Coaches are, without a doubt, special people. It is not easy taking on the responsibility of a team of young athletes on top of a full time job. It is also very easy for coaches to make or break an athlete’s love for their sport.
Mr. Tiron Jester is the head coach of freshman football, eighth grade basketball, middle school track and high school high jump. His favorite sport to coach is high jump, within track and field. When he was in high school, Mr. Jester participated in football, basketball and track. He did not go on to play a sport in college, though he would have liked to continue running track. His grades made him ineligible to be a collegiate athlete. Mr. Jester then joined the Marine Corps where he served our country for __ years. After his time in the military he went back to school to receive an education degree. He is currently teaching weight training and health classes.
“I came into coaching to change the lives of individuals like myself in high school,” Jester said, “I want to be the person I wish I had in my corner in high school.”
Jester has already touched many lives in his years teaching at Green. He wants to push them to their full potential whether that be athletically or academically. Jester and other coaches value their players as more than just athletes, they are students first.
“I am so hard on my athletes about being academic scholars on top of players.” Jester said, “I mean, you could be the best football player in the school, but I need you to be the best student you can be.”
Coaches want their athletes to be model citizens as well as good football players or runners. Jester hopes to inspire his athletes and be a mentor for them. He is a big believer in working hard and pushing yourself even when you want to give up. More goes into a team than athletic ability alone. As a coach, one of the most rewarding things is seeing your athletes succeed beyond high school.
“My favorite part of coaching is just watching the kids be successful,” Jester said, “watching them work really hard at something and it finally breaks through.”
Sometimes it can be challenging to get a bunch of high schoolers to believe in what you are telling them. Coming from a military background, Jester finds himself implementing things he learned into his coaching style.
“Discipline is one of the top things I find myself using. I hold them to a higher standard, and sometimes it’s hard to get kids to buy into what your program asks of them.” Jester said.