When the players met their new coach, the whispers began. The coach nods and says "thank you." (2007-10), and Wake Forest Demon Decons (2010-14); currently an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies. Prospect's lone highlight came on defense when, just before halftime, the Panthers stonewalled Sobrato on four straight plays from the goal line to keep the game scoreless. The green mile marker signs fly past on Highway 101. Mendez doesn't buy it. Good s--- you've done with those kids. I don't want to be put on a pedestal. I turned around, took two to three steps and then I heard it.". "Let's go!" On warmer days, he can get bed sores from sitting in the same position too long. For the last few minutes of our ride, we both keep quiet. Otherwise it won't work. SARATOGA, Calif. (KGO) -- Bay Area high school football coach Rob Mendez was born with a rare disorder called tetra-amelia syndrome, leaving him with no arms or legs. But it isn't that simple. Without his wheelchair working properly, he can't raise its height to sit next to me at the bar. If I'm sitting there and don't smile or say hello, I just feel like that's rude.". He runs Eight Laces Consulting where he specializes in helping coaches nationwide in their job search process. Doctors prepared her and her husband for the worst. Shaving. I know what you're saying. It's now a full-on escort -- a motorized wheelchair flanked by two cars with their hazards flashing. "But we really have to sell that we are going that way. Tee times will be between 10 AM and Noon with a smoked bbq lunch buffet served by award-winning BBQ Chefs from Old Greenwood BBQ! He learned how to draw and write using his mouth. But Mendez doesn't care about that. He has spent his life fighting statistics, proving doctors and doubters wrong. The interview began with Mendez asking Cable for a fist bump on the shoulder. I love when the kids say 'nobody', because it's true. Prospect's defense held off Maine South for the final 44 seconds to secure a 42-41 win. I was a little nervous about it," Cable says. For now, I start with a topic far simpler: football. And different is not bad. I lift him out of his chair and carry him to my car, buckling him into the passenger's seat. I swear I buckled him in. Preston Gannaway for ESPN Coach Mendez. Blood runs everywhere. Mendez didnt allow his differences to limit him, though, and developed a passion for coaching by learning the game of football by playing Madden video games. There's a lot on his mind. I swear. "They don't have the grief of losing a limb because they never had it. "The Sobrato loss still bothers me," he says in February. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. We end up talking for nearly three hours. Is that you?" Rio Fujita Math Wizard. I don't focus on it. It actually came well before Mendez started coaching football. Preston Gannaway for ESPN A very small percentage. As much as he doesn't want this syndrome to define him, at the same time there's a part of him that loves the fact that it sort of does. Wilky DenaudDefensive Line - High School: Four-star prospect along the defensive line who as a senior helped the John Carroll Rams and Coach Mickey Groody to a A few days before Rob was born, doctors walked his father, Robert Mendez Sr., through the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. Mendez doesn't buy it. Most days Mendez has chronic neck, back and shoulder pain. Cable obliged. They just want to move, explore and live. His comes with a straw. How did someone who has never thrown a ball, caught a pass or tackled anyone become a head coach? "Great job, Coach. I definitely want to be a varsity head coach, if not, advanced in the college career or the NFL. But as soon as I met and spoke with him, the chair disappeared. Mendez tries to explain, but the kid doesn't get it. And he calls the exact same play he did on the previous down, flipping it to the other side of the field: Rex nine left, 180 smash. "If I can go out there and power through four or five hours, then I'm OK.", Says McAvoy: "That's just him. "I'm not going to lie. "Screw that," he says. When his friends went out for football his freshman year of high school, Rob became the team manager. How are you going to get there?" Pub. Tolliver, Malachi i, e Easter, Noah ( So.) Eventually, he became the head coach of. "I kept thinking, 'How can this guy possibly coach?'". And with that, in this world, I know I'm going to be all right.". Mendez rolls over to his dejected quarterback. Andre Jackson gets instructions from Mendez during the team's first game of the season. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. We offer the best pricing for sports recruiting videos on the internet and our turnaround time is usually 48 hours or less! St. Rita High School. The World Series is on television. I just want to prove them wrong." He doesn't listen to the doctors like he should. Mendez rolls over to his dejected quarterback. "That's how humans are -- they adapt. I swear. I lift him out of his chair and carry him to my car, buckling him into the passenger's seat. The green mile marker signs fly past on Highway 101. However, the phrase was not born on the gridiron. The last question is far more complicated. "You don't need to apologize," Mendez says. THE DAY AFTER teaching his quarterback the 37 stretch, Mendez sits under the lights at the Prospect 50-yard line, exhausted. THREE MONTHS AFTER we first met, Mendez and I are in another bar, this time in downtown Campbell. He drew up game plans on Madden and took them to practice. Confirmation/Rejection emails will be sent out by 1:00 PM Thursday letting you know if you are awarded tickets. And how does he deal with such a challenging life? As the clock approaches 11 p.m., he looks at his empty glass and asks for another drink. I agree it's a small percentage. We're the ones who feel sorry for them and say, 'Oh you poor thing.' I know I'm good for the kids. "There you go!" Brushing teeth. The day-to-day blanks are easy for him to fill in. It's all good." I put Mendez on my shoulder, turn and then set him in the chair next to me. "He told me that I couldn't go out there and dance with a girl. I guess that from my nurturing from my parents and my determination to be successful in life, as well as all the doubts along the way, I've become more hungry along the way to just be accomplishing in football and in the career of coaching. If I'm sitting there and don't smile or say hello, I just feel like that's rude." "And the muscles in your neck are not supposed to be used that often. Along the way, Cable invited Mendez's two best players to move to varsity. "When I first met him, he blew me away with his personality," Prospect Football Varsity Head Coach Mike Cable said. I can adjust to anything that's thrown my way. One player quit because of Mendez. They run the play again. Because he weighs 50 pounds, alcohol affects him faster than people who weigh much more. "We are two very different people. He can barely open his mouth. What do you want people to say about this team? Buddin is from Belleville, Michigan and was regarded as the 11th best player from the state during his senior year. The season has been a greater success than Mendez could have imagined. and Head Coaches) Prospect High School 801 W. Kensington Rd. He tells his offense he believes in them. What the hell does that even mean? I am a junior at City High School. Three other players start chitchatting between reps. Mendez loses it. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. ", Mendez hopes to someday have the opportunity to coach varsity. "It's only natural to never give up," Mendez said. "Said they wanted to move on without me," Mendez says. After a few minutes of conversation, Cable believed he had his man. ", Even if it were true, Mendez wouldn't look at things that way. A handful of schools reach out about head-coaching jobs, but he says he's almost certain he will return to Prospect to lead its JV squad again next season. He scoffs. "When someone is born this way, this is their world," says Dr. Benjamin Mandac, Mendez's pediatric physical therapist who now is the head of that department at Kaiser Permanente in the Bay Area. The day is designed by college coaches in order to get the most out of everyone's time. I panic. The receiver is open. "I'm not going to let that happen. Coaches from Southwestern University and Nicholls State University will lead this showcase and will be joined by other college coaches from various programs. "It's just me." I panic. And buckling Rob into his chair. Watch Later. How does he eat? Pratima Sherpa's Dream He scoffs. Please check your email for a confirmation. I've been a 2 year starter on the varsity football team. This one is simple, there's no reason to attend a showcase camp with nationally ranked D1 programs and pro scouts if you play at the D2 level. He briefly leaves Rob in the garage to run inside. Things like that happen all the time. He absorbed everything he could. Prospect Reels produces high quality sports highlight videos so you can market your athletic skills to college coaches, recruiters, and others who can help you get recruited. I just want to be Coach Rob. He says he would consider prosthetics only if he ever became a father. More SC Featured The more successful Mendez is at proving he's just like everyone else, the more people put him on that pedestal, peg him as an inspiration and treat him, well, different from everyone else. he says. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. I mention that it seems as if anything that reminds him of his physical challenges bugs him. THE DAY AFTER teaching his quarterback the 37 stretch, Mendez sits under the lights at the Prospect 50-yard line, exhausted. As the quarterback rolls out, the play unfolds perfectly. He wanted to leave by 9 p.m., but one conversation led to another. Not having arms or legs has stopped Mendez from being able to play sports or do certain jobs he has always been interested in, like being an electrician, but he always fought to find ways to be happy. But on this late July night, 30-year-old high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste for sushi. "It's just me." For now, I start with a topic far simpler: football. "It didn't take long for me to figure out that alcohol is not the answer." "It wasn't very polite or sensitive. With a dream of one day becoming a head football coach, Mendez worked for years as an assistant at various schools, until he was finally given the opportunity hed been working for. It's just me. He started as a manager on his Gilroy High School team as a freshman. "It brings out the best in people. But Mendez won't give up that easily. He says thank you. He doesn't eat right. Now comes the opportunity to prove the school made a mistake. The last question is far more complicated. "Just focus -- you got this." On this night, on the same field where this journey began, Mendez gathers his team one last time. More award-winning storytelling from SC Featured, One dog's remarkable journey to find a home, "Screw that," he says. He has spent his life fighting statistics, proving doctors and doubters wrong. Prospect High School junior varsity football coach Rob Mendez, who was born without limbs, was honored on Wednesday night at the ESPYS with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. And that includes getting on the officials when something doesn't go his way. I've always wanted to be a head coach.". on demand Nov 20, 2021 4:00 PM PST. We are all special. For now, he's still glowing from the impact his team had on him in his first JV season. He finished second. It seems like no big deal. He couldn't get enough. Gradey Dick, a five-star Kansas commit, enjoyed one of the greatest shooting seasons in high school basketball history. I love him. He tumbles forward. "Think about it. And his roommate is resting back at home, exhausted from a pair of Vegas nights. The season begins in a month. It doesn't lead to a good place. His comes with a straw. He has scoliosis, which makes his spine look far more like an "S" than the "I." "Great job, Coach. At 18 years old, he moved up to be the quarterback's coach on his high school's football team. Mt. The two coaches connected. "It's 37 stretch, right? Can you lift me out of my chair?". High School North Kansas City . ESPN senior writer Wayne Drehs contributed to the documentary as a writer and reporter. After his speech, Mendez asks for a ride home. Mendez gives me directions. McAvoy has been Mendez's caretaker for the past six years. A young boy holds open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot. How to Be a High School Football Coach Download Article parts 1 Gaining the Necessary Skills 2 Landing a Job 3 Becoming a Great Coach Other Sections Related Articles References Co-authored by wikiHow Staff Last Updated: June 10, 2021 References Coaching high school football requires more than passion for the game. When his players ask what happened, he tells them he got into a fight with the pavement. Prospect High School. They sit in front of us, untouched, for nearly 10 minutes. By Tuesday afternoon, he's back at Prospect for practice, apologizing to his players for Monday's absence. Getting dressed. I'm lazy. His older sister, Jackie, pushed her brother to try new things and one day tucked a PlayStation controller under his chin. The battery on his wheelchair is dead, and he wants to charge it at school overnight. I don't sign up for being inspirational Rob." "Get over here!" "It was just it was horrible," Bob says. Preston Gannaway for ESPN Afterward, Bob says doctors and nurses would walk by and stare. On this night, on the same field where this journey began, Mendez gathers his team one last time. But later he acknowledges he hated having to ask for help. There, he drives his chair into the living room, where his roommate and caretaker, Mike McAvoy, waits on the couch. And that's special because sometimes in this world, on a day-to-day basis, I wish I could do more. With a dream of one day becoming a head football coach, Mendez worked for years as an assistant at various schools, until he was finally given the opportunity he'd been working for. He can see how they've grown as players and people. Keep your heads up. And that includes getting on the officials when something doesn't go his way. "Oh whatever," Mendez answers. Prospect's lone highlight came on defense when, just before halftime, the Panthers stonewalled Sobrato on four straight plays from the goal line to keep the game scoreless. His torso pushes against his belt. But this time, he has no idea the belt around his waist isn't buckled. ESPN producer Kristen Lappas directed the SC Featured documentary, available on ESPN+. And 26 percent of the school's students are economically disadvantaged. Mendez struggles to deal with back and neck pain from spending all day in his chair. "In a text message.". I can work with people. Coach seats are in a different section that prospect seats. He developed a great football mind, but he wanted more. He can see how they've grown as players and people. But at 24, I didn't really know what to do or say at the time.". It feels as if everyone is staring. But on this late July night, 30-year-old high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste for sushi. Lewis Hamilton living the hell out of life, Jalen Ramsey: The man, the mouth, the legend. When his friends played basketball, Rob was the referee. I pick up a fork, stab it into the roll, drag it through a puddle of soy sauce and put it in his mouth. Mendez gets a fist-to-shoulder bump from every Sobrato player. I unbuckle the belt around his waist and weave it through the slits torn on the sides of his shirt. They chose to stay with him. I think back to something his pediatric physical therapist told me. More award-winning storytelling from SC Featured He talked about building a family. Doctors recommend surgery. What the hell does that even mean? "I guess you saw a little bit of the other side tonight. I know I'm good for the kids. As a senior, had 74 catches for 1,229 yards and 18 touchdowns . "I like the way I am, really," he says. Eventually you will come across your passion and for me it was football and working with people. And yeah, of course that's frustrating." No way." At that point, she says, abortion wasn't an option. The two coaches connected. He has heard it from their parents and teachers. Tournament Game 2022 Illinois High School Football Playoff Brackets: IHSA Class 7A Reavis 13 Prospect 62 Final Box Score Tournament Bracket Oct 29, 2022 @ 2:03am Eric Frantz Friday, Oct 28, 2022 2. And he calls the exact same play he did on the previous down, flipping it to the other side of the field: Rex nine left, 180 smash. "It was just it was horrible," Bob says. ", In the months that follow, Mendez unplugs from football. "I just try to shut it down as quickly as possible.". How does he go to the bathroom? One dog's remarkable journey to find a home It confirmed how much he despises losing. In most cases of tetra-amelia, death occurs before birth. Watch Later. How could someone who had never held a football teach a freshman how to throw, tackle or block? They have to buy the fake. Afterward, Bob says doctors and nurses would walk by and stare. I suggest we move to a lower table and make things easier. Most days Mendez has chronic neck, back and shoulder pain. To feel comfortable. "I think every parent worries about their kids when they leave this earth," Bob says. His greatest fear was failure. And swimming. He briefly leaves Rob in the garage to run inside. In the morning, he will coach the biggest game of his young career. I make mistakes. Mendez shakes his head. His resiliency inspired others around him and made it an asset to have him on the staff. But Mendez doesn't care about that. Some of his plays even came from playing Madden. I lean over, wrap my hands around him and lift him out of his chair. They run the play again. But Rob refuses because the upper belt limits his ability to access his phone and draw plays. "Put me on your shoulder," he says. WVSN instantly reached out to the 2025 class [] WVSN instantly reached out to the 2025 class prospect to find out more about his talks with WVU offensive line coach Matt Moore and his current mindset about his future. How safe is your neighborhood? "But I don't think about this the same way everybody else does," he says. For the next 12 years, he worked as an assistant coach at five high schools, waiting for someone to believe in him as a head coach. Mendez looks up as the quarterback's pass sails overhead. "Special is bulls---. There is nothing to break his fall. '", Mendez taught himself the game of football by playing Madden on a PlayStation, using his chin and collarbone to push the buttons. How does he go to the bathroom? He couldn't get enough. Mendez was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare congenital disorder that prevents the formation of limbs during embryonic development. Getting dressed. Mendez gets a fist-to-shoulder bump from every Sobrato player. Because he weighs 50 pounds, alcohol affects him faster than people who weigh much more. Holding court, triggering laughs and helping people realize for a few minutes that a man in a wheelchair without arms and legs is just like anyone else.
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