[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 21555-21556]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THOSE WHO COACH US TO GREATNESS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HEATH SHULER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 14, 2009

  Mr. SHULER. Madam Speaker, as football season kicks off, I am 
reminded of the exceptional coaches I've worked with over the years. I 
have been lucky to learn from great men like Mike Ditka, Johnny Majors, 
Phillip Fulmer, Norv Turner, and my high school football coach Boyce 
Deitz. During high school, Coach Deitz influenced me more than anyone 
outside of my immediate family. Of all the coaches I've had before or 
after, he has had the strongest and most-lasting impact on my life. 
Most adults still can remember the name or face of one childhood coach 
who taught them a better way to throw a ball, improve their time, or 
overcome an obstacle that seemed insurmountable.
  Today, we live in a time when young people face serious challenges to 
their well-being. Childhood obesity has reached record proportions. 
School drop-out rates approach fifty percent in many urban school 
districts. Nearly one million minors report association with gang 
activity. Where these trends are at their worst, coaches often play a 
critical role in equipping young athletes with the tools to make better 
choices. Coaches dedicate countless hours of their time helping young 
people build strong work ethics, communicate effectively, and work as 
part of a team. The coaches, who have the vital role of parlaying those 
values to our youth, make up the backbone of youth sports programs.
  To recognize the service of youth sports coaches for their tremendous 
contributions, I have been working with Rep. Mike McIntyre and other 
Members of the U.S. House to enact the first ever National Coach 
Appreciation Week. This week can be a time to recruit hundreds of 
thousands of new coaches, and to honor every youth, JV, and Varsity 
coach who gives so much to our Nation's next generation of leaders.
  My high school football coach taught me to be both mentally and 
physically tough. He constantly challenged me to improve myself, 
including encouraging me to run track to improve my speed on the 
football field. Coach Deitz warned me early on about excessive media 
attention and said `you will never be as good as they make you out to 
be and you will never be as bad as they make you out to be.' His advice 
has guided me through the highlights and rough patches of my college 
and NFL career, and in my current role as a Member of Congress. When I 
was elected to Congress, I knew I had to surround myself with

[[Page 21556]]

the best staff I could, so Coach Deitz was one of my first hires.
  We stand at a crossroads in which all of us must reflect on the 
qualities that have helped American society thrive and endure. Through 
National Coach Appreciation Week, our Nation will recognize those such 
as Coach Deitz who teach values such as teamwork, discipline, and 
leadership to our Nation's youth. These fundamental life skills are 
instrumental to ensuring success throughout an individual's 
educational, family and professional life. I thank the great coaches 
I've had, and I look forward to National Coach Appreciation Week, a 
time to honor the coaches who have taught us the life lessons that have 
made us who we are today, as individuals, as communities, and as a 
country.
  Madam Speaker, for myself and for everyone whose life has been 
touched by a coach, I rise to thank these most influential and 
indispensible individuals. I encourage my fellow Members to vote in 
support of establishing the first ever National Coach Appreciation 
Week.

                          ____________________