I am officially stepping down as the Head Football Coach at St. David’s School in Raleigh, NC.
I am unbelievably grateful for a school community that was willing to take a chance and promote a 24 year old to lead the entire program for the past 4 years. More than anything I appreciate the parents who supported me as I grew and the athletes who embraced the vision.
The best part of being a coach is seeing people achieve more than they ever thought possible. These are a few of the stories I cherish:
A Freshman Quarterback who threw interceptions on 3 straight throws in his first 7on7 tournament. He asked me to switch positions, but he persevered and his Senior year he was named All-State in his first year as a starter.
Two Lacrosse guys who joined the team their Senior year to play Offensive Line and helped take us to a State Championship Game.
A 120lb Running Back who was cut from the football team at another school, transferred in and became the State Player of the year his Senior Year and went on to play Division 1 Football.
A Defensive Linemen who fell in love with our off-season Speed Program and got so fast that he’s going to be a Division 1 Sprinter.
There are so many more stories to tell, but if you played for me I am proud of you. Thank you for all the time you spent, the sweat you poured and the tears you cried to make coaching you an unforgettable experience for me.
I have three core values for my life that hopefully permeate every team I lead.
Transformation
No one stays the same. Keep Growing. If you are a part of my team I want to see you transform. That means growing, maturing, and developing as a whole person - physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.
Courage
Every obstacle you face will will test and reveal your character. If you are a part of my team I want to see you progress in the three stages of courage:
The Courage to be yourself.
The Courage to better yourself.
The Courage to lose yourself in love and service to others.
Creativity
Team success boils down to connection. Creativity is the ability to both connect ideas and connect people. If you are a part of my team I want to see you fully express your creativity by solving problems for each other both on and off the field.
In the past two years, my wife Grace and I have added two beautiful children to our family. “Coach” will always take a backseat to “Dad” for me. In these critical years of development for my kids, I am committing to being a present father to them. I am attempting to construct a life for my family that is authentically aligned with my values, while still allowing me to do what I love.
Football is special to me, in part, because when I was a kid I attended 3 different high schools in 3 different states in 3 years. For each of those challenging transitions, I had coaches and teammates who welcomed me with open arms. That kind of hospitality is why I believe football is the greatest sport.
I love football and because of that love, I want to change the game for the better. I want to help equip coaches to make football the most engaging and impactful experience possible for their athletes.
I am not stepping away from the game - far from it. I absolutely intend to be back on the sidelines soon - at the right time with the right people.
In the meantime, I have more projects like The Ultimate Guide to Counter and The Coaches Collective Podcast that I want to devote time and energy toward. Stay Tuned - there are a lot of projects coming!
Thank you for all your love and support through my coaching journey!
