As fall sports all over the area begin a busy season, MCPS athletics has decided to debut its “Year of the Coach Award” – a way to recognize the hard work and dedication of coaches around the county.
The Year of the Coach award focuses on a different WJ head coach each week. The award rotates so that all sports will have their week between the beginning of September and the middle of November. All MCPS schools are following a similarly structured schedule for fall, winter and spring sports seasons.
WJ has publicized the order in which fall sports coaches will be recognized, beginning with legendary cross country and track coach Tom Martin. Choosing him to be the first coach of the week in WJ’s inaugural Year of the Coach was a no brainer. Martin has been coaching at WJ for 28 years, and has led his teams to a number of state titles.
“My favorite part about coaching at WJ is the incredible young people I get to coach, and watching my athletes form lifelong friendships,” Martin said. “I think coach recognition can be a source of pride for the sport that coach is involved with. Recognizing coaches’ contributions might help attract more coaches to MCPS.”
Martin is excited for the upcoming cross country season, and he is confident that, with the right preparation, he can lead the girls’ and boys’ teams to success.
Athletic director Larry Hurd Jr. is also looking forward to the acceleration of the fall sports season. As the school year’s first few games and competitions are underway, Hurd has been energetically spreading awareness of The Year of the Coach by posting about coaches on social media.
“Our coaches work so very hard, for very little pay. It is awesome MCPS Athletics as a whole is making the theme ‘The Year of the Coach’ to recognize the great contributions are coaches make on a daily basis,” Hurd said. “Students on the teams will do most of the honors, but we will be trying out any new ideas students have throughout the year.”
Third to receive recognition from the Year of the Coach is assistant athletic director Butch Worden of the girls’ flag football team. Flag football made its debut in MCPS athletics this season with Worden at the helm for WJ.
“I feel blessed to work with some amazing girls who are taking the torch to lead the way for future generations. They have all the positive character traits you look for in a student athlete and are the best WJ has to offer. I’m lucky they chose to play flag football because I’ve seen how successful they are in other sports and now they want to be part of a dream that people thought impossible,” Worden said.
While Worden is honored to be recognized for his leadership, he also feels that his job is far more meaningful than a pat on the back for himself as a coach.
“Recognizing coaches might help others because they thrive on recognition and need to be noticed. They need to be reassured that what they do is important. I know that my job is important and changes lives,” Worden said.
