Coaching at JC is one of the most diverse aspects of the community. Teams are able to succeed because of these coaches and how they motivate their players.

“Coaching and teaching are synonymous, so I focus on the process and not the outcome. Winning is a byproduct of having a solid process in place,” men’s varsity basketball coach Tony Martin said.

Personality:

The coaches’ personalities rub off on the players.

Native American rituals and sacred numbers help varsity field hockey head coach Gary Scholl bring his own unique personality and beliefs into the team atmosphere.

Scholl is a passionate person, according to field hockey athletes, especially when it comes to Native American spirits and rituals. He uses the rituals of the Cheyenne Indians as coaching inspiration.

“The Cheyenne Indians would do vision quests in search for enlightenment and strength, so we do vision quests after winning games to get ready and envision winning the next game,” senior midfielder and co-captain Chantae Simms said.

In addition, “we do a lulu, which is a high pitched sound, [because] the Cheyenne women [did] it when their warrior men [came] home after a victorious battle,” Simms said.

The field hockey team also has a knack for the number four. They walk around with shirts that have the number four printed on them. They also chant the number before each game. Why?

“Four is a sacred number to the Native Americans, and we incorporate four into a lot of [the] things we do,” Simms said.

Although the men’s lacrosse season doesn’t start for a few months, the players aren’t having time off. Instead, they are in the midst of training under their new varsity head coach Brian King for the upcoming season. This shows his drive and determination to succeed as a team.

Junior Adam Mrowiec, varsity defender and long pole midfielder, agrees. “I like the way he coaches because he really is focused on us improving and getting better as a team,” Mrowiec said.

“[King] points out what we do wrong, but doesn’t make us feel bad about it,” varsity senior attack Carson Walton said.

According to varsity baseball head coach Steve Teter, the student-athletes are what he likes most about coaching at JC.

Senior varsity first baseman Ryan Sheehan is happy with Teter as a coach. “[Teter] is fair and he always has the best interest of the team in mind,” Sheehan said.

Men’s basketball also has a strong coaching influence. “Motivation is very much a part of my coaching style,” coach Martin said.

“[Coach Martin] lets us understand as a team that if we do our best, work hard, and come together the way we know we can, then the winning will come,” senior varsity guard Kimbal Mackenzie said.

Martin led the varsity basketball team to back-to-back championships in 2011 and 2012.

Encouragement:

Winning is a big part of sports to most student-athletes. However, coaches demonstrate that there is more to a sport than just winning. They show that growing as a team, building friendships with players and coaches, and having fun is what sports are all about at JC.

“[Cross country head coach Robert] Torres wants to win, but he is realistic about goals for our team. As long as we are improving and getting lower times, he is happy,” junior and varsity runner Faith Ensor said. “I love the way he coaches and I wouldn’t change anything about it. His calmness and composure is great.”

“[Torres] pushes us to do better by telling us how great we are and the potential we have if we push ourselves,” Ensor said.

According to King, he is a “got to win, yet encouraging” type of coach to the lacrosse team.

“[King] knows how to win and our program needs more of that. [He] has brought a new culture [and] atmosphere to our team, and it has made us more of a family,” Walton said.

“We have a ways to go before we have a realistic shot at a national championship,” King said.

The lacrosse team, as King said, is a “work in progress,” but they are working hard to come together as a team and steadily improve.

King is honest and caring towards his players. He puts realistic goals in front of the students so they don’t get in over their head.

According to Sheehan, Teter teaches the same philosophy with the baseball team.

“[Teter] uses a lot of positive feedback telling you what you did right. He is very honest because he understands that if you don’t tell it like it is, the player and the team wont get better,” Sheehan said.

“I hope to develop strong relationships with my players beyond just the baseball field,” Teter said.

“I stress winning, but try to encourage each player to do their best,” Teter said. “I stress the importance of working hard before the game so you have the ‘right to win’ at game time. A lot of coaches who yell and scream during games are mostly frustrated because their preparation hasn’t allowed them the chance to win.”

Humility:

Coaches, whether the team wins or loses, want to do so the right way, with class.

“We always have some individuals in the running to win or to make All-Conference, so other students can cheer each other on,” Torres said.

This shows that he is getting his other runners to still encourage and be happy for their teammates, even though they themselves aren’t participating.

Scholl keeps his team humble. He has them win and lose with class.

“Our focus has been on finishing as strong as we started the season. A great work is not finished in a day. It is easy to let down in any long term human endeavor. We are working hard to not let that happen,” Scholl said.

“No matter if you are undefeated, or haven’t won a game, you still have a chance if you come together and work to get better throughout the season,” Scholl said.

“Good people make great teams, and this is a group of very good people. This is the nicest, hardest working, and most caring group of student-athletes I have coached. As a bonus, they are just funny and highly entertaining,” Scholl said.

Mike Moxley is a Multimedia Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.