'd be the first one to tell you he doesn't have as much experience as other coaches or doesn't know as much, but he does and I'm pretty sure will continue to do all he can in becoming the best coach to make a respectable program.
As many other athletes in the Pacific, there will always be a personal bias for ones own school, but I feel strongly that any student-athlete that has had the pleasure of playing a sport for Yokota will agree with me that these coaches are the best.
Coach Pujol
Let me get this straight... 51 games in a row. How many Sun Bowl Championships? 2 or 3 in the last 7 years?
Who else? Coach Pujol is consistent, dependable, and always able to put a competitive team together despite kids moving around, coming/going, and winning... 51 games in a row! Like the Cowboys in the '70s.
I'm in awe of Coach Pujol and remember when, as a basketball coach, the Los Angeles Lakers hired him to work with their summer league. He got kudos back then (I think was in Taegu, winning championships way back when Pearl Jam was king), and is still a winner. Coach Pujol should be considered DOD's greatest football coach. Then we'll talk about basketball, soccer, and unstructured rhythmic activities!
A long time fan,
Carl
Re: Coach Pujol
Carl:
For the record, since Tim Pujol took the Yokota Panthers' football reins for the 1999 season:
Win-loss record = 82-10, .891 winning percentage.
Nine straight Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Japan Football League titles.
Nine straight Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools titles.
Six consecutive Rising Sun Bowl appearances, 1999-2004.
Five Rising Sun Bowl victories, 2000-2004, 3-0 over Kubasaki Samurai at Camp Zama, 42-14 at Kadena Buccaneers, 57-14 over Kubasaki Samurai, 31-3 at Kadena Buccaneers and 50-6 over Kadena Islanders.
Three straight Far East Class AA football playoff appearances.
Semifinal losses in 2005 and 2006, 13-10 at Seoul American and 37-34 vs. Kadena.
Semifinal win in 2007, 41-8 vs. Guam HIgh on Guam.
Championship loss in 2007, 39-13 at Kadena.
Considering that prior to Pujol's arrival there was no true Far East football playoff system in place, so a Dave Morris (1973-79) or a Bud Blevins (1980-89) would not have had the same advantages. But a very, very strong case can be made that Tim Pujol is Yokota's best in the school's 35-year history.
COACH JESUS!
I have to say, there are very few high school teachers who are willing to put up with all of the stereotypical "drama", enormous amount of food (haha), and ceaseless whining when it comes to coaching a varsity girls soccer team. Let's face it. Many teachers just aren't willing to spend their free time running practices on weekdays, let alone Saturday and Sunday afternoons. There are even fewer teachers who are passionate and devoted to the sport. There are even fewer teachers who actually know what they are doing :) But Jesus was different.
MAJ Jesus Nufable a.k.a. Meeester Fattie was our shining knight in armor. No joke. Mr. Thompson, our official coach and science teacher, knew a lot when it came to the biology of the game, but he just didn’t have the experience (it was his first time coaching soccer) or knowledge that came with being the father of a soccer brat (sorry Kat haha) or being an actual soccer player.
I met him for the first time at a practice my freshman year. Of course we were playing around and slacking, dribbling the ball around the field not knowing what else to do. We had lost mostly all of our games and frankly, we didn’t really care anymore. Soccer was our escape from school. It was just a game. We weren’t depressed but we didn’t have spirit either. We just didn’t know what to do to improve our game. Then came Jesus, the right hand of God- more like the right hand of soccer :) He “stalked” us during our practices and started showing up to our games. At first, we thought he was just some soldier who had nothing else to do around base. So it really really surprised us when we found out that we had made our very first fan.
Since then, Jesus was with us almost every day of the week. Friday afternoons to Sunday mornings, you name it and he was there. He taught us everything about soccer- from the basic skills to the finishes, from maintaining a healthy body to maintaining a healthy mind, and from teamwork to bonding as a family. Although he had no “real obligation” to help us out because his daughter was in the states at the time, he never once complained when we messed up a play, lost a game, got bad grades (okay, he got REALLY MAD), didn’t want to run, or offered him food :) By the end of my freshman soccer season, Jesus was officially our homeboy and second father. Soccer wasn’t just an escape from school. It became our passion, and my passion for the next 2 years and probably for the rest of my life.
Since then, three years have passed by and not once could I ever stop thinking about our number one fattie! Even though he had a lot of work, stuff that only Majors can do ;) for three years he followed us around, to every practice, to every game (even those that were away from Daegu), and to every tournament (even Far East!) using up his personal time and money. Kat was on the team my sophomore year, and with her help and Jesus’ “crazy skillz” we became the Far East Champions for the very first time EVER in Daegu High history- the happiest moment of my life.
I just really want to thank him for everything he has given me as a player and to my team. He helped me with my school work, even proofreading my boring U.S. History essay at 10 p.m., and even helps me today with my “tedious college crap.” Words cannot express my gratitude. Although he is in Iraq and cannot be with us today, we’ll always think of him and try our best not to cut around the field when Mr. Thompson isn’t looking because like he said, “Jesus is always watching you!” Even though writing this really long entry won’t give him the award for being the BEST COACH IN ALL OF DODDES PACIFIC that he really deserves, I wrote it anyway, even procrastinating my oh-so-fun calculus homework along the way. But until he gets that award, more fattie care packages for him!
As an ex-captain and not a daughter...
Agnes! -_-; I was there your freshman year, when Joanne Youngblood was still captain and you were still a little newb! Seems so long ago [almost 4 years], huh?
Well just adding onto our veteran defender's fan dedication... Asst. Coach Jesus Nufable had a special philosophy and ability to develop a rapport with any and every player on the team. I've played soccer for 9 years, playing year-round being tossed around leagues and coaches of all different mindsets. But I would have to say, even summer soccer camp could not compare to the challenges and personal growth that came from being trained by MAJ Nufable. Unlike most of my previous coaches, he would ensure that every player on the team: [first and foremost!] kept up on their academics, built upon their basic skill foundations, understood the basic psychology of soccer, contributed to the team camaraderie, played cleanly during every game, learned from their mistakes with grace, AND get playing time. Even as more and more new players invaded the roster, he always helped bring the newbs up to the playing level of the veterans--- He never called it quits when trying to help them. With his patient guidance, even a team with only 5 returning starters can have hope to be contenders by the end of the season. :)
The best lesson I think any of us could have taken from seasons with him is that of respect for ourselves and each other. Aside from the team traditions of cheers before each half, our face war paint [as you've graciously experienced with us! :)], and Yakisoba team dinner on the coaches at Iwakuni--- he drilled into us an appreciation for our given and developing skills, the roles of all our teammates, and a love for the best game everrrr~
Before his inspiration and motivation, Taegu was considered a joke when it came to soccer. But since then, the Lady Warriors soccer program has grown exponentially from a motley's crew to a contender's club. 2006 we made it to 3rd place in FE and then all the way to Champions the next year! Even in 2008 Daegu reached the championship bracket despite the challenges of more international powerhouses. Now I'm happy to say those of the Lady Warriors soccer program can have pride in their individual as well as team accomplishments.
I would've jumped the gun in posting on this, except it may be perceived as biased as being his daughter and all, despite trying to sound objective. :P But it's true... former Taeguians will probably only still remember me in 30 years just because they tell me they'll never forget my dad... haha.
I know he reads your blog because he's still dedicated as ever to sports--- so love ya dad! Hope that team of desert cats gets as much as we did from your coaching :)
"The Play"
Kat:
Your run to the Golden Goal in 2007 will forever stand out. Immediately made my list of top 10 plays of all my then-25 years of covering sports out here.
What tributes, people! Keep chiming in!
KAT
haha you came towards the END of the season :P of course i remember. and that year we played in the swamp that they called a soccer field at iwakuni... even though a lot of teams and people ;) underestimated us, we still got #1 and #2. don't know about this year though :D i guess we'll see huh
Coach Alvarado and Coach Boyd
My freshmen year while I was at seoul american high school i was not what you would call an "athelete", especially at basketball. The first time i had played organized basketball was the year b4 in my 8th grade yr.. I came out and gave it my all, but there were always so many ppl who tried out it was imitating. Coach Boyd always brought the most out of everyone though. He made you want to leave everything behind on the court. People criticize him sometimes for yelling at the team even though we were up by 20-30 pts, but that was b/c he knew we were not playing up to our potential and he always wanted us to play hard.
Coach Alvarado is not only a great coach, but a great person. He made practices hard, but also added some amusement with his laid backness and jokes. He always had faith in our teams and that we could be the best. This faith helped out come out with our big 06 season with our win against seoul. All the players believed and had faith in our coach and in turn, he gave it back to us
Coach Harden
I've known Coach Harden my whole high school career, he pushes you into being and doing your best. He makes you strong not only physically but mentally~ I moved to daegu after my freshman year, and being on the opposite team of Coach Harden, made me mad, but i never forgot the things he taught me, and kept that in my "heart" whether im playing football, or Wrestling, Harden is a like a second father to me, and he has to be one of the best coaches you will ever know..~!
COACH STOVALL.
My favorite coach is Robert Stovall. Though we (2002-2004 Red Devils) couldn't fufill the goal of sending Kinnick back to championship status as was in the 90's Coach Stovall always brought out the best in his football players both off the field and on the field. His post game speeches are ones that I'll always remember. He would end them with his famous words, " Are you proud of the way you played? Did you play as hard as you can ?" Sometimes we answered yes to the times we've lost and no to the times we've won, but there was no doubt what we lacked in size and strength we made up for with heart and emotion. I'll always remember the long road trips to Misawa and Iwakuni (Chicken Shack), and always looking forward to Hell Week. What made playing for the Red Devils fun were definitely the coaches: R. Stovall (Rota), Jim Davis (Bamberg), Matt Martinez (Lakenheath). All head coaches in Europe it's good to see them in new programs and succeeding.
kinnick 04
By the way, I never called it Hell Week, but thanks for the great memories.
Kinnick04.........write me.
hugs and kisses
rs
COACH SMITH. KINNICK WRESTLING
would not have won far east if it wasnt for him. he breeds champions.