I’m In, Coach!
“Keep running! Back cut!
Box out and get the board!” Those
words were magic to my ears. I heard
them on a daily basis running up and down the wooden floors of my high school
basketball court. For the most part as a
teenager I really bristled at taking orders and listening to commands. It seemed to rub me wrong to be bossed around
and told what to do. And I would grow
even more frustrated when I was sweaty and my body ached from running ladders
and stairs hour after hour during basketball practice. I swear, my legs were jello. I don’t think I could have been more tired in
my whole life, but for some reason the lips that barked those commands were the
only ones I respected. He was my idol
and my hero on and off the court. Although
he was known to some as Greg, we all knew him as Coach Glenn. He never had to beg for respect. “Sterling! Keep running for your life! Pretend there is a bear chasing you!” He yelled jokingly with a wide smile that he
always wore on his face. “Will do!” I
choked out through laughter. I probably laughed the hardest at his jokes and
humor more than at anyone else’s. But
even with a good jovial humor and sometimes a hint of sarcasm, at that point in
my life I respected him more than any other.
Playing basketball was hard for
me. I struggled hard and never was the
MVP of the team. In fact, I probably was
on the downside of the talent spectrum. I’d
run, jump, drill, and work my butt off.
Every day at the end of practice we always looked forward to the most
dreaded workout of the day, running stairs.
On several occasions when I was upset with the other coaches, for
different reasons, I’d stay and run extra stairs even when I wasn’t required to. I’d do this even when all the other players
were packing up to go home. If I wasn’t
running extra stairs I’d stay and shoot free throws until my shoulder and arm
ached. Nevertheless, when it came to our
games I never got to play as much as I had hoped to.
One game I had had enough. I didn’t play a single second of the
game. At the same time another player
who had back-talked and skipped practice got to play because of his talent. After losing this game the whole team was in
the locker room. I was so upset. Small
tears fell from my eyes even though I internally screamed at my body to buck up
and hold them in. At this moment Coach
Glenn, sporting his thread-bare Utah Jazz cap, stood up and said, “It seems
like none of you wanted to play tonight! I know that there are some of you that would
have given anything to play in the game and put in a better effort. Sterling,
day in and day out, busts his butt in practice.
He kills himself running stairs and working hard but didn’t play a
single second tonight. You all owe it to
him and the rest of the team to play your hardest which tonight none of you
did.” I was speechless. I never thought that he noticed my effort,
but I guess I was wrong.
After practice I always solicited extra
help from Coach Glenn.
“What are we going to work on today Sterling?” He’d ask.
“Let’s do post drills then we’ll have a
free throw competition to work on shooting under pressure.” I’d reply.
With lanky arms and long legs Coach Glenn
towered over me at over six feet five inches tall. I always thought that I had an edge on him
due to my bulkier, football player size.
Boy was I wrong. He’d muster up
strength out of nowhere and power into me at the post. I had seen videos of Muhammad Ali, the famous
boxer known for his lightning speed. But
he was nothing compared to Coach Glenn. Coach Glenn was quick! He would use his power and speed to get to
the basket and score. He never bragged
or made me feel inadequate. We’d always
stay late after practice just practicing more.
This always impressed me. I
remember one day I asked him, “Coach Glenn don’t you need to get home to your
family and kids? It is late.”
He’d simply reply, “They aren’t going
anywhere. I’ll see them when I see them.”
He was patient with me and he coached me
to the fullest. He noticed my efforts
and yet didn’t give me any special treatment.
To him I was a player just like the rest of the team. I never was the recipient of any pity party.
“Are you in?” Coach Glenn would ask
before every game.
“I’m in!” I’d exclaim with
determination.
I never loved basketball more than when I
was under Coach Glenn’s direction. He
was my wing man. He never let me down.
He was always the guy I could rely on.
“Hey, Coach Glenn, did you hear the one
about your mom and how she…..?” One player asked. It was too common for some of the players to
crack dirty jokes that were totally inappropriate. Coach Glenn calmly replied, “No I haven’t,
and quite frankly I don’t want to hear it.
Get back to practicing.” He
always dressed in nice clothes, and his non-involvement in foul humor was just
as classy as his attire. His behavior
was clean and tidy. He was a grade-A
stud!
* * * * * * * * *
* * * *
The morning was crisp and cold that day,
and so were the doors to Poky
High School. I was tired walking into the building at 6:45
in the morning. As I reached the top
step I was greeted by the Coach Ralphs the head basketball coach. I expected a warm smile, but this time I was
really thrown off as I saw despair and gloom emanating from his eyes.
“Did you hear the news?” He asked me with his head hung low. I could do nothing but stare at him in
confusion. I responded with a simple, “No.” As a teenage boy the following news would
soon wreck my world. My best friend and mentor,
Coach Glenn, had tragically passed away due to spinal meningitis. The friend that I so respected and loved was
gone. I didn’t even have the chance to
say goodbye. My tears started flowing
like an uncontrollable waterfall. I
could barely breathe from the sorrow that over swept me. I was left with a hollow space in my heart.
“You never know what you’ve got ‘til it’s
gone.” Those words from an old song had
never meant much to me until this point in my life. I was left alone and I didn’t know what to
do. I realized just how great Coach
Glenn had been to me and for me. There
are not too many people in the world like him.
More than once he had stuck up for me in front of the other coaches by
showing them that I had the desire to excel and help the team succeed. Now he was gone.
Throughout my teenage and young adult
years I have encountered situations where my integrity would be
challenged. I vividly remember a time on
my mission in which I encountered a situation that tested my moral judgment. In that moment all I could see in my mind was
Coach Glenn’s face and his stern eyes that seemed to challenge me to do the
right thing. I played out in my head
what he would have said to me in that moment.
“Are you in Sterling?”
He asked.
“I’m In, Coach.” I replied.
I left a better man that day on my
mission. I walked away with my head held
high. I did the right thing and I made
Coach Glenn proud.
Coach Glenn was a boy at heart but he was
more of a man than any other man besides my dad. I have strived to mirror his example. And as I have I have lived a happier life due
to my trying. During sad times in my
life my friend Coach Glenn has been there to lift me up. What would the world be like if it were full
of people like Coach Glenn?
Perfection isn’t a one-time deal. It’s a constant effort to be better. Failure is a means to an end. If we don’t fall down or face trials in
becoming better at something then we are doing something wrong. This is true with school, with work, and with
life in general. Achievements are
reached only after hard work is exerted. To become a true man one must sacrifice and
endure and always strive to be true in one’s actions and words and deeds. This
was Coach Greg Glenn to a tee. While
working with me on drills many times I was utterly exhausted and wanted to
throw in the towel. I wanted to go home
but he wouldn’t let me. He would push me
to a limit that I didn’t know existed.
He gave me a reason to get better and improve, not only in basketball
but in life..
A song that has always touched my heart
expressed my thoughts through it’s lyrics.
The song is “For Good.”
I've
heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you,
And
because I knew you
I
have been changed for good.”
I definitely
have been changed for good knowing Coach Greg Glenn. I rejoice in having known him. He will always be an integral part of my
life. In so much that I do and strive to
do that is right and good I find myself repeating in my mind and heart, “I’m
In, Coach Glenn, I’m In!”
