I unbuckle the belt around his waist and weave it through the slits torn on the sides of his shirt. He started as a manager on his Gilroy High School team as a freshman. It gives me hope for the world. It's an image his brain can't compute. I love the feeling when I lift kids up. The last question is far more complicated. With the pen, Mendez draws the X's and O's of what the play is supposed to look like and why. How did someone who has never thrown a ball, caught a pass or tackled anyone become a head coach? I've always wanted to be a head coach.". "Hey," he says, "Would you mind giving me a hand and putting one of those in my mouth?". Watch Later. "We are two very different people. ONE WEEK LATER, Prospect finishes its season 8-2 with a 19-13 victory over Yerba Buena. Who says I can't?'". And he doesn't like the idea I have for framing his story. Prospect stifled Evanston on two late fourth quarter drives, and senior Gavin Flanagan booted the game-winning field goal as Prospect survived with a 17-14 Homecoming win to improve to 3-0 on. I know what you're saying. Some might suggest he should be home, resting. He sees me, and he stands up straight and pulls himself together so he can open the door for me. As the quarterback rolls out, the play unfolds perfectly. It's an image his brain can't compute. The left side of his face slams into the concrete floor of the garage. Elk Grove Village, IL. He doesn't eat right. "But even before he could talk, I said, 'Somewhere, somebody is going to open a door for this kid and he's going to shine. I love the feeling when I lift kids up. I think back to something his pediatric physical therapist told me. Pick a play, execute for a few seconds, take a break, pick another play and repeat. "His mind is the greatest thing," Prospect JV Assistant Defensive Coordinator Todd Livingston said. I couldn't tell you what it felt like to catch a ball in the flat, but I knew what it was and why it worked." How could someone who had never held a football teach a freshman how to throw, tackle or block? No way. Rob is no different." It doesn't lead to a good place. High School North Kansas City . "It wasn't very polite or sensitive. "He was still in diapers," Bob says. ", Mendez acknowledges that his presence has had a positive impact on people. Elk Grove High School. 2 QB and overall prospect by ESPN and is . Nor did he and Josie have any idea how to take care of this baby. He says if he had arms and legs he has no idea how his life would be different. They are teachers who coach on the side. He immediately snaps. Rated as the No. He can be stubborn. I'm not beautiful at all. But here, he's in his element. Email Mark Fisher. How do you move a fully grown adult with no arms and legs? But most importantly, it's given him an understanding of his journey in this world, a path untethered to anything anyone on the outside might say, think or believe. "I'm sitting right there at the bar next to you. Alvernaz hired Mendez to be on his staff, but then followed Mendez to Prospect to be his number two. The left side of his face slams into the concrete floor of the garage. I unbuckle the belt around his waist and weave it through the slits torn on the sides of his shirt. "The Sobrato loss still bothers me," he says in February. Now the entire Prospect program circles around Mendez at midfield. Any other details they should know (If you have previously attended the school's camp or met the coaches) Sample Introductory Email: To: Reed@email.edu, RecruitingCoordinator@email.edu, SecondAssistant@email.edu. But Rob refuses because the upper belt limits his ability to access his phone and draw plays. Prospect High School JV Football Coach Rob Mendez was born with a rare disorder that left him with no arms or legs. It just makes me mad. "When an able-body person says that they can't do something, his greatest message is, 'who says I can't?' When his friends went out for football his freshman year of high school, Rob became the team manager. His father has long wished that Rob would wear an upper belt as well as the one that wraps around his waist. Martindale has been the Prospect boys' athletic director since 2005, and has been teaching at the school for 20 years. With the pen, Mendez draws the X's and O's of what the play is supposed to look like and why. He rolls in wearing a plain white T-shirt and faded red San Francisco 49ers hat. And he doesn't like the idea I have for framing his story. "I wish more people were like that. At that point, she says, abortion wasn't an option. At the end of every day, I'm sore.". "It first actually came from a friend challenging me at an 8th grade dance," Mendez said. McAvoy has been Mendez's caretaker for the past six years. Not until he nearly received a DUI driving Rob's handicapped accessible van did he realize the path he was on. I hope that 'who says I can't?' It's just natural to just be bold and try things in life. "This is a defining moment for our program," Vierneisel said. Tournament Game 2022 Illinois High School Football Playoff Brackets: IHSA Class 7A Reavis 13 Prospect 62 Final Box Score Tournament Bracket Oct 29, 2022 @ 2:03am Eric Frantz Friday, Oct 28, 2022 He reads, draws and spends extra time with family and friends. IN HIS 30 years, Mendez can't recall a single dream in which he has had arms or legs. THE COLLEGE COACHES AT THE COLLEGE COACHES SHOWCASE CAMP ARE ON THE FIELD ALL DAY "I'm sitting right there at the bar next to you. How do you move a fully grown adult with no arms and legs? In less than a minute he introduces himself, then me and strikes up a conversation. "I kept thinking, 'How can this guy possibly coach?'". His team is a mix of freshmen and sophomores, some with a bit of experience, most with little to none. But here, he's in his element. "You have to believe," he says. "In life, I feel like I'm always being helped," he says. But he hates the sidewalk. However, the phrase was not born on the gridiron. "It sounds so ridiculous, but it's true," he says. How to Be a High School Football Coach Download Article parts 1 Gaining the Necessary Skills 2 Landing a Job 3 Becoming a Great Coach Other Sections Related Articles References Co-authored by wikiHow Staff Last Updated: June 10, 2021 References Coaching high school football requires more than passion for the game. I panic. "It gives me this sense of independence." Prospect High School ( PHS) is a public high school in Saratoga, California, United States. So I try not to complain. I swear. But later he acknowledges he hated having to ask for help. I swear I buckled him in. It's almost midnight. As they head inside, Mendez looks back at me over McAvoy's shoulder. They tell Rob he can't coach for at least four weeks. . ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals all rank the 5-10, 170-pound receiver as a four-star prospect but his high school coach, former UK defensive back Maurice "Moe" Douglass, is not sure that does him justice. "If I can go out there and power through four or five hours, then I'm OK." And yeah, of course that's frustrating." The school sits on the western edge of Silicon Valley, just 5 miles from Apple's campus. How could someone who had never held a football teach a freshman how to throw, tackle or block? My dad would tell me, 'You're not special, Rob. His head drops. Mt. He learned to press the buttons with his chin and collarbone. In less than a minute he introduces himself, then me and strikes up a conversation. The coach. DeBoeuf named new football coach February 23, 2018 By Jack Ankony, Executive Sports Editor A new, energetic face will be leading the Prospect Football program into George Gattas Memorial Stadium on Friday nights next fall. High School coach ticket pickup closes TWENTY minutes prior to kickoff. Tears begin to fall. Bob eventually turned to alcohol. Push the limits. You're different. Embrace it. To feel comfortable. Manning also ranks as the No. They just want to move, explore and live. "Anything in the world that is worth doing, he's done it with his mind," Bob says. And just like that, the man who so often projects like everything is fine rips off his facade. And buckling Rob into his chair. It doesnt lead to a good place. It's a testament to his ability to be comfortable in any surrounding and put strangers at ease. His jaw dropped. he yells. Complaining is my No. Mendez gives me directions. I'm sorry." The day-to-day blanks are easy for him to fill in. When the players met their new coach, the whispers began. Jan 31, 2023 4:00 PM PST. Now the entire Prospect program circles around Mendez at midfield. I'm in Las Vegas and there's some guy stumbling drunk, looks like he was just in a fight. The California Cool of Jared Goff Mendez hopes to someday have the opportunity to coach varsity. As much as he doesn't want this syndrome to define him, at the same time there's a part of him that loves the fact that it sort of does. They sit in front of us, untouched, for nearly 10 minutes. Cable obliged. He can barely open his mouth. Gradey Dick, a five-star Kansas commit, enjoyed one of the greatest shooting seasons in high school basketball history. "I guess you saw a little bit of the other side tonight. can show people to be happy with who you are and hopefully they understand the true meaning of it which is believing in yourself.". Tolliver, Malachi i, e Easter, Noah ( So.) The World Series is on television. I lift him out of his chair and carry him to my car, buckling him into the passenger's seat. Unofficial or official visit invites. And few at Prospect High School, some 40 miles up the road in Saratoga, can remember the last time its JV won much of anything. The football team won the 7A State Championship in 2001, 2002, and 2005. . "Those kids," he says, "gave me the feeling that I can do anything." His presence should tell anyone, if you're paying attention, that your mind is the most powerful thing. For now, he's still glowing from the impact his team had on him in his first JV season. It confirmed how much he despises losing. When coaches ask you to go on an official visit, paid for by the school's program, they're using their budget to show off their school and create an impressive experience for you as a recruit. "No, no, no," he says. But Mendez doesn't care about that. I am a team player and a hard They run the play again. And there's the reality of what he feels, but rarely reveals. How did someone who has never thrown a ball, caught a pass or tackled anyone become a head coach? '", Mendez taught himself the game of football by playing Madden on a PlayStation, using his chin and collarbone to push the buttons. It has given him a life otherwise inaccessible. I love that. They chose to stay with him. Bob rushes his son to the hospital. High school coaches are notoriously hard to contact. He scoffs. Most everyone recognizes him and says hello. There's the answer he feels as if he should deliver. I am a junior at City High School. "It's only natural to never give up," Mendez said. "He told me that I couldn't go out there and dance with a girl. ", Mendez struggles to deal with back and neck pain from spending all day in his chair. And how does he deal with such a challenging life? "If I can go out there and power through four or five hours, then I'm OK.", Says McAvoy: "That's just him. What do you want people to say about this team? He demanded respect, eye contact and accountability. Mendez took over as the coach for Prospect Highs JV team, and led his players to an incredible 8-2 season. "Oh whatever," Mendez answers. "Like a pancake hitting the ground. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. 1 poison. It's the Friday night before Halloween. was something that was very much for me to always stick with and I hope people take away from it in a positive way where they are comfortable to motivate themselves to do whatever they want in life.". "As he approached, I didn't know how he could be a football coach. . ROB MENDEZ IS not only the most unique high school football coach in America, he's one of the most unique humans in the world. Preston Gannaway for ESPN I turned around, took two to three steps and then I heard it." This one is simple, there's no reason to attend a showcase camp with nationally ranked D1 programs and pro scouts if you play at the D2 level. I was a little nervous about it," Cable says. It's all good." I can work with people. 31 years later, he's. "I appreciate you," Mendez says. On warmer days, he can get bed sores from sitting in the same position too long. It seems like no big deal. In the morning, he will coach the biggest game of his young career. "That's what I'm talking about!" Mendez picks a spot at the bar next to two women. He drew up game plans on Madden and took them to practice. 2021: Missouri Football Coaches Association Class 5 first-team all-state selection at defensive end as a junior. Says McAvoy: "That's just him. I ask whether that thought bothers him. He can be stubborn. Coach seats are in a different section that prospect seats. At that point, she says, abortion wasn't an option. THREE MONTHS AFTER we first met, Mendez and I are in another bar, this time in downtown Campbell. With a dream of one day becoming a head football coach, Mendez worked for years as an assistant at various schools, until he was finally given the opportunity hed been working for. As much as he doesn't want this syndrome to define him, at the same time there's a part of him that loves the fact that it sort of does. "I'm pretty good at dealing with pain, and I didn't want to stay home feeling sorry for myself," he says. He tumbles forward. Without his wheelchair working properly, he can't raise its height to sit next to me at the bar. I'm in Las Vegas and there's some guy stumbling drunk, looks like he was just in a fight. Prospect Men's Cross Country and Track and Field @PHSKnightsXCTF Feb 12 Varsity winners from last night Tuchner - 8.33 55mHH Balenda, Sahakian, Holtmeier and Walsh - 1:36.42 4x200 Raitano - 54.69 400m Garland 4:37.85 1600m Diversey, Tuchner, Guagliardo, Balenda 3:47.19 4x400 Guagliardo 5'8" HJ Holtmeier 20'11 LJ, 42'3" TJ Kamp 50'8" SP But he wonders whether the players have any idea what they've given him. "Home," he answers. It's only junior varsity. The school they will face, Ann Sobrato, fired Mendez as an assistant three years earlier. Can you lift me out of my chair?". They wanted Bob to see other babies born with disabilities. It's an accomplishment to the public because I have no arms and legs, but the reality is I'm not accomplished. "In a text message." And that's special because sometimes in this world, on a day-to-day basis, I wish I could do more. He is 50 pounds of head, neck, torso and waist. You hear stories about people with cancer, fighting for their lives. "I'm not going to let that happen. "I guess you saw a little bit of the other side tonight. Not until he nearly received a DUI driving Rob's handicapped accessible van did he realize the path he was on. Congratulations to @ProspectXCTF Coach Pete Wintermute on his @ITCCCA XC Coach of the Year and the Track Coach of the Year!!! Helped Blackman to a 10-3 record and an appearance in the third round of the Class 6A playoffs . "Great job, Coach. One of the bartenders reminds him he's not supposed to have more than two drinks. In a little more than 12 hours, Prospect will play for the league JV championship. "I love you, bro. Minorities make up 73 percent of the student body. He absorbed everything he could. James Hamann Assistant Coach: Paul Hennig Mascot(s): Knight School Administration Superintendent: Dr. David Schuler . He acknowledges that the attention is often uncomfortable. Every morning, he helps with just about everything. We're going to fake it this way and then waggle out," he says. This is the first opportunity for college coaches and high school football players to interact directly with each other on the football field. The 6-foot-4, 185-pounder completed 60.1% of his passes last season for 5,275 . Doctors recommend surgery. Preston Gannaway for ESPN It wasn't like there was a store to buy clothes or toys for children with no arms and legs. 2. He's like Norm from "Cheers." And how does he deal with such a challenging life? 1 poison," he says. Rob would set his chin on the ledge of the next step and use that to lift his entire body. I mention that one of the themes I'm thinking about for his story is this idea of a beautiful mind. You don't have a realistic view of your ability and playing level. "It gives me this sense of independence. I tell him that's the most honest he's been in our time together. Bob rushes his son to the hospital. That sentiment has been followed by so many other coaches that he came across in his career. Mendez orders a water. Tired. Subject: Johnny Appleseed 2019 P/SS. On warmer days, he can get bed sores from sitting in the same position too long. "I'm pretty good at dealing with pain, and I didn't want to stay home feeling sorry for myself," he says. Thats how I feel in my chair. They sit in front of us, untouched, for nearly 10 minutes. An assistant coach holds a whiteboard a few inches in front of Mendez. I was a little nervous about it," Cable says. The battery on his wheelchair is dead, and he wants to charge it at school overnight. Rob's parents tried to integrate him as early as they could, putting him in preschool at 18 months. His team is a mix of freshmen and sophomores, some with a bit of experience, most with little to none. Getting dressed. 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