For Coach Price
My friend Brian wrote me an e-mail this morning to say that our JV football coach, Gary Price, had passed on from this world. Coach Price was very active with students at Monta Vista in other capacities as well; he worked in food service at the school, coached the women's basketball team, even coached baseball before I was in high school. My words will never convey quite as much as what Coach Price taught us personally, but I want to relate a few stories about him that can say a little about the kind of man he was:1) We were not a very good football team our freshman year. We started off the season with a bunch of losses, and we were losing at halftime to another team (I don't remember which one). Coach Price finished up his halftime speech, and concluded with this: "Alright. We're down 14 to 0. We're gonna come back and win this game, and we're gonna start doing things right!"
That in itself wasn't special; every coach motivates his team in a similar fashion. The difference with Coach Price was that he was relentless in his optimism. Every Thursday, he would tell us: "Alright. We're oh and [however many games we lost]. We're gonna win tomorrow, and we're gonna start doing things right!" Even up until the last game at halftime, when we were 0-9, Coach Price kept a rosy outlook on the season and on life. I always appreciate that worldview, that we can't change what we have done in the past, but what's important is what we do from this point on in our lives.
2) A personal story: I quit the football team my sophomore year the weekend before school started. I hated practice and I didn't see myself playing very much anyway. Coach Price found me in the locker room that Monday and asked me why I quit. He didn't make any promises about playing time (I was a backup on offense and defense), but he said he needed me on the team.
Why would he go out of his way to keep a player who wasn't going to help him that much during the season? I'm not going to make the argument that he did it so a husky 14-year old would understand the idea of commitment, but he taught me something regardless.
3) A fun story: In that freshman football season, when we couldn't win a game, Coach Price gathered us all together one Thursday at the end of practice. We all took a knee on the JV football field, and he started talking to us (and I'm paraphrasing from memory):
"You guys are on the football team. You guys are supposed to be the stars...you're supposed to win. But who's gonna want an oh and nine team? Who wants to date an oh and nine quarterback?
(he looks around, and in the distance he takes note of a few students walking towards the pool, and he cracks a smile)
"See those guys over there? Those water polo boys in their speedos? Those guys are gonna get the girls. Those water polo boys are gonna steal our women!...Shoot! You guys gonna let that happen?"
By this point, the entire team is cracking up, Coach Ray is doubled over, and Coach Price is restraining his smile, trying to keep things light on the eve of our last game. That's my personal lasting image of Gary Price, keeping us in good spirits when we needed it the most.
Thanks Coach Price for all your hard work. May God bless and comfort your family and friends still in this world!
posted by Andrew at
11:12 AM
9 Comments:
what I remember most about Gary . . . he always came out of the cafeteria to watch the physiology classes dance. If it was something he knew, like electric slide or salsa, he would join in. He ALWAYS had a big smile on his face and encouraged the students to "dance on". He will be missed.
Price always gave me the evil eye whenever I bought oatmeal raisin cookies during brunch or lunch. He would usually tell me to eat a burger or something even though I'm vegetarian. He also told me to stay away from boys. It would make me laugh. Sometimes the things he said were ridiculous but he meant well. In fact, he was absolutely amazing at looking after the track kids, whether or not he coached their event(s). Rest in peace, Coach.
One time of the numerous times I had bought lunch from him, I was in line buying lunch when a friend of mine, although of a different class, approached Price as well to buy some food. When she started to slightly annoy him (in the joking way of course, because he was her coach for one sport), he gave me all the tater-tots he had left (which was a lot) with my burger for being her friend so she wouldn't get any tater-tots. He always had some smiles and laughter to spread to everyone every single day. From serving those chili cheese fries in the red cart outside to burgers and tater-tots behind those windows, he was always nice, humorous, and a very optimistic and caring person. We will all miss you and you will forever be in our memories...
I have no idea where to start about such a great man that will be missed dearly. No matter if we were winning or losing in a game he always came up with a reason to make us smile or somehow change the serious mood. Even when I wasn’t having my best game ever he always brought up some story about school to make me laugh or joke around about some boy that I was with. The best times were when he actually scrimmaged with us and I had to guard him! To those good days and those bad days Price was there for us. All those long hours were worth it Coach Price. Every ounce of effort that I put on the floor is dedicated to you. Thank you Coach Price for all the fun memories, you will be missed greatly.
We all gonna miss you. We know you're still coaching us somehow. With power and motivation in your voice and in your eyes. We remember with a smile on our face. Never forget you, Coach.
It's really a shame he had to leave us so early. All i heard was nice things about him, especially from students as well as alumni.
There is a group on Facebook dedicated to him if you want to join. It's called "Best Wishes to Coach Gary Price"
YOUR ABSOLULY RIGHT,WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT MY HEAD COACH,COACH PRICE.HE WOULD HAVE ME LAUGHING,IF WE WON OR LOST,HE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE YOU FEELING GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF. AND THAT WOULD SAY TO YOURSELF,(I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW)NEVER WILL FORGET MY HEAD COACH PRICE.LOVE FAMILY FOREVER.
I've known Coach Price ever since my older sister,kayla, played on blazers. I was probably 10 or 11 years old. But he also coached my 2 brothers for jv football at mountain view high. I first started playing with Price when I was in 7th-8th grade. and played with him ever since. When I was on that team, there was a sort of energy that just would go through my body. That energy came from Price. It was funny, many times he'd ask me if I had a boyfriend and being honest I said no. But he'd always say good and that there are too many "nuckleheads" out there. The way I remember Price the most is his passion for sports and kids. He loved high school sports. If u needed a ride to a game, he'd be coming down the street in his PT cruiser. He just had a big heart and just cared so much. Coach Price, you will be missed, ALWAYS be thought of and most of all, ALWAYS be in all of our hearts. We will meet again. keep it ballin and shoot the "J"
RIP coach. RIP.
Coach Price....wow....i dont even know what to say? To me coach was the best on the field. He didnt care if u messed up or not he would always give u another chance. He was my coach both JV years at Mountain View High School...he would never call me by my first name he would always say my last name..."Hey WARMBRODT"
haha...Price was the best and will always be rememberd!!!
I also knew him befor the JV years. He coached my older sis in basket ball her sophmor year through her senior year...LADY BLAZERS!! He is also the coach of my lil sis. she plays on the same team and loves it...the sport she looks forward to the most!!!
Well in conclution coach i love u and cant believe u r gone. But i know that u are in a betta place now and u will be shining on me like a ray of sun.
much ALOFA!!
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