Stan Caffey
Last year, our theme was "PrACTice Like A Champion". This year our theme is quite simple, but often hard to do. A few years ago, before arriving at Memorial, I worked at Westbury Christian School. During my time there, not only did I have a chance to work under Legendary Coach Greg Glenn, in the boys basketball program, but I also had the opportunity to work with Stan Caffey, the Football coach there.
I learned many a lesson about football, a sport I only played in 7th grade, but more importantly I learned a ton about coaching from Coach Caffey. I loved how he dealt with kids and how he got the best out of them. During my first season as a football coach, we won 4 ball games. You might look at that and say wow, that's terrible, but in fact that was really good considering they won zero, the year before. During my second year at Westbury Christian, we took a lot of those same kids who were 0 - 10 two years prior and they became the first football team to make it to the playoffs in school history. Six years, and three coaches later, they have still yet to return, and a lot of that is due to the Leadership and Vision of Coach Caffey.
I learned many a lesson about football, a sport I only played in 7th grade, but more importantly I learned a ton about coaching from Coach Caffey. I loved how he dealt with kids and how he got the best out of them. During my first season as a football coach, we won 4 ball games. You might look at that and say wow, that's terrible, but in fact that was really good considering they won zero, the year before. During my second year at Westbury Christian, we took a lot of those same kids who were 0 - 10 two years prior and they became the first football team to make it to the playoffs in school history. Six years, and three coaches later, they have still yet to return, and a lot of that is due to the Leadership and Vision of Coach Caffey.
While working with Caffey, one thing that rang over and over in my head was something that he said all of the time. He used to always say, "Work Wins!" Those two words are very simple to understand, but hard to perform and that's what generally separates people. I believe that in order for our program to have the kind of impact that we are capable of having, we have to live by that motto as well. That goes not only on the basketball court, but it extends into the classroom and into every facet of our lives.
As we prepare to move into the Summer, lets be reminded that "Work Wins." I know that there is typically only one winner and one loser in everything that we do, but I view a win as a lot more than a scoreboard or a ranking. I view a win as an improvement. I have been reminded of that over and over again, during the playoff run that the San Antonio Spurs are on right now. One thing that I hear said about Coach Greg Popovich time and time again is the way that he views practices and games is that he wants to get better everyday. That's all that he is focusing on. While it sounds easy to say that, again it's something that is difficult. The Spurs have won 19 straight games dating back into April. That includes 9 playoff games. There is no way that this streak would be alive if they ever took a day off mentally as they were preparing to get better. Their focus and the leadership that Coach Popovich has with his team is quite a remarkable feat to watch. It's even better when you see it first hand.
As I mentioned, Coach Caffey took a team that was 0 - 10 and turn them into a playoff team in two years and since his departure, they have not returned. This wasn't the first time that he did this. He did this for several football programs in West Texas as well as one in Northeast Arkansas. After leaving Westbury Christian in 2006, Caffey took another job at Springlake Earth High School, a small 1A school in Earth, Texas. Again, he was tasked with rebuilding the program. He did just that as they have been to the playoffs each of the past four seasons including making a trip to the State Semi-Final in 2010.
If we are going to have the type of season that I know is possible, we all have to believe that "Work Wins." If we believe it then we would be silly not to work in a manner so that we can reap the rewards. Working is all I know how to do, and so I am going to work as hard as I can to make this program all that it can be. I can't wait to see how much work we all have put in once we return from the Summer.
As we prepare to move into the Summer, lets be reminded that "Work Wins." I know that there is typically only one winner and one loser in everything that we do, but I view a win as a lot more than a scoreboard or a ranking. I view a win as an improvement. I have been reminded of that over and over again, during the playoff run that the San Antonio Spurs are on right now. One thing that I hear said about Coach Greg Popovich time and time again is the way that he views practices and games is that he wants to get better everyday. That's all that he is focusing on. While it sounds easy to say that, again it's something that is difficult. The Spurs have won 19 straight games dating back into April. That includes 9 playoff games. There is no way that this streak would be alive if they ever took a day off mentally as they were preparing to get better. Their focus and the leadership that Coach Popovich has with his team is quite a remarkable feat to watch. It's even better when you see it first hand.
As I mentioned, Coach Caffey took a team that was 0 - 10 and turn them into a playoff team in two years and since his departure, they have not returned. This wasn't the first time that he did this. He did this for several football programs in West Texas as well as one in Northeast Arkansas. After leaving Westbury Christian in 2006, Caffey took another job at Springlake Earth High School, a small 1A school in Earth, Texas. Again, he was tasked with rebuilding the program. He did just that as they have been to the playoffs each of the past four seasons including making a trip to the State Semi-Final in 2010.
If we are going to have the type of season that I know is possible, we all have to believe that "Work Wins." If we believe it then we would be silly not to work in a manner so that we can reap the rewards. Working is all I know how to do, and so I am going to work as hard as I can to make this program all that it can be. I can't wait to see how much work we all have put in once we return from the Summer.