What inspired you to do this kind of work?
I was inspired to teach at a young age because of good teachers, as well as teachers/coaches that were not up to par. I may have been even more inspired to teach because I did not want to emulate the sub-par role models that I came across. I was motivated to come to O’Dowd from a spiritual perspective, as well as my wife and I thought it would be a great place for our two sons to get a good education.
What is your position here and how long have you worked at O’Dowd?
I have taught physical education/ health and been the baseball coach at O’Dowd for 13 years.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received (generally – it doesn’t have to be related to O’Dowd)?
The best piece of advice I have received and tried to follow is “The conversation that you do not want to have is the one that you need to have.”
What is your favorite thing about your job?
The interesting and great kids I get to interact with daily. It doesn’t hurt that I am blessed to be around great colleagues in the PE department as well as throughout the school.
What is the most interesting or surprising thing about you?
I think that many people would be surprised that I was a very undisciplined baseball player in high school. My players tend to be disciplined and in control. I definitely want to make them better than I was, especially since they will be future coaches.
If you could rescue only one thing from your burning office, what would it be?
It would have to be my clipboard. It is a little like the blanket that Linus could not do without.
Bonus Questions
What is your favorite kind of music/what are your favorite bands?
I enjoy different music, but especially R&B and Gospel. However my favorite is that Funk from the ’70s and ’80s.
What is your favorite sports team or who is your favorite individual athlete?
My favorite sports team is the Oakland Athletics and my favorite athletes are Joe Ross ’11 (Washington Nationals) and Damian Lillard (Portland Trailblazers). If it is associated with Oakland, I am a fan.
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