On June 4, 2016, our DHS Warriors competed in the IHSA State Finals 2016 Class 2A championship game. During this time, I was transitioning into my role as superintendent (I served as both District 113’s Acting Superintendent for a time and Principal at Deerfield High School during the 2015-2016 school year).
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The 2015- 2016 School year was an especially exciting time for our girls soccer team, as it was the best season in program history. The team was coached by Coach Rich Grady and our athletics program was administered by our DHS Athletics Director, Robert Ruiz.
Although there was some disappointment in not winning the game, we were completing the Warriors’ best season in program history and everyone was very proud of the season and all its memories. I was very impressed with Coach Grady’s abilities and care for our students (I also thought he was a phenomenal instructor). He made sure every Warrior had a chance to play and had all of our senior students take to the field together to finish the game.
It may have been a second-place finish “on the books” but it was first class coaching and team building comradely during the game and throughout the season.
Chris
Referenced links and documents:
Can a High School Coach Make an Impact Mentoring High School Students? Juan M. Hinojosa and Gerri M. Maxwell. Research in Higher Education Journal. Volume 34. 2018
Her Life Depends on It III: Sport, Physical Activity, and the Health and Well-Being of American Girls and Women, Women’s Sports Foundation. A Women’s Sports Foundation Report 2015
It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Want to Rock “n” Roll) by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott
Matrix Number 12 by Chris Dignam
Qualities of a Great Sports Coach, International Olympic Committee
Transformational Coaching and Leadership: Athletic Administrators’ Novel Application of Social and Emotional Competencies in High School Sports, Hebard et al. Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning. Emerald Publishing Limited. 2021