One of my goals with the brand is to not only represent the 703, but I want to give a special shoutout to all the schools who have chosen to rep the brand through the team(s) they coach. I plan to interview all of the coaches of those teams, giving insight into who they are, where they're from, and what they're all about.
I figured what better way to get started than with myself to give my followers an idea of what to expect moving forward. So, without further delay, here we go:
Where are you from/did you grow up?
I was born in Danville, VA where my parents were going to school and have lived in Northern VA almost my whole life with a couple pit stops in Myrtle Beach and Austin, Texas. I really call Chantilly my home as that's where the majority of my childhood was, but I have bounced around just about each corner of Fairfax County all of my adulthood.
What is your background with sports/athletics?
I started playing baseball in the 2nd grade and that continued all the way through my junior year of college. I dabbled with youth and intramural basketball and played freshman football and ran indoor track all four years of hs, but baseball was always my true love sports-wise. I was cut from the hs baseball team my freshman year, but was a starter for the next three. I then played three years of baseball at Roanoke College.
When/Why did you first get into coaching?
Due to the need to fulfill my student teaching requirements, I couldn't play baseball my senior year in college, but my coach recommended me to his friend who was coaching a local varsity high school baseball team and needed an assistant coach. After two weeks, I was "promoted" to the head varsity coach (as a senior in college!!) when the other guy was fired. I coached that program for two seasons and it was a struggle as many of them were only on the team to avoid having to go home and work on the farm. As crazy as that experience was, it instilled the desire to stick around baseball since I knew my playing days were over. Some of those kids were destined to be farmers for the rest of their lives, but there was one who was determined to get out of his small town and put in the work. His passion lit a fire in me to pass that spirit along to other high school athletes.
What does it mean to you to coach in this area, especially since you're from here?
I've coached for fourteen years, twelve of which were here in the 703, with six of those years at my alma mater where I was blessed to work under the coach who was one of my high school coaches. Two other assistants were also graduates of the same high school and it was amazing to be able to give back to the community that helped mold me into the person I am today; it is something I am truly thankful to have been given the opportunity to do and will never forget it.
What is your best piece of advice for young athletes?
Put in the work! This is something that I didn't do to the extent that I could/should have when I was younger and I definitely regret it to this day. If you have enough desire to go out for a team, then give it your all and listen to what your coaches have to say.