Why Are Coaches Important?

Whether or not you’ve been in a sport, we all know that coaches are the foundation upon which countless iconic athletes have been successful careers. Coaches provide the middle ground between what the player wants and what’s best for them to do in order to further their career as athletes. But how much do we know about them and why they do what they do? And more importantly how can we recognize and appreciate the hard work they put in to better us as players and people?

Not only is coaching full of its own trials and tribulations, but many coaches are also teachers. Teaching is a full-time job in its own right, so why would teachers willingly take on additional responsibilities such as being a coach?

Eastside Catholic’s Dela Bartol grew up playing beach and indoor volleyball in California. She is now a girls volleyball coach and a math teacher at Eastside Catholic.

“Coaching is super fun, it’s fun to build those relationships with everyone and working together as a team, but there is a huge time commitment.”

Despite all the positives, Bartol notes for coaching, it’s not without its downsides, some of which affect her personal life beyond athletics.

“It’s definitely very challenging to give up a whole season of my life for a couple months to be with these girls every day, but it’s definitely worth it in the end of the day.”

Bartol shows her commitment to her team, no matter hard it can get and how caring she is. This impacts her team as a whole while she brings kindness to the court.

“It can get super exhausting, and I noticed myself not being able to do the best performance both as a coach and a teacher during the season cause I’m so tired. Yet it’s super rewarding still, and I’m proud of my girls.”

Through her rigorous work ethic, Bartol demonstrates how coaching is not only time consuming but extremely tiring. Balancing work, family & friends, and coaching can become a challenge.

“I don’t have much of a social life during that season because I’m super tired. Time management can get very challenging, but having a support system of like friends and family is super helpful to get through the season.”

Glen Ritter has been a cross country coach at Eastside Catholic since 2022. He’s coach various amounts of teams surrounding multiple sports. He is not only a coach but a science teacher at Eastside.

Ritter touches the subject of how rewarding being a coach is. Watching an athlete achieve their goals while attempting to help improve themselves is one of the most rewarding things he claims.

“The most rewarding thing about being a coach is when you see somebody gain confidence in what they are doing. I used to coach basketball. When you see someone score their first points, you can just see that change as an athlete, like “I’ve done it, and I can continue to do better.” I’ve had some great coaches and some bad coaches, and I wanted to not be a terrible coach, I wanted to be a positive influence not a negative one.”

Ritter is a great role model to the athletes he coaches not only because he teaches the skills that are needed in the sport they do, but also because he teaches valuable lessons that can apply off the field.

Ritter also teaches his athletes that win or lose, a game is a game. He believes that the most important thing is that you tried your best and improved not only as athlete but as a person too.

Adam Kietzer has played wide receiver at Washington State University from 1992-97. He has participated as a part of Eastside Catholic School’s community as not only a coach but a part of the staff since 2004.

“I have coached HS football for the last 25 years. I started coaching at Bellevue HS, then went to Lake Washington HS and have been at Eastside since 2005. In addition, I also coach my 7-year-olds son’s baseball and basketball teams.”

Kietzer has also coached six All-State receivers and two All-State return men.

“I coach because I want to make a positive influence on kids’ lives. When I was growing up, my coaches taught me amazing life lessons that have helped me my entire life. We are all only on this earth for a small amount of time, so why not be a positive change in someone else’s life.”

Kietzer focuses on how being an inspirational coach affects the way athletes act.

“My coaches growing up have inspired me to start coaching. They all had a part in shaping me into the man I am today. They taught me how to be responsible, selfless, and dedicated.”

The most inspirational coaches have the most effect on the athlete’s future life.

Kietzer’s passion for coaching makes him a very inspiring coach because he is a caring person, and his actions are selfless making a positive impact on his athletes.

“Our athletic director delivered me a box of hundreds of letters from ex-players.  Each letter was a detailed description of the positive influence I was on a player’s life.  And that’s why I coach.”

Coaches take great part of an athlete’s life by helping young men and women navigate the trials and tribulations of adolescence. Coaches not only impact the way you approach the field but the way you approach life.