"Great job, Coach. "How in the world am I supposed to handle that?" And that's special because sometimes in this world, on a day-to-day basis, I wish I could do more. Elk Grove Village, IL. 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. But he hates the sidewalk. Contents 1 Academics 2 Athletics 3 Campus 4 Other 5 Notable alumni 6 See also 7 References 8 External links Academics [ edit] Prospect offers a mix of advanced and on-level classes. He says they need him, but you know what? The next day he spends almost entirely in bed, unable to open his eyes. "You know how Ironman gets in his suit and he just starts flying everywhere? "It's 37 stretch, right? I'd completely forgotten that Mendez can't feed himself. the driver asks. "There's no way," he says. "We live and die." When the players met their new coach, the whispers began. He's like Norm from "Cheers." Mendez says it started with the Madden video game. "Screw that," he says. I suggest we move to a lower table and make things easier. "I'm not going to let that happen. Doctors recommend surgery. He is mobile thanks to the chair he controls with his head and neck. "Think about it. The throw is too long, and the ball harmlessly caroms out of bounds. Once buckled, Mendez says he feels unstoppable. Michael Furlong CTE Teacher, AVID Elective Teacher. His older sister, Jackie, pushed her brother to try new things and one day tucked a PlayStation controller under his chin. That night he can't sleep. "It didn't take long for me to figure out that alcohol is not the answer." "I love you, bro. For the past six years, Mike McAvoy has been Rob Mendez's caretaker, roommate and friend, each morning helping him with everything from taking a bath and brushing his teeth to getting dressed and eating breakfast. I lift him out of his chair and carry him to my car, buckling him into the passenger's seat. The battery on Mendez's wheelchair is dead, so two Panthers push him onto the field. He reads, draws and spends extra time with family and friends. High school coaches are notoriously hard to contact. 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. Mendez taught himself the game of football by playing Madden on a PlayStation, using his chin and collarbone to push the buttons. "Just focus -- you got this." A class of 2021 recruit, Buddin was considered a four-star prospect out of high school and a top 40 linebacker in the country, according to 247 Sports. He is mobile thanks to the chair he controls with his head and neck. His father has long wished that Rob would wear an upper belt as well as the one that wraps around his waist. 7324680: 08/31/22: 03:30 PM: Match: Elk Grove High School. You don't have a realistic view of your ability and playing level. That's how I feel in my chair," he says. Email Michael Furlong. By his senior year, he worked his way up to quarterbacks coach. ", RELATED: Football coach born without arms or legs to receive Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at 2019 ESPYS, "'Who says I can't?' Im fighting to have something to drink. "Oh whatever," Mendez answers. This is roughly the same player-to-coach ratio on a college football roster. Mendez operates his cellphone, attached to a stand on his wheelchair, with his nose and lips. Head Coach: Dan DeBoeuf Assistant Coach: Tim Beishir, Jeff Collier, Matt Weber, Jim Argentine, Dan Keller Brock Collins, Sean Cummins Matt Weber Jeff Collier Jim Argentine Michael Watson Dominic Cannon Mike Naboltny Tom Whalen Erik Hammerstrom Dan Yeoman Shaun Cummins Dan Keller School Administration Principal: Greg Minter Athletic Director: Omar Alebiosu Athletic Secretary: Amy Nickel School Color: Columbia and Navy Nick Name: Knights "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 next day he spends almost entirely in bed, unable to open his eyes. It's an image his brain can't compute. The 6-foot-4, 185-pounder completed 60.1% of his passes last season for 5,275 . But he wonders whether the players have any idea what they've given him. He sees me, and he stands up straight and pulls himself together so he can open the door for me. Watch Later. Rob's father saw potential in the happy, spunky baby, but also wrestled with his own emotions, admitting he often asked God "why?" Physically, Mendez is unlike any other high school football coach in the U.S. Mentally and emotionally, he's no different. You hear stories about people with cancer, fighting for their lives. "Put me on your shoulder," he says. Watch Later. He draws and writes with his mouth. The 14-year-old wraps his arms tightly around Mendez's back. This is one of the worst falls. This time it's flawless. A few minutes later, he asks if I can follow him home. This is the opportunity he has waited 12 years for, the one he long felt he deserved but worried would never come. That man was Mike Cable. "It brings out the best in people. With the pen, Mendez draws the X's and O's of what the play is supposed to look like and why. "I wish more people were like that. You guys fought your butts off. As the clock approaches 11 p.m., he looks at his empty glass and asks for another drink. Key California high school football games, computer rankings, statewide stat leaders, schedules and scores - live and final. You're different. 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. The junior quarterback was 24-for-42 . I definitely want to be a varsity head coach, if not, advanced in the college career or the NFL. "No, no, no," he says. There's the answer he feels as if he should deliver. There have been opportunities over the years to pursue prosthetic limbs, but he has turned them all down. "And the muscles in your neck are not supposed to be used that often. I love it. But I learned that I can be a leader. Helped Blackman to a 10-3 record and an appearance in the third round of the Class 6A playoffs . They chose to stay with him. An assistant coach holds a whiteboard a few inches in front of Mendez. Prospect High School, or Prospect, is a public four-year high school in Mount Prospect, Illinois, . I suggest we move to a lower table and make things easier. I'm not beautiful at all. But seven? But Mendez won't give up that easily. Make sure to check your junk mail folder if you do not receive an email . In an earlier sworn deposition as part of a lawsuit filed by former Valdosta High football coach Alan Rodemaker, Nelson accused Propst of wanting $2,500 per month to pay for rent and other . We're the ones who feel sorry for them and say, 'Oh you poor thing.' He acknowledges that the attention is often uncomfortable. You MUST have the correct code in order to receive tickets. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. Eating breakfast. Preston Gannaway for ESPN No way. I don't focus on it. On 10/28, the Prospect varsity football team won their neutral playoff game against Reavis (Burbank, IL) by a score of 62-13. More award-winning storytelling from SC Featured, One dog's remarkable journey to find a home, "Screw that," he says. Being personally invited for a visit indicates clear interest from a coach. Preston Gannaway for ESPN, A FEW MINUTES after our first beer, a bartender brings Mendez a plate of California rolls. He couldn't get enough. Now the entire Prospect program circles around Mendez at midfield. Still does. And he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. They gave me a feeling of importance. ! Thats how I feel in my chair. He started as a manager on his Gilroy High School team as a freshman. Email Mark Fisher. I just want to prove them wrong." When his players ask what happened, he tells them he got into a fight with the pavement. In his chair, he is constantly shifting, twisting and adjusting his posture. Rob's parents tried to integrate him as early as they could, putting him in preschool at 18 months. Preston Gannaway for ESPN has become a motto for the Prospect Football teams and, of course, for Mendez. His torso pushes against his belt. He has scoliosis, which makes his spine look far more like an "S" than the "I." The football team won the 7A State Championship in 2001, 2002, and 2005. . "That's how humans are -- they adapt. Mendez tries to explain, but the kid doesn't get it. The quarterback removes the cap from a blue dry erase pen and puts it in Mendez's mouth. It's the second day of the team's sleep-at-school preseason camp, and the coach is trying to install one of his favorite plays: the 37 stretch. Randy Clark (class of 1975) . The receiver is open. This ensures that the coaches can spend quality time with all players attending and are not overwhelmed with large camp numbers. MENDEZ'S WHEELCHAIR NEVER sits still, but the way it pinballs back and forth between the hashmarks on the Prospect practice field says the coach is not happy. "Bugs the s--- out of me," he says. Prospect High School ( PHS) is a public high school in Saratoga, California, United States. 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! It's a testament to his ability to be comfortable in any surrounding and put strangers at ease. At the end of every day, I'm sore." "It's 37 stretch, right? But I'm 30 years old and a JV high school football coach. And anyone who has a problem with that, prove them wrong.'" "We live and die with each other," he says. The quarterback removes the cap from a blue dry erase pen and puts it in Mendez's mouth. His team is a mix of freshmen and sophomores, some with a bit of experience, most with little to none. They tell Rob he can't coach for at least four weeks. I lift him out of his chair and carry him to my car, buckling him into the passenger's seat. He immediately snaps. His comes with a straw. He has spent his life fighting statistics, proving doctors and doubters wrong. Nobody but yourself can hold yourself back. You guys fought your butts off. When his friends played basketball, Rob was the referee. "There was one word my dad never liked -- special," Mendez says. I've always wanted to be a head coach.". One way he was able to do this is through coaching football. They have to buy the fake. The lift mechanism on his wheelchair broke on the trip. "The one thing that I want people to see is just how hard work pays off," Mendez said. A very small percentage. It's just me. All the honorees will . "He may not look like a coach, but he definitely acts like one," one of his players said. 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. I love the feeling when I lift kids up. His parents connected him with Vujicic, who Mendez said told him he could make $25,000 per night as a motivational speaker. 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. Melissa Feucht English Department Chair. "I wish more people were like that. We'll get to that. Mendez picks a spot at the bar next to two women. ONE WEEK LATER, Prospect finishes its season 8-2 with a 19-13 victory over Yerba Buena. But on this late July night, 30-year-old high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste for sushi. Initially, Josie struggled. Next year you'll be back in it, believe me." Doctors prepared her and her husband for the worst. I swear. When Mendez first took over the coaching job, many kids on the team were surprised to see a man with his condition coaching them. If Rob sensed someone staring, he'd roll up and introduce himself. ESPN senior writer Wayne Drehs contributed to the documentary as a writer and reporter. It's the Friday night before Halloween. Afterward, Bob says doctors and nurses would walk by and stare. He tells his offense he believes in them. When we pull into the driveway, McAvoy comes out and carries Mendez into the house. I've been a 2 year starter on the varsity football team. Tired. Mendez calls his last timeout. The battery on Mendez's wheelchair is dead, so two Panthers push him onto the field. I'd completely forgotten that Mendez can't feed himself. It's all good." Is that you?" Andre Jackson gets instructions from Mendez during the team's first game of the season. An assistant coach holds a whiteboard a few inches in front of Mendez. He needs to use the bathroom. "I kept thinking, 'How can this guy possibly coach?'". He even got to call some plays. I ask whether that thought bothers him. He has lived his entire life without arms and legs. "I'm so proud of you. He is 50 pounds of head, neck, torso and waist. In fact, he will be honored at the 2019 ESPY Awards as the Jimmy V perseverance Award recipient and was on the cover of ESPN Magazine's heroes edition. Prior to arriving at Prospect, Martindale was at Wheeling High School for 14 years. Not until he nearly received a DUI driving Rob's handicapped accessible van did he realize the path he was on. He is 50 pounds of head, neck, torso and waist. "I think it always will." On Feb. 23, Dan DeBoeuf, the former head coach at Johnsburg High School was named the head coach of Prospect. And those kids gave me the feeling that I can do anything." Even if it were true, Mendez wouldn't look at things that way. I know what you're saying. The coach. This ensures that the coaches can spend quality time with all players attending and are not overwhelmed with large camp numbers. But Mendez doesn't care about that. Not until he nearly received a DUI driving Rob's handicapped accessible van did he realize the path he was on. There, he drives his chair into the living room, where his roommate and caretaker, Mike McAvoy, waits on the couch. "I kept thinking, 'How can this guy possibly coach?'" He reads, draws and spends extra time with family and friends. And ended each practice with the same message: I love you guys. To feel comfortable. For now, he's still glowing from the impact his team had on him in his first JV season. Who says I can't?'". can show people to be happy with who you are and hopefully they understand the true meaning of it which is believing in yourself.". 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 demanded respect, eye contact and accountability. With the help of adaptive technology, he went skiing. In the morning, he will coach the biggest game of his young career. Neither team has moved the ball all day, with the game's only points coming on a 35-yard Sobrato field goal three minutes earlier. So I follow him in the bike lane, hazards on. ", Mendez struggles to deal with back and neck pain from spending all day in his chair. 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. Three-star prospect by 247Sports . He has scoliosis, which makes his spine look far more like an "S" than the "I." But on this late July night, 30-year-old high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste for sushi. "They would whisper," he says. Prospect Men's Cross Country and Track and Field @PHSKnightsXCTF Feb 12 Varsity winners from last night Tuchner - 8.33 55mHH Balenda, Sahakian, Holtmeier and Walsh - 1:36.42 4x200 Raitano - 54.69 400m Garland 4:37.85 1600m Diversey, Tuchner, Guagliardo, Balenda 3:47.19 4x400 Guagliardo 5'8" HJ Holtmeier 20'11 LJ, 42'3" TJ Kamp 50'8" SP For Rob, the message from his father was simple: Embrace your differences. Brushing teeth. He learned how to draw and write using his mouth. "This was confirmation that you know what, I'm doing OK," he says. "They don't have the grief of losing a limb because they never had it. "I just try to shut it down as quickly as possible." Eventually you will come across your passion and for me it was football and working with people. Now he has everyone asking, "who says I can't? They sit in front of us, untouched, for nearly 10 minutes. I love you, man," Lopez says. "I just wanted to coach football.". He towed his friends around the neighborhood on their skateboards. "It's only natural to never give up," Mendez said. He can see how they've grown as players and people. A young boy holds open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot. Good s--- you've done with those kids. Coach Mendez. Any other details they should know (If you have previously attended the school's camp or met the coaches) Sample Introductory Email: To: Reed@email.edu, RecruitingCoordinator@email.edu, SecondAssistant@email.edu. "Special is bulls---. But I don't know what else to say. Jan 31, 2023 4:00 PM PST. "And you're risking it all by not wearing an upper belt.". "I can guarantee you there is someone with no arms and legs living in the mountains somewhere with a whole different story who isn't as active as we are. ", Mendez makes a trip to a nearby shopping center for coffee. "Anything in the world that is worth doing, he's done it with his mind," Bob says. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/02/rob-mendez-football-coach, Why hiring Sean Payton will require NFL teams to make an expensive trade with the Saints, Win or lose, the Bengals can prove Joe Mixon's 'big dog of the AFC' claim right against Buffalo, Trevor Lawrence revealed his Waffle House order after the Jaguars wild comeback win over Chargers, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Bob rushes his son to the hospital. We end up talking for nearly three hours. As the clock approaches 11 p.m., he looks at his empty glass and asks for another drink. , untouched, for Mendez pays off, '' he says `` did...: Elk Grove high school for 14 years alcohol is not the answer., proving and..., waits on the couch and scores - live and die with each,! Receive an email as quickly as possible. at Wheeling high school football games computer... 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