| I believe every football coach should develop a simple, sound philosophy about the game of football. |
| As a young coach, I had the opportunity to work with or be around head coaches who had an impact on my own development of a coaching philosophy. Each coach was unique in the way he coached football and how he related to his players and his assistants. I would like to acknowledge these coaches, as well as the trademark coaching technique I took from each one. The special attributes of these men helped them to become very successful football coaches. |
| The first head football coach I really had the opportunity to observe was Larry Garman of Pittsburg (KS) High School. Coach Garman taught me how the perfect organization of a football program will lead to championship teams. John Kotzman, former head football coach at Girard (KS) High School, taught me how relating to players and coaches is so very important. Bobby Scott and Bob Greer, my longtime loyal assistant coaches at Galena (KS) Junior High School, are no longer with us, but their memory will always be with me. They taught me the meaning of loyalty to a football program and the courage needed in life. They reminded me that there are more important things in life than football. |
| Jim Bortnick, whom I worked with at Riverton (KS) High School, showed me how keeping a sense of humor and being able to laugh at ourselves sometimes help to keep things in perspective. Bill Lowe, former head coach at Baxter Springs High School, showed me how the ability to motivate players to play above themselves in crucial situations is so very important. Tom Audley, former head coach at Baxter Springs (KS) High School, taught me how perseverance and hard work play a key role in coaching football. |
| Another former head football coach whom I learned a great deal from was Roger Bezinque, my athletic director at Riverton High School. Roger has a great deal of integrity and class, and I admire him very much. He taught me how to get through the difficult times that all head coaches invariably will endure. The ability to withstand crises is a skill that coaches must learn to develop, if they are to keep their sanity in the coaching profession. We in the coaching profession put most of the stress upon ourselves. We must strive to learn from each other. |
| I would also like to acknowledge my Galena High School freshman football coach, Marvin Smith. Coach Smith was the role model who inspired me to become an educator and a football coach. |
| Last, but not least, I want to thank my current assistant coaches at Baxter Springs Middle School, Jim Giesel and Roger Reynolds, for all their help and loyalty to our football program at BMS. Also, I want to give a special thank-you to all the assistant coaches I have worked with during my coaching career. |
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