prospect high school football coaches
Mendez doesn't buy it. The interview began with Mendez asking Cable for a fist bump on the shoulder. Three blocks in, a blue pickup driving in the other direction recognizes the wheelchair. After 12 years of working, Prospect High School gave him that chance. on demand Sep 30, 2022 2:45 PM PDT. The pain of the loss hurt, but it did not stop his fire. But at 24, I didn't really know what to do or say at the time." Mendez gains happiness and joy through helping others and that will be his message when he takes the podium for his acceptance speech. "It wasn't very polite or sensitive. It's all good.". 2. 31 years later, he's. Because he weighs 50 pounds, alcohol affects him faster than people who weigh much more. Otherwise it won't work. "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. I'm fighting to have something to drink. by Elk Grove. They tell Rob he can't coach for at least four weeks. I agree it's a small percentage. As he was not able to play football, Mendez taught himself the game by playing Madden football video games. The season begins in a month. Without his wheelchair working properly, he can't raise its height to sit next to me at the bar. But he wonders whether the players have any idea what they've given him. "Where you going, man?". Rob would set his chin on the ledge of the next step and use that to lift his entire body. "You don't need to apologize," Mendez says. He reads, draws and spends extra time with family and friends. 2021: Missouri Football Coaches Association Class 5 first-team all-state selection at defensive end as a junior. 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. "Think about it. I think he needs them just as much." Mendez shakes his head. If I'm sitting there and don't smile or say hello, I just feel like that's rude." He sees me, and he stands up straight and pulls himself together so he can open the door for me. Coach Mendez. "It's only natural to never give up," Mendez said. He asks his quarterback for a hug. By his senior year, he worked his way up to quarterbacks coach. "We are two very different people. 1 poison," he says. "The Super Bowl of JV football," he says. But he hates the sidewalk. And Lewis Hamilton living the hell out of life. He turns his face to the right, pulls his head back and prays. I don't want to be put on a pedestal. "I've always been like that ever since I was young. He immediately snaps. Practice starts in a few days. What do you want out of this year? I ask whether that thought bothers him. He can see how they've grown as players and people. You hear stories about people with cancer, fighting for their lives. In high school, his friends organized a 32-team Madden tournament. Luis Lopez, the JV coach who worked with Mendez at the school, hugs Mendez. We'll get to that. When Mendez first took over the coaching job, many kids on the team were surprised to see a man with his condition coaching them. Prospect's Amazing and Dedicated Coaches! A few minutes later, he asks if I can follow him home. Pub. Going to the bathroom. ONE WEEK LATER, Prospect finishes its season 8-2 with a 19-13 victory over Yerba Buena. I'm fighting to have something to drink. Blood runs everywhere. Later, she would cover Rob in blankets when they went in public. Unofficial or official visit invites. I can adjust to anything that's thrown my way. "No, no, no," he says. This is the opportunity he has waited 12 years for, the one he long felt he deserved but worried would never come. Doctors recommend surgery. Sobrato is located across the street from his parents' home in Morgan Hill. 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. Helped North Kansas City to a . But here, he's in his element. In most cases of tetra-amelia, death occurs before birth. . Can you lift me out of my chair?". ", In the months that follow, Mendez unplugs from football. He absorbed everything he could. Prepped at Blackman High School under head coach Chandler Tygard . "Said they wanted to move on without me," Mendez says. 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. WITH LESS THAN two minutes remaining in the game, Prospect trails 3-0 facing a fourth-and-14 just inside Sobrato territory. "You know how Ironman gets in his suit and he just starts flying everywhere? "I just try to shut it down as quickly as possible." The biography of Nick Vujicic, a 36-year-old motivational speaker from Australia who also has tetra-amelia, says there are just seven known people living in the world today with the syndrome. "Anything in the world that is worth doing, he's done it with his mind," Bob says. If Rob sensed someone staring, he'd roll up and introduce himself. When the players met their new coach, the whispers began. "You have to believe," he says. But it isn't that simple. His greatest fear was failure. ! He's meeting me at the bar. I unbuckle the belt around his waist and weave it through the slits torn on the sides of his shirt. "Let's get to the bottom of it. One thing the boy clearly didn't lack: confidence. "I'm pretty good at dealing with pain, and I didn't want to stay home feeling sorry for myself," he says. He asks his quarterback for a hug. If all goes well, a receiver should be open about 15 yards downfield right in front of the Prospect sideline. "It was just it was horrible," Bob says. Bob hears the sound from a few feet away. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. I ask whether that thought bothers him. That's not me," Mendez says. "Thank you," he says to me after his first sip. As the clock approaches 11 p.m., he looks at his empty glass and asks for another drink. Good s--- you've done with those kids. On Rob's first day of kindergarten, they watched nervously behind a glass window as other 4- and 5-year-olds approached their son eager to learn about something most of them couldn't comprehend. When coaches ask you to go on an official visit, paid for by the school's program, they're using their budget to show off their school and create an impressive experience for you as a recruit. I don't focus on it. What if I drop him? It doesn't lead to a good place. "It first actually came from a friend challenging me at an 8th grade dance," Mendez said. But other than the tetra-amelia disorder, his son Rob was born a healthy baby boy. The other kids are special, too. And few at Prospect High School, some 40 miles up the road in Saratoga, can remember the last time its JV won much of anything. When the final buzzer sounds, the players and coaches line up at the 50 to shake hands. What the hell does that even mean? He briefly leaves Rob in the garage to run inside. "Just focus -- you got this.". "I kept thinking, 'How can this guy possibly coach?'". 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. At the end of every day, I'm sore.". Prospect High School, or Prospect, is a public four-year high school in Mount Prospect, Illinois, . There's the answer he feels as if he should deliver. The quarterback removes the cap from a blue dry erase pen and puts it in Mendez's mouth. ROB MENDEZ IS not only the most unique high school football coach in America, he's one of the most unique humans in the world. A few days before Rob was born, doctors walked his father, Robert Mendez Sr., through the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. It wasn't like there was a store to buy clothes or toys for children with no arms and legs. It's an accomplishment to the public because I have no arms and legs, but the reality is I'm not accomplished. For Rob, the message from his father was simple: Embrace your differences. "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. Wayne DrehsDrehs is a senior writer for ESPN. DeBoeuf named new football coach February 23, 2018 By Jack Ankony, Executive Sports Editor A new, energetic face will be leading the Prospect Football program into George Gattas Memorial Stadium on Friday nights next fall. I'm proud of everyone. I'm proud of you. The season has been a greater success than Mendez could have imagined. His head drops. But at 24, I didn't really know what to do or say at the time.". "If I can go out there and power through four or five hours, then I'm OK." 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. "There was one word my dad never liked -- special," Mendez says. Mendez picks a spot at the bar next to two women. The positiveness of your mind can get you to do unbelievable things and feats and that's what he does.". "But I don't think about this the same way everybody else does. "Hey," he says, "Would you mind giving me a hand and putting one of those in my mouth?". Im fighting to have something to drink. And different is not bad. He says they need him, but you know what? Tolliver, Malachi i, e Easter, Noah ( So.) Coaches teach amateur or professional athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport. Mendez is hungry. Confirmation/Rejection emails will be sent out by 1:00 PM Thursday letting you know if you are awarded tickets. But he's always there for the kids. IN HIS 30 years, Mendez can't recall a single dream in which he has had arms or legs. Bob eventually turned to alcohol. Michael Furlong CTE Teacher, AVID Elective Teacher. There's a lot on his mind. I lift him out of his chair and carry him to my car, buckling him into the passenger's seat. Eventually you will come across your passion and for me it was football and working with people. Make sure to check your junk mail folder if you do not receive an email . "They gave me the feeling of being the helper. We make it to his home. And his roommate is resting back at home, exhausted from a pair of Vegas nights. I love you, man," Lopez says. "It gives me this sense of independence. "I'm not the perfect guy. You're different. The next generation of basketball legends will rock uniforms by New York City-based streetwear designer Eric Emanuel. No way." At that point, she says, abortion wasn't an option. And that's special because sometimes in this world, on a day-to-day basis, I wish I could do more. There have been opportunities over the years to pursue prosthetic limbs, but he has turned them all down. Otherwise it won't work. Prospect, IL 60056 Phone: 847-718-5200 Fax: 847-718-5224 School Web Site: phs.d214.org Enrollment: 2107 Conference (s): Mid-Suburban League Nickname (s): Knights (boys), Knights (girls) Colors: Navy Blue/Columbia Blue School Type: Public Coed County: Cook They just want to move, explore and live. But coaches on his staff says he only used that as an opportunity to teach and motivate once again. I swear. Tears begin to fall. On warmer days, he can get bed sores from sitting in the same position too long. The battery on Mendez's wheelchair is dead, so two Panthers push him onto the field. By his senior year, he worked his way up to quarterbacks coach. "They don't have the grief of losing a limb because they never had it. "Screw that," he says. ", Physically, Mendez is unlike any other high school football coach in the U.S. Mentally and emotionally, he's no different. IT WASN'T UNTIL an ultrasound in the eighth month of her pregnancy that Rob's mother, Josie, found out her son was not growing limbs. His jaw dropped. But Rob refuses because the upper belt limits his ability to access his phone and draw plays. To feel comfortable. But after losing the season opener to Santa Clara, his Panthers won seven games in a row. I've always wanted to be a head coach.". 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. 31 years later, he's changing the football community with his coaching ability as the JV coach of Prospect High School in Saratoga, Calif. and inspiring the world with his story. We make it to his home. The search for Aaron Rodgers, IT'S THE BIGGEST weekend of the year in Gilroy, California, with more than 100,000 people visiting for the annual garlic festival. 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. He's like Norm from "Cheers." 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. Rashada, a California high school star, returned home to the San Francisco suburb of Pittsburg instead of enrolling. It's a testament to his ability to be comfortable in any surrounding and put strangers at ease. When we pull into the driveway, McAvoy comes out and carries Mendez into the house. 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. It gives me hope for the world." He acknowledges that the attention is often uncomfortable. 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. I couldn't tell you what it felt like to catch a ball in the flat, but I knew what it was and why it worked." "But even before he could talk, I said, 'Somewhere, somebody is going to open a door for this kid and he's going to shine.'" How does he go to the bathroom? How does he sleep? The football team won the 7A State Championship in 2001, 2002, and 2005. . Dear Coach Doe; My name is Joe Blow and I am asking you to consider me as a future prospect for the University Notre Dame football team. The green mile marker signs fly past on Highway 101. It's a testament to his ability to be comfortable in any surrounding and put strangers at ease. "It wasn't very polite or sensitive. This life it just isn't always easy. Ozzy Garcia Donna High School football player attending a prospect camp at Southwestern University in Georgetown Texas get's a high-five from coach.. This life it just isn't always easy." "Hey," he says, "Would you mind giving me a hand and putting one of those in my mouth?" It showed him how much energy he draws from the kids. I mention that one of the themes I'm thinking about for his story is this idea of a beautiful mind. Mendez picks a spot at the bar next to two women. Jan 31, 2023 4:00 PM PST. With the help of adaptive technology, he went skiing. The day is designed by college coaches in order to get the most out of everyone's time. In his first full season as head coach, he led the Panthers to a playoff birth and a near-perfect season. Ditas Faraon Buhler Science Teacher. Being personally invited for a visit indicates clear interest from a coach. the driver asks. The 6-foot-4, 185-pounder completed 60.1% of his passes last season for 5,275 . Mendez calls his last timeout. His older sister, Jackie, pushed her brother to try new things and one day tucked a PlayStation controller under his chin. But I learned that I can be a leader. In less than a minute he introduces himself, then me and strikes up a conversation. He finished second. ", Mendez acknowledges that his presence has had a positive impact on people. He's had people who hear his story and then approach him in tears. "I kept thinking, 'How can this guy possibly coach?'" It showed him how much energy he draws from the kids. It just makes me mad.". Most everyone recognizes him and says hello. Its classrooms are a melting pot. You got this. `` giving me a hand and putting one the... Returned home to the right, pulls his head back and prays just n't. Be a head coach, he looks at his empty glass and asks for another drink teach or... Of every day, I just feel like that 's special because sometimes this... Marker signs fly past on Highway 101 other than the tetra-amelia disorder his. 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