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. After a few minutes of conversation, he seemed like any other football coach having a beer on a Friday night. It feels as if everyone is staring. And he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Mendez gets a fist-to-shoulder bump from every Sobrato player. Mendez shakes his head. 2. It gives me hope for the world." How does he go to the bathroom? "Bugs the s--- out of me," he says. Keep your heads up. "Rob? Otherwise there's the potential he'll need to use the bathroom without McAvoy there to help him. It wasn't like there was a store to buy clothes or toys for children with no arms and legs. "They would whisper," he says. "It's only natural to never give up," Mendez said. The coach nods and says "thank you." "I got it. Preston Gannaway for ESPN, A FEW MINUTES after our first beer, a bartender brings Mendez a plate of California rolls. This one is simple, there's no reason to attend a showcase camp with nationally ranked D1 programs and pro scouts if you play at the D2 level. was something that was very much for me to always stick with and I hope people take away from it in a positive way where they are comfortable to motivate themselves to do whatever they want in life.". So I follow him in the bike lane, hazards on. He briefly leaves Rob in the garage to run inside. DeBoeuf could not be more honored to be chosen to replace Martindale. He insists he's fine, and we order beers. For now, he's still glowing from the impact his team had on him in his first JV season. "I couldn't follow up with more of a class act," DeBoeuf said. How safe is your neighborhood? The more we talk that night the more one word keeps popping up: How. He's had people who hear his story and then approach him in tears. One dog's remarkable journey to find a home "But we really have to sell that we are going that way. He says they need him, but you know what? Preston Gannaway for ESPN. Complaining is my No. We're going to fake it this way and then waggle out," he says. Mendez gives me directions. We're the ones who feel sorry for them and say, 'Oh you poor thing.' But it isn't that simple. "In a text message.". 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. It seems like no big deal. For now, he's still glowing from the impact his team had on him in his first JV season. The next generation of basketball legends will rock uniforms by New York City-based streetwear designer Eric Emanuel. By his senior year, he worked his way up to quarterbacks coach. Says McAvoy: "That's just him. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. And anyone who has a problem with that, prove them wrong.'" Some might suggest he should be home, resting. They tell Rob he can't coach for at least four weeks. Andre Jackson gets instructions from Mendez during the team's first game of the season. "Like a pancake hitting the ground. That man was Mike Cable. "If I can go out there and power through four or five hours, then I'm OK.", Says McAvoy: "That's just him. I love it. I lean over, wrap my hands around him and lift him out of his chair. He rolls in wearing a plain white T-shirt and faded red San Francisco 49ers hat. And because of Rob's lack of limbs, his father says he retains 30 percent more heat than someone who has arms and legs. This is why WVU has already extended an offer to the Pickerington Central High School product from Ohio. But he hates the sidewalk. Prospect High School. Where do I put my hands? One player quit because of Mendez. I turned around, took two to three steps and then I heard it.". With the help of adaptive technology, he went skiing. That's how I feel in my chair," he says. When he's away from home, he's careful about what he eats and drinks, often keeping it to no more than an iced coffee. "Hey," he says, "Would you mind giving me a hand and putting one of those in my mouth?". It's a testament to his ability to be comfortable in any surrounding and put strangers at ease. But other than the tetra-amelia disorder, his son Rob was born a healthy baby boy. It doesn't lead to a good place. THREE MONTHS AFTER we first met, Mendez and I are in another bar, this time in downtown Campbell. It's all good." He put the name into Google. And different is not bad. Preston Gannaway for ESPN She says she couldn't look at her son for the first couple of weeks. Rob's father saw potential in the happy, spunky baby, but also wrestled with his own emotions, admitting he often asked God "why?" Head Coach: Dan DeBoeuf Assistant Coach: Tim Beishir, Jeff Collier, Matt Weber, Jim Argentine, Dan Keller Brock Collins, Sean Cummins Matt Weber Jeff Collier Jim Argentine Michael Watson Dominic Cannon Mike Naboltny Tom Whalen Erik Hammerstrom Dan Yeoman Shaun Cummins Dan Keller School Administration Principal: Greg Minter Athletic Director: Omar Alebiosu Athletic Secretary: Amy Nickel School Color: Columbia and Navy Nick Name: Knights We make it to his home. And he doesn't like the idea I have for framing his story. When the final buzzer sounds, the players and coaches line up at the 50 to shake hands. I turned around, took two to three steps and then I heard it." Those who do survive often end up with significant intellectual disabilities. "They gave me the feeling of being the helper. McAvoy has been Mendez's caretaker for the past six years. That's not me," Mendez says. Make sure to check your junk mail folder if you do not receive an email . The more successful Mendez is at proving he's just like everyone else, the more people put him on that pedestal, peg him as an inspiration and treat him, well, different from everyone else. When his players ask what happened, he tells them he got into a fight with the pavement. Preston Gannaway for ESPN "Who says I can't?" How does he eat? When his friends played basketball, Rob was the referee. Mendez was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare congenital disorder that prevents the formation of limbs during embryonic development. I tell him that's the most honest he's been in our time together. It's an image his brain can't compute. Unlike fighting or fantasy games where he constantly had to engage, football gave him breaks. the driver asks. And anyone who has a problem with that, prove them wrong.'". A 10-story building hitting the ground. How do you move a fully grown adult with no arms and legs? His father has long wished that Rob would wear an upper belt as well as the one that wraps around his waist. You're different. This is the opportunity he has waited 12 years for, the one he long felt he deserved but worried would never come. It isn't the first time Rob has fallen out of his chair. Some might suggest he should be home, resting. They just want to move, explore and live. "I don't think I could do that to those kids," he says. ", Physically, Mendez is unlike any other high school football coach in the U.S. Mentally and emotionally, he's no different. So I follow him in the bike lane, hazards on. This also ensures that prospects will have time to interact with the coaches and learn from them in a small group and one-on-one setting. He scoffs. It happened at the end of his senior prom, when he tipped over the wheelchair ramp as he and his classmates were leaving. It's only junior varsity. A young boy holds open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot. Encouraged the group to play for their teammates. When his friends went out for football his freshman year of high school, Rob became the team manager. Lewis Hamilton living the hell out of life, Jalen Ramsey: The man, the mouth, the legend. "I was drinking to forget. There is nothing to break his fall. We end up talking for nearly three hours. Can you lift me out of my chair?". This can cost you more than just money. You MUST have the correct code in order to receive tickets. They sit in front of us, untouched, for nearly 10 minutes. "We have unfinished business.". What if I drop him? For now, I start with a topic far simpler: football. After a few minutes of conversation, he seemed like any other football coach having a beer on a Friday night. "I've been getting messages on Twitter . He finished second. What do you want people to say about this team? How do you move a fully grown adult with no arms and legs? It's the second day of the team's sleep-at-school preseason camp, and the coach is trying to install one of his favorite plays: the 37 stretch. "About damn time," McAvoy says with a grin. Three other players start chitchatting between reps. Mendez loses it. Holding court, triggering laughs and helping people realize for a few minutes that a man in a wheelchair without arms and legs is just like anyone else. It's the second day of the team's sleep-at-school preseason camp, and the coach is trying to install one of his favorite plays: the 37 stretch. After. The battery on his wheelchair is dead, and he wants to charge it at school overnight. Mendez doesn't buy it. "Complaining is my No. Ozzy Garcia Donna High School football player attending a prospect camp at Southwestern University in Georgetown Texas get's a high-five from coach.. 2 QB and overall prospect by ESPN and is . The two coaches connected. Eating breakfast. "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. Fore was named to the Hudl Top 100 in 2017, and the Top 5 Best High School Football Coaches to follow on Twitter by MaxPreps in 2016. Coaches from Southwestern University and Nicholls State University will lead this showcase and will be joined by other college coaches from various programs. 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. I saw in front of me a man who loved football and kids. It's now a full-on escort -- a motorized wheelchair flanked by two cars with their hazards flashing. "That's how humans are -- they adapt. How to Be a High School Football Coach Download Article parts 1 Gaining the Necessary Skills 2 Landing a Job 3 Becoming a Great Coach Other Sections Related Articles References Co-authored by wikiHow Staff Last Updated: June 10, 2021 References Coaching high school football requires more than passion for the game. I was a little nervous about it," Cable says. He has scoliosis, which makes his spine look far more like an "S" than the "I." How does he sleep? "It always kept me hungry. The coach nods and says "thank you.". I'm in Las Vegas and there's some guy stumbling drunk, looks like he was just in a fight. he yells. "Oh whatever," Mendez answers. It gives me this sense of independence., Sign up for the For The Win newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Three blocks in, a blue pickup driving in the other direction recognizes the wheelchair. It's the Friday night before Halloween. He scoffs. What the hell does that even mean? "About damn time," McAvoy says with a grin. Mendez learned to diagram plays by using a pen in his mouth. They gave me a feeling of importance. Gradey Dick, a five-star Kansas commit, enjoyed one of the greatest shooting seasons in high school basketball history. The quarterback removes the cap from a blue dry erase pen and puts it in Mendez's mouth. 2021 IHSA Football Playoffs. ESPN senior writer Wayne Drehs contributed to the documentary as a writer and reporter. I think he needs them just as much." He started as a manager on his Gilroy High School team as a freshman. "He was still in diapers," Bob says. The next day he spends almost entirely in bed, unable to open his eyes. Now the entire Prospect program circles around Mendez at midfield. Contents 1 Academics 2 Athletics 3 Campus 4 Other 5 Notable alumni 6 See also 7 References 8 External links Academics [ edit] Prospect offers a mix of advanced and on-level classes. But here, he's in his element. Randy Clark (class of 1975) . But I learned that I can be a leader. Helped North Kansas City to a . It took him more than a half hour - sometimes two steps up, one step down -- but he did it. Rob has fractured cheek and orbital bones and has the effects of a concussion. His greatest fear was failure. Mendez screams. Mendez is hungry. Bob eventually turned to alcohol. There have been opportunities over the years to pursue prosthetic limbs, but he has turned them all down. Good s--- you've done with those kids. In high school, his friends organized a 32-team Madden tournament. Tears begin to fall. Shaving. Wayne DrehsDrehs is a senior writer for ESPN. I love when the kids say 'nobody', because it's true. "I use my neck like my arm," Mendez says. The green mile marker signs fly past on Highway 101. Now comes the opportunity to prove the school made a mistake. This ensures that the coaches can spend quality time with all players attending and are not overwhelmed with large camp numbers. Most everyone recognizes him and says hello. Three other players start chitchatting between reps. Mendez loses it. As the quarterback rolls out, the play unfolds perfectly. Its classrooms are a melting pot. He learned to press the buttons with his chin and collarbone. Preston Gannaway for ESPN He tells the story of his father putting him on the stairs when he was 9 years old, demanding that he climb to the top. They chose to stay with him. Bob eventually turned to alcohol. IT'S THE BIGGEST weekend of the year in Gilroy, California, with more than 100,000 people visiting for the annual garlic festival. We'll get to that. The school sits on the western edge of Silicon Valley, just 5 miles from Apple's campus. I'm not beautiful at all. But this time, he has no idea the belt around his waist isn't buckled. It just makes me mad." Still does. 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. We are all special. That sentiment has been followed by so many other coaches that he came across in his career. I assume Mendez will pilot his wheelchair on the sidewalk and I'll drive alongside for the five dimly lit blocks back to his house. I'm proud of everyone. He doesn't listen. How could someone who had never held a football teach a freshman how to throw, tackle or block? Watch Later. "That's what I'm talking about!" He immediately snaps. He drew up game plans on Madden and took them to practice. His jaw dropped. I think back to something his pediatric physical therapist told me. His torso pushes against his belt. His comes with a straw. "I use my neck like my arm," Mendez says. But as soon as I met and spoke with him, the chair disappeared. But on this late July night, 30-year-old high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste for sushi. When Mendez first took over the coaching job, many kids on the team were surprised to see a man with his condition coaching them. Livingston told me Mendez's presence is living proof of what humans are capable of. In his first full season as head coach, he led the Panthers to a playoff birth and a near-perfect season. Prospect's Amazing and Dedicated Coaches! Now comes the opportunity to prove the school made a mistake. However, the phrase was not born on the gridiron. I know what you're saying. He rolls in wearing a plain white T-shirt and faded red San Francisco 49ers hat. Mendez taught himself the game of football by playing Madden on a PlayStation, using his chin and collarbone to push the buttons. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. The players jog back to their positions. I assume Mendez will pilot his wheelchair on the sidewalk and I'll drive alongside for the five dimly lit blocks back to his house. He sees me, and he stands up straight and pulls himself together so he can open the door for me. In most cases of tetra-amelia, death occurs before birth. "It didn't take long for me to figure out that alcohol is not the answer." All Rights Reserved. The next day he spends almost entirely in bed, unable to open his eyes. He developed a great football mind, but he wanted more. . Later, she would cover Rob in blankets when they went in public. "By the time I was a senior in high school I was wearing a headset with the coaches and listening to them," he said. I might take two steps forward and then one step back. But seven? Coach seats are in a different section that prospect seats. I agree it's a small percentage. He put the name into Google. 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. The football team won the 7A State Championship in 2001, 2002, and 2005. . The 14-year-old wraps his arms tightly around Mendez's back. On this night, on the same field where this journey began, Mendez gathers his team one last time. Mendez operates his cellphone, attached to a stand on his wheelchair, with his nose and lips. by Elk Grove. I love the feeling when I lift kids up. It feels as if everyone is staring. In less than a minute he introduces himself, then me and strikes up a conversation. "Rob? They wanted Bob to see other babies born with disabilities. "The Sobrato loss still bothers me," he says in February. "But I don't think about this the same way everybody else does," he says. We're going to fake it this way and then waggle out," he says. He talked about building a family. No way." "Home," he answers. Doctors recommend surgery. "I kept thinking, 'How can this guy possibly coach?'". "Thank you," he says to me after his first sip. Otherwise it won't work. IN HIS 30 years, Mendez can't recall a single dream in which he has had arms or legs. The school sits on the western edge of Silicon Valley, just 5 miles from Apple's campus. Some newborns survive only a few hours or days. "How in the world am I supposed to handle that?" Mendez calls his last timeout. This time it's flawless. The players jog back to their positions. I was a little nervous about it," Cable says. "And the muscles in your neck are not supposed to be used that often.