1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: Through tragedy, he helped coach a high school golf team 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: to a CIF championship. We talk about the challenges on 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:10,320 Speaker 1: and off the course that he had to navigate his 4 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: students through. He is Andrew Parker, head golf coach at 5 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: Woodbridge High School here in southern California, and he joins 6 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: us now on episode eighty three of the Masters in 7 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 1: Coaching podcast. 8 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:26,279 Speaker 2: Let's go. Well, welcome into. 9 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: Episode eighty three of the Masters in Coaching Podcast here 10 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,199 Speaker 1: on iHeartRadio or wherever you happen to get your podcast. 11 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 1: We certainly appreciate the listen make sure you give a 12 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: like as well. So excited to talk to this week's guest. 13 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:40,840 Speaker 1: The head girls and boys at golf coach at Woodbridge 14 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 1: High School here in southern California, won a Division championship 15 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:46,840 Speaker 1: last season, the Coach of the Year in twenty twenty five. 16 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 1: He is currently right now going through the Masters in 17 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: Coaching and Athletics Administration program at Concordia University, Irvine, so 18 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 1: we'll get into that as well. He is Andrew Parker, 19 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: and he joins us now, Andrew, how you doing. 20 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 2: I'm great, Thank you guys so much for having me 21 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 2: I'm excited to. 22 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 1: Be on absolutely. So where are you guys at with 23 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 1: the golf program? Are you at the driving range a 24 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 1: couple of days of the week. What's going on right 25 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:10,040 Speaker 1: now in the fall as far as the golf program 26 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: is concerned. 27 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're currently in the girls season right now. The 28 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 2: girls are battling for a league championships. So we played Portola. 29 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 2: We're number two, they're number one. So we play them 30 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 2: on Thursday tomorrow and if we beat them, we get 31 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 2: a share of the league championship and then we have 32 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 2: league finals the following week and everything's kind of picking up. 33 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 2: It moves from a nine hole to an eighteen hole 34 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 2: for CIF So it's really kind of that fun time 35 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 2: in the season. 36 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: So girls going fall, the boys play in the spring. Yes, 37 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: so I imagine that keeps you busy all year round. 38 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: When do you guys start up for the fall and 39 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,919 Speaker 1: the girls? Do you guys start back during the summertime 40 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: in preparation for the season. 41 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, we start in early August. We do some fun 42 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 2: rounds based upon who's around and who's available to play. 43 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 2: We had a lot of fun scrimmages with others schools 44 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 2: at various sites so it's been a lot of fun 45 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 2: kicking off the girls season and getting them going. We 46 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 2: have six new players on the team this year, so 47 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 2: he kind of lost a lot of our seniors last year, 48 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 2: and it's been fun for them. It's been fun seeing 49 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 2: what they've been able to accomplish this year. 50 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: Usually with golf, the kids will start it very early 51 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 1: because of a parent or into the sport at an 52 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:25,520 Speaker 1: early age. You don't see a lot of kids take 53 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: it up in high school. Is that challenging for you 54 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: to find new players at this time in their life 55 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 1: when they're going through high school and dealing with everything 56 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: else and maybe playing other sports, and you know you 57 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: want them to play golf. How challenging is that to 58 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:40,640 Speaker 1: get a team together? 59 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,639 Speaker 2: It is tough in Irvine specifically because we have different 60 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:49,519 Speaker 2: demographics where certain schools are stronger because they have certain demographics. 61 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 2: There are some success stories who I'll talk about in 62 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 2: a moment with Jeremiah where he picked up COVID all right, 63 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 2: He picked up golf during COVID with his father and 64 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 2: started going out and playing and actually worked his way 65 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:06,919 Speaker 2: into a starting role. But yeah, most of the players 66 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 2: have been playing most of their lives. Every once in 67 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 2: a while, you get a new player who's new to 68 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 2: the game and you really want to take them on, 69 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 2: and so we try to do the best weekend because 70 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 2: golf is unique. It's a one sport where we're using 71 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 2: someone else's facility, and at the end of the day, 72 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 2: a golf course is a business, so we got to 73 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 2: make sure that we're keeping the patrons happy, that we're 74 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 2: not slowing up the field to play too much. So 75 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 2: there's different elements with golf than there are with other 76 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 2: high school sports. 77 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: We're going to get into your philosophy, the team aspect 78 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: in a team sport, but yet an individual sport in 79 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: golf as well. Coming up in just a little bit, 80 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: but I want to cut back to your story in 81 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 1: education for twenty years teaching but coaching for seven years. 82 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: What first off got you into the education part of 83 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 1: your profession. 84 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 2: It was actually my brother. He was a special ed 85 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 2: teacher before I was, and I was working in business 86 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 2: and he was, you know, we were kind of approaching 87 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 2: that two thousand and seven time where things kind of 88 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 2: changed drastically, and he said, why don't you come come 89 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 2: on back to southern California And why why don't you 90 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 2: be an instructional assistant for a year to see if 91 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 2: you like it, see what it's like, because you know, 92 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 2: becoming a teacher is quite a bit of work, and 93 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 2: it was great. I was in Ia for a year 94 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 2: with him in his district, and he kind of showed 95 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 2: me the ropes. And then I went back to Long 96 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 2: Beach State and did their district intern program, which allows 97 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 2: you to teach and also get a paycheck, which is 98 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 2: nice because not everyone can, you know, work for free. 99 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 2: And you know, I just been doing special life for 100 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 2: quite a bit. I myself kind of struggled a little 101 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 2: bit in school, and so helping other kids out had 102 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 2: kind of struggled similarly where it was kind of a 103 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 2: passion of mine and I was always drawn to sports, 104 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 2: and so that's kind of what kept me going, and 105 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 2: so I really gravitate towards those kids who are in 106 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 2: a similar predicament that I was, where maybe not the 107 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 2: best student, but you know, the sports kind of kept 108 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 2: you going. 109 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 1: So teacher twenty years in education, but coaching just for 110 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: seven years, Yes, what sparked that interest in coaching and 111 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 1: in golf. 112 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 2: So I did middle school for quite a bit, and 113 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 2: when I came to Woodbridge. We had, you know, kind 114 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 2: of a Hall of Fame golf coach with Tracy Roberts. 115 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 2: And he's actually, I believe an adjunct professor, teaches a 116 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 2: class over summer there at Concordia, and you know, he 117 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 2: was amazing. I mean, he won a state championship, he 118 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 2: won multiple league titles. They won CIF and Tracy had 119 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 2: to leave coaching kind of quickly. In our ad stepped 120 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:51,919 Speaker 2: in and he was there for a bit, but he 121 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 2: really needed someone to kind of take over right away, 122 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 2: and so it actually just kind of happened spur of 123 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 2: the moment, and I said, yeah, I'm willing to do it, 124 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 2: and so it was very interesting. I took over right 125 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,799 Speaker 2: during COVID where the boys and girls actually played together, 126 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,479 Speaker 2: and you know, you're playing out outside and there was 127 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 2: a lot of rules and stipulations and we all went 128 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:15,720 Speaker 2: through it, but we got we came out stronger. So 129 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 2: it was a great experience. And I have to say 130 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 2: the coaches that are in our league had been fantastic. 131 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:25,799 Speaker 2: I have to give them so much credit because they've 132 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 2: really shown me the game golf is. I played one 133 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 2: year in high school, but I wouldn't say I'm an 134 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 2: expert in golf, and they really showed me the ropes. 135 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 2: And a lot of them have played college golf or 136 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 2: were the coach. Bruce Loman for Sage Hill, he was 137 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:45,479 Speaker 2: the twenty fifth employee at Calloway. He's played golf with 138 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:50,720 Speaker 2: Jack Nicholas and some amazing legends. So players like that 139 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:53,919 Speaker 2: who are in our league, who are coaches, was just 140 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 2: you know, you were able to soak up so much 141 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 2: from those type of players. It was really a privilege, was. 142 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: That Daunty to take over as a head coach at 143 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 1: the high school level of a sport that you're familiar 144 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 1: with but still learning as well as you're going into 145 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: It was that part of the challenge maybe of accepting 146 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 1: that role. 147 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 2: I think so, I think it was a fun challenge. 148 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 2: I think a lot of the players in our league 149 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 2: luckily also get help from private PGA certified swing coaches, 150 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 2: and so you get when they have when they're paying 151 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 2: you know, one hundred and fifty dollars an hour to 152 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 2: modify their swings. They don't want them tweak too much. 153 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 2: I've found with golf it's really the mental aspect, and 154 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 2: that's where I feel I've really been beneficial to the 155 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 2: kids is really just kind of keeping them loose, cracking 156 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 2: some jokes and just trying to break the ice before 157 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 2: they tee off because they're so hard on themselves. They 158 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 2: have such high expectations and when in golf it's one 159 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 2: of the few sports where you can't compensate when your 160 00:07:57,160 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 2: game's not well. In hockey, you can go out there 161 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 2: and make it right hit, you can make a good pass, 162 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 2: you can block a shot when you know you're you're 163 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 2: not clicking well. There's other aspects that you can fill in. 164 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 2: With golf, you're on an island, you're out there all alone, 165 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 2: so if you're not hitting it straight, there's nowhere to hide. 166 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 2: So I feel that really kind of keeping the kids 167 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 2: loose and letting them know through positive affirmations that you 168 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 2: know we're we're going to get there, and that we're 169 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 2: in this together. 170 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: And it's important because it's almost like the Ryder Cup 171 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:32,200 Speaker 1: in that it's a team aspect. You're playing individually, but 172 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: your collective score is how you win or lose. In 173 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,200 Speaker 1: team golf, now, certainly you can have players that go 174 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: out and put up great numbers, but again it's the 175 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: sum of all the numbers that come together to determine 176 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 1: if you're going to win against the other schools that 177 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: you're playing in that round of golf. Is that something 178 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:53,440 Speaker 1: that's harder to balance and keeping the team aspect of it, 179 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: and then also the individual aspect of the game of golf. 180 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 2: I think what's beautiful about high school golf. This is 181 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 2: the first time that a lot of these kids have 182 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 2: played on a team format. Junior golf is so heavily individualized, 183 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 2: where they're playing in tournaments solo, they're making cuts based 184 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 2: upon their performance for that day, if they're moving on, 185 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 2: and so it is the first time that a lot 186 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 2: of kids have started to have that team aspect. But 187 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 2: like Ryder Cup that you brought up, it's very similar 188 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 2: in the sense where you're leaning on your partner and 189 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 2: there's certain days where maybe you don't have your stuff 190 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 2: and your partner. That chemistry between you and your partner 191 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 2: is so pivotal. And it's been really cool to see 192 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 2: some of our playing partners over the years not only 193 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 2: hang out on the course, but at school at lunch 194 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 2: when we're doing team bonding things. You see them out 195 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 2: in the community together and they've kind of grown that relationship, 196 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 2: and I think it's because a lot of them have 197 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 2: really played an individual sport and it's the first time 198 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:00,560 Speaker 2: that they're on a team. And so in a we 199 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 2: have such great golfers that a lot of the golfers 200 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 2: come in who had been successful playing various levels of golf, 201 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 2: but all of those had been individual tournaments in individual formats. 202 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 2: So it's been great seeing them work together and kind 203 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 2: of grow as a team. 204 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: Well, you don't have the golf background, you do come 205 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 1: from a hockey background. Talk a little bit about that 206 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 1: background in the world of sports. 207 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, So my brother and I we grew up in 208 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 2: southern California and we got into hockey right when Gretzky 209 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 2: got traded and me too. You know, every every day 210 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 2: we were out there playing roller hockey together. Ye and there. 211 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 2: It's just amazing now, you know, I live pretty close 212 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 2: to Great Park Ice and there's four sheets under one barn. 213 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:51,439 Speaker 2: I mean, we would have killed to have a facility 214 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 2: like that. We were playing in tennis courts and we 215 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:56,440 Speaker 2: had one rink in coast to Mesa that we all 216 00:10:56,480 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 2: went to. And it's it's been cool see the growth 217 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:04,199 Speaker 2: of hockey and how great the teams for Orange County 218 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 2: are but as far as us, my brother and I, 219 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:11,080 Speaker 2: we really gravitated towards hockey. We came into the game 220 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 2: a bit late, so you know, we we took it 221 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 2: as far as we could. We played college club hockey 222 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:22,079 Speaker 2: in college, so ah, my brother played at UCLA, I 223 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:26,320 Speaker 2: played at San Jose State. We played I played midget 224 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 2: double A growing up for the South Coast Sabers, and 225 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 2: then we kind of hit a point where we realized, 226 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 2: if we want to be around the game, it's probably 227 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 2: not going to be playing. So my brother actually went 228 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 2: into officiating and he worked his way up, did the 229 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 2: American Hockey League, got invited to NHL training camp, so 230 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 2: he went really far, a little farther than I did. 231 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 2: As an official. He was really strong official, and he 232 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 2: retired recently a few years ago, but he's done, you know, 233 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 2: over a thousand pro games, and to be on the 234 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 2: ice with players of that caliber, it's so fun, I mean, 235 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 2: it's just exhilarating. So it's been really fun to also 236 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 2: officiate hockey because as a teacher, there's no better way 237 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 2: preparation to than being an official, because you're putting out fires, 238 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:19,320 Speaker 2: coaches are yelling at you parents are yelling at you. 239 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:22,080 Speaker 2: You got twenty two players on each side, So being 240 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 2: able to mitigate all the things that are happening on 241 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 2: the ices and official, I say, it's the best training 242 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 2: to become a teacher. 243 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 1: We've had NFL referee Carl Cheffer's on the show, who's 244 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 1: you know, been the head referee in Super Bowls. He 245 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 1: was just refereing, wow, a Raiders game a couple of 246 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: weeks ago that I was watching and saw him out 247 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 1: there on the field and it was a fascinating conversation 248 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 1: with him talking about officiating. Because now we've had two 249 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,680 Speaker 1: officials on the podcast. Usually just talked to coaches and 250 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: administrators ads, So it's great to have an official as 251 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 1: well talking about that because it is a different perspective. 252 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 1: And you know, the world we live in nowadays at 253 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 1: the high school level outside of golf, you know, the basketball, football, baseball, lacrosse, soccer, 254 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: you know, officials are becoming harder and harder to find 255 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 1: at that level because of the abuse they take from 256 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 1: fans parents and a lot of them are just like 257 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 1: I don't want to deal with this anymore, which is unfortunate, 258 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 1: but you know, it's it's It's sad to see that 259 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 1: because officiating is something we need certainly in sports, and 260 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: good officiating is something we definitely need. 261 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 2: Yes, absolutely absolutely, And that's why I think golf is 262 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 2: sometimes one of the more amazing sports. It's the only 263 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 2: sport where you can call a penalty on yourself, you know, 264 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 2: so you can assess yourself at one stroke penalty if 265 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 2: you do something. So it's just a humbling game. 266 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: How have you brought or have you brought some of 267 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: the hockey aspects of team bonding, team miss playing together 268 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 1: as a collective unit to the golf team into the 269 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 1: golf world. Have you have you intertwined them at all? 270 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 2: Yeah. One of my favorite things that we've done, and 271 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:11,440 Speaker 2: we'll kind of get into the story of Jeremiah, but 272 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 2: one thing that's been my favorite piece has been the 273 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 2: game balls. And so after a match, we really struggled 274 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 2: with with what happened with Jeremiah, and one thing that 275 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 2: we did was we had we started with the coaches 276 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 2: just nominating a player for going all in on both sides, 277 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 2: and it really brought our league together and it was 278 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 2: just really beautiful to see where we were seeing something 279 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 2: that we wanted to represent and we wanted to recognize 280 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 2: in front of the team that team aspect, and as 281 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 2: we kind of went through the season, we had players 282 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:50,960 Speaker 2: talk about other players, things that were going on on 283 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 2: the course ways they've kind of snapped them out of 284 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 2: their own head. Maybe they were having a tough hole 285 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 2: and they were able to get them to rebound, or 286 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 2: something that was happening out outside the fairway. You know 287 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 2: that was happening at school or you know, on or 288 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 2: off the golf course, and it's it. That was one 289 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 2: of my favorite moments. I really think hockey is a 290 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 2: unique sport because they talked to a lot of kids 291 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 2: at school and I'm like, all right, so football, are 292 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 2: you guys dressing together? Is that locker room aspect? And 293 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 2: they'll tell me, oh, no, we kind of get dressed 294 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 2: before and I'm like, ah, that's that's unfortunate because for me, 295 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 2: those locker room moments were some of the best times 296 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 2: in sports, and so trying to bring that into the 297 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 2: game where we're doing things together. Golf is such a 298 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 2: small group of kids. You know, you only need six 299 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 2: players to have a team, and so really you get 300 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 2: close throughout the season. So we'll go on these trips 301 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 2: where we went out to the American Express for the 302 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:53,800 Speaker 2: boys and we saw the PGA. We're following around some 303 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 2: of the pros and you know, just doing things together 304 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 2: and having a good time. That's really kind of what 305 00:15:58,840 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 2: it's all about. 306 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 1: You brought up Jeremiah Kim, one of your former players 307 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 1: who tragically passed away a year ago. Just talk a 308 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 1: little bit about his story. 309 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, so you know Jeremiah, he was one of us. 310 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 2: I'm a specialized teacher. He was in our program and 311 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 2: he reminded me of myself when I went through school, 312 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 2: or maybe he struggled a little bit and he just 313 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 2: loved golf and that's kind of what got him through 314 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 2: the day. And he was an amazing kid. We lost 315 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 2: him about a year and a half ago on my 316 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 2: brother's birthday, March fifth, twenty twenty four, and it was 317 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 2: really tough for the team because we had never been 318 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 2: through anything like that, and as being the adults and 319 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 2: the coach, I felt action was what we needed to do. 320 00:16:53,040 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 2: So he originally was playing in a tournament into Mecula 321 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 2: and tournament and he had a cardiac arrest and he 322 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 2: went to Rady's Children's Hospital in San Diego and he 323 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 2: was on an Echmo life support system for a couple 324 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:12,400 Speaker 2: of weeks, and so we thought, you know, he might 325 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 2: be okay. So we started out with these green wristbands 326 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 2: that everyone still wears to this day and on it 327 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:21,919 Speaker 2: had some forty one thirteen and that was really talking 328 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 2: about getting him to We thought there might be a chance. 329 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:29,399 Speaker 2: And really that one is the Lord sustains them on 330 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 2: their sick bed and restores them from their bed of illness, 331 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 2: and so we thought he you know, we're not health professionals. 332 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 2: But unfortunately the Echmo life support system didn't work and 333 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 2: we lost Jeremiah. So we started to do some amazing things. 334 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 2: We started a fundraiser with with some beautiful hats that 335 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 2: were created by our own Matt Tocano, and it was 336 00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 2: a silhouette of Jeremiah and those just took off and 337 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 2: we were able to from that come up with these 338 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:07,200 Speaker 2: game balls that I'll show you. And so we had 339 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:10,439 Speaker 2: these green game balls that were made with his silhouette 340 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 2: logo that were made on him, and this is what 341 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:14,760 Speaker 2: we use for the game ball speeches. The reason we 342 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 2: chose green was because Jeremiah never took a practice swing 343 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 2: and so our monstra for the season was to go 344 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 2: all in. Let's play green, and so that's kind of 345 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:27,120 Speaker 2: why we chose the green letter. And so after every 346 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 2: game or every match, we'd had the away team kind 347 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 2: of kick off like a player they wanted to nominate, 348 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 2: and they got into it. You know, I thought, you know, 349 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:39,920 Speaker 2: high school kids, the boys maybe at this level may 350 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 2: not be something that they would be into. But the 351 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 2: league really got behind it and it was really fun 352 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,719 Speaker 2: to see kids recognize each other. We went from that, 353 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:54,440 Speaker 2: we went to creating a legacy trophy in Jeremiah's name, 354 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:59,199 Speaker 2: and yeah, it's a beautiful trophy. It was a model 355 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:05,119 Speaker 2: of the jug because the Open Championship was Jeremiah's favorite major. 356 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 2: So every year we nominate a boy and a girl 357 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:11,639 Speaker 2: who's gone all in and maybe on or off the course, 358 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 2: and so we've been able to recognize some fabulous kids 359 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 2: who are going on and all of them are in 360 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 2: college doing amazing things right now. We really struggled that year, 361 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:28,639 Speaker 2: and so to go from the depths of despair of 362 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 2: losing a teammate that you were really close with, it 363 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 2: was difficult for the kids to kind of continue on 364 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:41,640 Speaker 2: in to play, and so that year was very difficult. 365 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 2: And so through reflection and through being able to work 366 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 2: with the kids the fourteen months later for them to 367 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:51,919 Speaker 2: go on. We were the thirteenth place team in Division four, 368 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 2: so we weren't a powerhouse by any means. But the 369 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 2: boys went on and shot a three seventy three team 370 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 2: score in CIF, which is an amazing it's thirteen over 371 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 2: par as a team scorer, and they won CIF by 372 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 2: four strokes. Our top player Eli all Good shot at 373 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 2: sixty five. He was seven under. He's never even come close. 374 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 2: So it really felt like someone was looking over us 375 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 2: from up above that day because it was just a 376 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:24,919 Speaker 2: very special day. And to really see the kids go 377 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 2: from really struggling seeing you know, going through going through 378 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:34,680 Speaker 2: a funeral of a friend and all kind of being 379 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,159 Speaker 2: there and you know, I spoke at the funeral, and 380 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:41,439 Speaker 2: just going from such a low point but kind of 381 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:45,280 Speaker 2: rallying each other and for a common purpose and being 382 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 2: able to put it together on the same day. It 383 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:49,639 Speaker 2: was just beautiful and they put in one of the 384 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 2: top twelve scores in CIF and two days later they 385 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 2: we went to Temechila for SCGA qualifying and we didn't 386 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 2: have enough time to prepare at that course, so uh, 387 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:02,959 Speaker 2: not our best around, but at that point we were 388 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 2: playing with the houses money, so we we felt very 389 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 2: fortunate and we didn't lose anyone, and we have everyone 390 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 2: coming back this year. We're trying some new tournaments. We're 391 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 2: going all in this year. We're going to try and 392 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 2: do the best we can and and and really go 393 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 2: for it because we have a lot of seniors and 394 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:24,480 Speaker 2: a lot of kids that have invaluable experiences that we've 395 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 2: we've shared together and I just I'm really looking forward 396 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 2: to kicking off the boys season. 397 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 1: How was that for you? I'm curious because you've got 398 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:35,880 Speaker 1: to navigate a team and you've got to help get 399 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 1: them through this tragedy, which you know high school kids 400 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 1: aren't accustomed to, and you've got to grieve as well 401 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 1: and process what has happened. Yet you found a way 402 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: to do it and you helped navigate these kids, which 403 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:52,920 Speaker 1: is the important thing is to to maybe find golf 404 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 1: as an outlet through tragedy and to to come up 405 00:21:57,080 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: with the trophy, to come up with the game ball 406 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 1: or these that you know maybe just came to your 407 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 1: mind that you wanted to do with the things you 408 00:22:04,119 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: had hoped to implement and this was the right time, 409 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: right place to start that just talk about you know, 410 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:11,160 Speaker 1: your processing as this was going through. 411 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 2: It was it was a collective effort. I think the 412 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 2: program kind of helped with some of how to handle 413 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:31,479 Speaker 2: certain pieces. And you know, the inside Out book that 414 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 2: we read the story of Joe Rman and some of 415 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 2: the things that he went through. He talked about his 416 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:43,840 Speaker 2: coach at Sarah Hughes and there's a really good story 417 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:49,119 Speaker 2: where the coach they had a rough start and he 418 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 2: put up on the board one eighteen twenty four and 419 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 2: it was some one eighteen verse twenty four, and he 420 00:22:57,040 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 2: talked about how this coach was such a transformational coach 421 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 2: and really what that represented was rather than coming down 422 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:06,840 Speaker 2: hard on them that day, the coach just said, Hey, 423 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:09,879 Speaker 2: this is the day the Lord has made, so rejoice 424 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 2: and be glad at it. And you know, play for 425 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 2: each other, pretend you love each other, and go out there. 426 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 2: And that's kind of the mantra of what the program 427 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 2: had is what I tried to do is really to 428 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 2: have these experiences where kids could kind of recognize each other. 429 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:30,800 Speaker 2: And at this point, we lost a member of our family. 430 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 2: Like winning and losing matches was not a priority, so 431 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 2: really being there for each other. I think we communicated 432 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 2: quite a bit, and there was a lot of a 433 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 2: lot of text messages going on between the kids at 434 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:48,720 Speaker 2: various times because they were struggling with it. You can imagine, 435 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:52,119 Speaker 2: you know, I'm in my mid forties, they're teenagers. They've 436 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 2: never gone through this, so they went through a lifetime 437 00:23:55,200 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 2: of experience in those fourteen months, and so it was tough. 438 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:04,400 Speaker 2: And the parents were there, but I think no one 439 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:07,119 Speaker 2: really knew how to operate. There's no rule book or 440 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:09,959 Speaker 2: guidebook right that you can go to, so you just 441 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 2: you feel it out, you do what you think is right, 442 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:16,080 Speaker 2: and I think we got I think we did a 443 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:21,680 Speaker 2: pretty good job of recognizing him. And what was really 444 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 2: beautiful is Jeremiah's got a sister and she's in our 445 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 2: program and she was I don't want to get in 446 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 2: too much of the specifics, but she she's in the 447 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:37,680 Speaker 2: mod to Severe program at her school, and the girls 448 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:40,640 Speaker 2: were just beautiful at accepting her and having her come 449 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:43,399 Speaker 2: to be part of the team. And you know, this 450 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:46,119 Speaker 2: this is a kid who who hasn't swung a club 451 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:48,680 Speaker 2: too much, but you know, really checked on her and 452 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:53,159 Speaker 2: being there for as much as they could when she 453 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:55,840 Speaker 2: would come out. I think it was a very difficult 454 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:59,440 Speaker 2: situation for the family, as you can imagine to lose 455 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 2: a sixteen year old, which it's just devastating. But I 456 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:09,240 Speaker 2: think there were some moments of beauty where she would 457 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:13,040 Speaker 2: come out and the girls would make her feel a 458 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 2: part of something that maybe she wouldn't have been able 459 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 2: to feel a part of had she just gone out 460 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 2: for a tryout. So there was moments like that. There 461 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:24,919 Speaker 2: was moments for the boys where we tried to be 462 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 2: there for each other and we really grew and we 463 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:33,959 Speaker 2: started playing golf together a lot. We started playing various 464 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:38,240 Speaker 2: courses with the parents too, Like we got some great 465 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:41,000 Speaker 2: parents who are in the golf. So I think by 466 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:46,600 Speaker 2: having that connection, it really opened up the healing process. 467 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 2: And it may not have always been words. It might 468 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:52,320 Speaker 2: have just been action of playing this beautiful game that 469 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:53,439 Speaker 2: we're able to play together. 470 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:56,480 Speaker 1: Absolutely. I mean, as you mentioned, there's no playbook on 471 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 1: how to handle something like this that you can go 472 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 1: to and flip through and get it advice. With that 473 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:05,919 Speaker 1: being said, you are leaning on life lessons people around you, 474 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 1: people you've gleamed off of it. As far as mentors 475 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 1: in different aspects of your life from from previous spots 476 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 1: and sports or not sports. When you reflect now upon that, 477 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:19,800 Speaker 1: did you did you lean on some of that that 478 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:23,360 Speaker 1: you know previous coaches, mentors in your life that were 479 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 1: important people to who you are now. 480 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:32,400 Speaker 2: Absolutely. I think I've been blessed to kind of come 481 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:36,679 Speaker 2: into a coaching position where I can't think of a 482 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:43,359 Speaker 2: league where there are stronger coaches who I can text 483 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:45,240 Speaker 2: this moment and they might be in the middle of 484 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 2: class and they're gonna they're they're gonna find a way 485 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:50,600 Speaker 2: to respond to me within an hour or two, and 486 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:53,520 Speaker 2: and I think we're pretty close where we've been able. 487 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:59,880 Speaker 2: Despite my lack of experience in golf, we were kind 488 00:26:59,880 --> 00:27:02,800 Speaker 2: of able to come up with some ideas together and 489 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 2: kind of, hey, why don't we try this? Because what 490 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 2: was really cool was bringing in other teams and had 491 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:14,200 Speaker 2: them be a part of the healing process like we had. 492 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:18,120 Speaker 2: We had some posters made with Jeremiah on it, and 493 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 2: we didn't want teams to feel awkward having Woodbridge stuff, 494 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 2: so we created posters for UNI for Beckmann and all 495 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:28,919 Speaker 2: the kids signed it. And this was when Jeremiah was 496 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:30,720 Speaker 2: still in the hospital and we were able to get 497 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 2: those posters to his room, so he saw that, hey, 498 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:38,080 Speaker 2: not only our own golf team, but other teams are 499 00:27:38,119 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 2: here to you know, pulling for you, man, Like we 500 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:46,680 Speaker 2: were here and we love you. So, you know, mister Tikeno, 501 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:52,119 Speaker 2: who's our digital media arts teacher at Woodbridge, he was 502 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:54,560 Speaker 2: one that I really kind of leaned on because he 503 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 2: had some great ideas. He he used to work for 504 00:27:57,400 --> 00:27:59,720 Speaker 2: rip curl before he was a teacher, so he kind 505 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:02,879 Speaker 2: of knew what would work and what wouldn't when we 506 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 2: were designing the hat, and the hat came out just beautifully, 507 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:08,879 Speaker 2: and he had some ideas for like, you know, I 508 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:11,119 Speaker 2: just suggest something and he's like, hey, why don't we 509 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:14,440 Speaker 2: try this with the other team. And so having those 510 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:17,240 Speaker 2: people in your life that kind of would would take 511 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:20,520 Speaker 2: an idea or a suggestion and just put it to action. 512 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:23,560 Speaker 2: And I think when you have a tragedy, people are 513 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 2: people are there to really support and to really help 514 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:33,400 Speaker 2: the team kind of get through it. So I think 515 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:37,000 Speaker 2: that was the beauty is that everyone was all hands 516 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 2: on deck, let's do this. So I think that's why 517 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:42,600 Speaker 2: we were able to get through so many amazing things. 518 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:44,680 Speaker 1: We wanted to get to a couple more things here. 519 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 1: One culture in a program, how important. 520 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 2: Was it for you? 521 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:53,320 Speaker 1: And talking to you, you know you've established that culture 522 00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 1: in a team bonding in a team environment, but how 523 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 1: important is that to have it in the world of golf, 524 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:02,720 Speaker 1: in that culture that no new players coming in, they 525 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:05,680 Speaker 1: know what to expect when they come into your golf program. 526 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:09,600 Speaker 2: I think it's huge. I think every coach is a 527 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 2: little different. Some are going to be a little stricter 528 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 2: with what they allow. I'm a fairly easygoing person for 529 00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:25,240 Speaker 2: the most part, So what I really tried to preach was, Hey, 530 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 2: let's let's not get down on each other that we're 531 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:30,200 Speaker 2: we're pushing each other here to try and be elite 532 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:36,760 Speaker 2: and so really being there for each other and trying 533 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:41,000 Speaker 2: to develop something where we're constantly trying to get better. 534 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 2: And I think that's what the program was really strong at, 535 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:46,520 Speaker 2: was you know, what do you want to be remembered 536 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:48,680 Speaker 2: as as far as a coach, like, what do you 537 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:50,600 Speaker 2: what do you want people to walk away from their 538 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 2: high school experience? And when you when you kind of 539 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 2: look at a coach from that perspective, winning is not 540 00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:00,880 Speaker 2: the most important thing and it's would be more about 541 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:03,920 Speaker 2: developing that culture. And so I'm not gonna lie. I 542 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:08,080 Speaker 2: came into coaching golf from a transactional perspective. I'm like, hey, 543 00:30:08,160 --> 00:30:10,240 Speaker 2: I get to I get to play golf with some kids. 544 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:13,120 Speaker 2: This sounds awesome. And I think the program and the 545 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 2: experiences I went through kind of led me to be 546 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:19,640 Speaker 2: more of a transformational coach, where you're trying to really 547 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:22,440 Speaker 2: make a difference in the kids' lives, and you really 548 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:25,600 Speaker 2: do have more of an impact on these kids' lives, 549 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:29,040 Speaker 2: and a teacher will be because you're you're sharing something 550 00:30:29,080 --> 00:30:32,680 Speaker 2: that they absolutely love doing, and so really trying to 551 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:35,640 Speaker 2: be a positive mentor as much as possible, and to 552 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:42,080 Speaker 2: you know, golf is going to eat you up at times. 553 00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 2: It's it's gonna be hard on you. I don't know 554 00:30:44,160 --> 00:30:47,160 Speaker 2: if you've ever played, but like it's it eats you up. 555 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 2: It's a tough game. And so I don't think you 556 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:54,920 Speaker 2: need to be as hard on the kids from a 557 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,480 Speaker 2: game perspective, because they know when they're they're game's not on. 558 00:30:57,600 --> 00:31:00,240 Speaker 2: They know what they need to do, and so there's 559 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:03,920 Speaker 2: little tweaks, little adjustments in golf. You're only supposed to coach. 560 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:06,320 Speaker 2: Between the green and the tea box, that's the only 561 00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:08,959 Speaker 2: time you can talk to a player, and so in 562 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 2: that short amount of time, you're not really going over 563 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:15,640 Speaker 2: like their swing mechanics. You might say, hey, I see 564 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:18,840 Speaker 2: you kind of swinging outside in you might want to 565 00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:22,640 Speaker 2: take it more inside out, but really trying to just 566 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:24,800 Speaker 2: get them to lighten up and not be so hard 567 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:29,240 Speaker 2: on themselves because they will really take themselves out of 568 00:31:29,280 --> 00:31:31,600 Speaker 2: their own game if you let them go. 569 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:35,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, golf is more mental than it is physical. Yeah, 570 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:38,760 Speaker 1: no doubt You're You're a busy man, and yet you've 571 00:31:38,760 --> 00:31:41,560 Speaker 1: got time to go back and pursue that Masters from 572 00:31:41,560 --> 00:31:45,880 Speaker 1: Concordia University, Irvine, the Masters and Coaching and Athletics Administration program. 573 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:49,760 Speaker 1: Perfect person to talk about it. Busy schedule, teaching, coaching, 574 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:51,600 Speaker 1: but you got the time to do it, and it's 575 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:54,840 Speaker 1: a program that really fits everybody's schedule. Talk about your 576 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 1: involvement with the program and where you're at right now 577 00:31:56,640 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 1: with it. 578 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:01,120 Speaker 2: I've been blown away with the professor and their experience 579 00:32:01,240 --> 00:32:05,760 Speaker 2: and everything that I've picked up to read I think 580 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:10,360 Speaker 2: has been awesome. I think it's a great program for 581 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:16,080 Speaker 2: someone a working professional who is kind of looking into 582 00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:20,480 Speaker 2: possibly becoming maybe an athletic director or to move into 583 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 2: a administrative position. I think it's really strong. It kind 584 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:28,600 Speaker 2: of gives you the tools and it gives you the 585 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:32,600 Speaker 2: knowledge to really work in what we do at a 586 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:38,120 Speaker 2: higher capacity. I just can't say enough about the professors. 587 00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:41,680 Speaker 2: I think when I've shared my experience with them, they 588 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:46,760 Speaker 2: have been amazing with some of the things that they've 589 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:49,720 Speaker 2: talked about in their own experiences. And you know, the 590 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:53,800 Speaker 2: professors I've taken three classes, and all of them have 591 00:32:54,320 --> 00:33:00,000 Speaker 2: coached at various levels, have been administrators or athletic director 592 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:04,920 Speaker 2: actors for some powerhouse schools, and a lot of them 593 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:09,160 Speaker 2: in our area. So it's been it's been amazing working 594 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:14,720 Speaker 2: with them and learning from them because a lot of 595 00:33:14,760 --> 00:33:20,360 Speaker 2: the classes are asynchronous, and my experience with that from 596 00:33:20,400 --> 00:33:23,080 Speaker 2: other schools has not been as strong as it has 597 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:26,720 Speaker 2: been at Concordia, and I would say the vast experience 598 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:28,959 Speaker 2: of the professors I've been blown away with. 599 00:33:29,080 --> 00:33:32,440 Speaker 1: Well, Andrew, we appreciate the time sharing your story, getting 600 00:33:32,480 --> 00:33:36,800 Speaker 1: to know you better, talking some golf, and certainly just 601 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:39,800 Speaker 1: the background from the last few years and what you 602 00:33:39,840 --> 00:33:42,240 Speaker 1: guys have had to go through and how You've helped 603 00:33:42,840 --> 00:33:46,200 Speaker 1: lead these young men and women and these kids there 604 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:50,280 Speaker 1: at Woodbridge through a tragedy, and it's it's nothing anybody 605 00:33:50,320 --> 00:33:52,560 Speaker 1: should ever have to go through. And you've been there 606 00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:55,240 Speaker 1: and probably the perfect person at the right time to 607 00:33:55,360 --> 00:33:59,160 Speaker 1: navigate these kids through that time and beyond, and certainly 608 00:33:59,200 --> 00:34:02,360 Speaker 1: they'll never forget. And we really appreciate you you coming 609 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:04,040 Speaker 1: on and talking with us on the podcast, getting to 610 00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:06,720 Speaker 1: know you a little bit better. And hopefully this golf 611 00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:09,720 Speaker 1: season is as successful as it was for you guys 612 00:34:09,760 --> 00:34:11,759 Speaker 1: last spring. So again, thank you so much for joining us. 613 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:14,120 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me. It's been a blast. 614 00:34:14,320 --> 00:34:16,920 Speaker 1: Well there he goes Andrew Parker, the girls and boys 615 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:20,440 Speaker 1: golf coach at Woodbridge High School here in southern California. 616 00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:24,320 Speaker 1: Congratulations to them on the CIF championship last spring. Certainly 617 00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:28,400 Speaker 1: tragedy hitting that program with Jeremiah Kim passing away fourteen 618 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:31,400 Speaker 1: months ago, they have rallied as a program, as a 619 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:35,359 Speaker 1: golf community, and Andrew Parker a big reason why they 620 00:34:35,360 --> 00:34:37,719 Speaker 1: have come out on the other side. He continue to 621 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:42,000 Speaker 1: honor Jeremiah and his legacy and also continue to educate 622 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:45,680 Speaker 1: and teach these young student athletes. Again, I hope you 623 00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:47,960 Speaker 1: enjoyed the podcast, Thank you for listening. If you want 624 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:50,400 Speaker 1: to find out more about the Masters in Coaching Athletics 625 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:54,560 Speaker 1: Administration Program at Kencordia University, Irvine, go to CUI dot 626 00:34:54,719 --> 00:34:58,520 Speaker 1: edu slash coaching Andrews coaching. He's teaching and going through 627 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:01,200 Speaker 1: the program as we speak. You can to find out 628 00:35:01,239 --> 00:35:05,000 Speaker 1: more at CUI dot edu slash coaching, c u I 629 00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:09,319 Speaker 1: dot ed u slash coaching. Until next time, Tim Kate 630 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:12,000 Speaker 1: saying thank you for listening to episode eighty three of 631 00:35:12,040 --> 00:35:13,640 Speaker 1: the Masters in Coaching podcast. 632 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:15,040 Speaker 2: So long everybody,