Two Coaching Legends Sharing One Legacy

Luke: 0:00

This is episode 17 of The "I" in Win podcast

Coach Mitz: 0:03

Like we said it before it puts your arm around them. Tell them that you love him. You care about them. Also get after him when it, when it comes time. But I just think the biggest thing is just the relationships. And showing how much you care.

Luke: 0:28

So I decided to try something different with this episode and invite on two guests, Illinois, coaching legends, Bill Mitz and Rich Roberts. Who between the two of them have coached just about every sport at a high school per probably most known for their time as football coaches. Coach Mitz amassed 253 wins during his 38 year career as head football coach at Stevenson and Jacobs high schools. He's the winningest football coach in Stevenson history and was inducted into the Illinois high school football coaches association hall of fame in 2002. And Coach Roberts began his coaching career as a GA at Northern Illinois university, but quickly transitioned to the high school ranks spending majority of his career at Buffalo Grove high school, where he earned multiple state title appearances and won over a hundred games as Buffalo Grove's head football coach. Coach Roberts, the 2009 inductee into the Illinois high school football coaches association hall of fame. In this episode, you will learn. How coach Mitz and Roberts began their careers in education. The difficulties of being a head coach. How both coaches and athletes have changed through the years and why making a difference in someone's life is the only legacy that matters. These two representative or 50 years of coaching excellence, numerous championships, endless stories, and the powerful impact of transformational coaching. Here's Coach Mitz and Coach Roberts Hello, everyone. Welcome to a special episode of The "I" in Win podcast as we have not one but two coaching legends, both in the Illinois coaches hall of fame, Coach Bill Mitz and Coach Rich Roberts. Thanks for being on the show. And I know there's been a lot of struggles with technology today, gentlemen, so thank you so much. Hopefully we can get through this interview. Coach Mitz starting with you. When did you know you wanted to be a teacher and a coach?

Coach Mitz: 2:07

Well, believe it or not. I graduated from Drake, I actually started out working for Playboy I, uh, with was with them with a vacation, key planning, and wasn't really getting a good vibe out of what I was doing. And my old high school coach at Niles west, they had a. Per professional opening. And my degree was in journalism and an education. So, uh, I ended up becoming a professional at my old high school. And from there on, I, uh, ended up going to holy cross and from holy cross to Stevenson the rest of this.

Luke: 2:45

Well, congratulations on that Playboy piece. that might've been the biggest loophole I've ever seen. I asked that question as so many coaches and I just wasn't expecting that at first. I thought I was the one on candid camera. That's a great story, coach Roberts. What about you? Why didn't, you know, you wanted to become a teacher and a coach.

Coach Roberts: 3:01

Well, let me just say, I look and Playboy for bill centerfold and never saw it. I was kind of an oddity. My sophomore year in high school, I really took to my particular position coach at that time, a man who I owe a lot to Jon Shipley and I never wavered. I just always was wanting to be a coach. and a teacher. Uh, I majored in physical education. Then when I went to Northern and played there and just continued. My first coaching job was after my freshman year in college. I coached up, uh, the little kids, uh, nine and 10 year olds, a little league team, and really enjoyed it. And the more delicious continued from there, you hear all these kids nowadays, I don't know what I want to do. I don't know what I want to be. And like I said, that's why maybe I was an oddity. I never changed. I never wavered. And, uh the rest is history.

Luke: 3:53

Well next question, really to either one of you, you both can respond. One can respond. What surprised you the most when you first started in the profession?

Coach Mitz: 4:02

Well, as applied. there's a lot of demands on your time and everything like that. I guess when I started out, I mean, and Rich, remember this, I was a young guy on the staff at Niles west and the amount of time that we took, getting ready for games, All the planning and stuff. Heck I used to have to run down the cinema video in Chicago on Ohio street. And you would tap on this window. You felt like you were a drug smuggler or something, and you would hand them your film. And then I would go down to rush street for a few cocktails and then like two or three in the morning would pick up our film to bring back to Niles west where we would start meeting at seven on a Sunday. Cause back then it was, uh, the old 16 millimeter. So I, I really had no idea of the, you know, obviously during the school day, you understand what you were getting into academically and whatever discipline you were in, but the coaching aspect as a young single guy, that was great because, I went down there and have a little bit of fun, but I really never realized the amount of hours that coaching was going to take out of it.

Luke: 5:14

Yeah, no question. I know I've had former players joined my staff, which I know both of you. And that's the one common I always hear is they say, man, coach, we, we knew you guys were here a lot, but we had no idea the time commitment it truly takes to coach. And I think that's surprising to everyone because all anyone sees is that Friday night. And you know, there's a lot of experts in their little stands that know we should be doing better. Coach Roberts. What about you? Any, any things that really surprised you when you first.

Coach Roberts: 5:42

No. I agree with Billy brought up something that I hadn't thought about in years. I started out as a student assistant and then a graduate assistant and then was on his staff at Northern And my job was after the plane. Then we'd go back to DeKalb. Then I had to drive the cinema processors with those films and wait and do the same thing, go down and try and get something to eat, something to drink obviously, and then drive back and then be in the office at seven that morning. And then, uh, you, you learn all that time commitment. And as you progress that into the high school level, the same thing in those 16 millimeters going down there, just like bill said, I agree. Present. And I believe that's one of the problems with young coaches today. I don't know how many lifers are going to be out there because of the time that it takes to, to prepare. And then not only the actual X and O part and the practice schedules, but then talking to the parents and talking to Billy, talking to, to mark, talking to, to Jimmy, talking to whoever it is. Get to class. What's the problem at home? Is there something going on that all takes time and it takes a special person to be able to delegate that time.

Luke: 6:54

No doubt. And that's a great segue into my next question, which I'm sure you guys had unofficial mentors as you started out. What were some of the best pieces of advice that a mentor gave to you early on in your career

Coach Mitz: 7:06

you know, it was a. Not only taking care of what you would say, is the B team, the players that obviously aren't going to be starters and stuff like that, but it was, it was probably the biggest thing was taking care of everyone, the custodians, the secretaries, the fellow educators, obviously the principal and superintendent, and I was thankful that they taught me that right away, the secretaries and the custodians and those guys that take care of the grounds, you know, when I worked at holy cross, I learned what it was like to go out and cut the fields as a staff and line the fields. Then when I went to Stevenson, of course it was, uh, a world of difference, but it was really. Those support personnel learning, that those secretaries and those custodians there, and obviously besides your staff in the administration, but those secretaries and those custodians and ground crew, those are the people that are going to make your job a lot of.

Coach Roberts: 7:59

Right. I, I don't want to reiterate exactly what bill said, but I, I agree again. I, I love the phrase bill and I have more or less have come up at the same time. And, and, uh, I know he's proud of it and I'm proud of it. We're old school and that's, uh, I agree a hundred percent. I think one thing though, too, is learning to be humble. And, uh, one of my moments was one of my first days after I left Northern, I went to Buffalo Grove and grant Blaney legendary coach who, another person I owe a lot to, uh, rich, would you please carry these ball bags up to the freshmen field? Uh, sure. And then came back in and another time he says, would you go peruse the. I go, what do you mean? Go through the locker room, pick up the freshmen players, spikes or jerseys that they left, bring him in the office. And I'll never forget that to my last coaching year, I would say to certain coaches go peruse the locker room. They kind of. look at me. I said, go pick up the equipment. Don't just leave it there for the custodians. Whoever's going to clean the locker room up and learning all those. Things in addition to taking care of Bowie, you better take care of your grounds grounds guy, because he's out there trying to line the fields. Now they don't lime fields anymore. Right. Billy, and, uh,

Coach Mitz: 9:17

Probably where you're at.

Coach Roberts: 9:20

everything, everything that's associated with that, I think one of the biggest compliments I had when I left coaching bill, uh, one of the custodians came to me and said, you know, coach and she's left, we will get that Christmas tin of cookies anymore from the coaches. And I thought, well, that's a pretty good compliment. And they appreciate what you were trying to do with.

Coach Mitz: 9:39

instead of those cookies, I used to give them some. As you all know, as I gave Jimmy that beverage also after he won that a sectional championship.

Luke: 9:48

Yeah, no doubt. I'll take care of the people that take care of you. And you know, between the both of you, we have over 50 years of head coaching experience, I'm going to start with you, coach Roberts. What's the most difficult part of being a head coach in your opinion.

Coach Roberts: 10:00

I think the most difficult part that I, as I, as I went along, not necessarily trying to keep everybody happy, you can't do that. You can't please. What's the phrase 100% of the people, 100% of the. just being able to stay. I, one of my favorite phrases stay the course, you know, let's try and even out the highs and bring the lows. And so we can stay the course. And I believe that that was probably one of my main, main things.

Luke: 10:31

Coach minutes. What about you? The most difficult part of being a head coach in your

Coach Mitz: 10:34

Well, the, the most difficult part for me and, it was something that happened yearly You know, and I don't want to get emotional bottom right now, but, was saying goodbye to the seniors. You know, you love those players so much. And, uh, they put forth so much in our game, you know, the physical contact, just everything about football, but the most difficult time for me was always saying goodbye to those kids, knowing that the next year there's going to be another group and stuff like that. That was the toughest thing for me, was saying goodbye to the seniors.

Luke: 11:07

And continue with that idea of relationships and either one of you feel free to jump in on this one. There's one of you. But there are many players and we all get into this business. At least I believe we all get into this business because we care about people and we want to create those relationships and make lasting impacts on people. But again, there's only one of you in so many of them. So how are you able to foster deep rooted relationships when there is only one of you in so many players?

Coach Roberts: 11:36

Well, You're right. There are so many players, you know, and Bella Stevenson had had teams with 60 to 65, 70 players and then three different levels, four different levels, bunch. Like we had a Buffalo Grove back in our day and it's impossible. To, to be able to talk to each and every player every day. But what got me that I felt was most successful, obviously addressing as a group and making sure to take care of that kid and make him feel important. Holding the dummy or being on a prep team or not necessarily getting into the varsity game, playing in the JV game, making a special special point and seeing them in the hall, asking them how they're doing other than just football wise. And, another thing that I learned. A long time ago is, you know, you're going to be enthusiastic. Let's call it that at times on a player when a mistake or something is being made to make sure at the end of practice that you go and put your arm around that kid or pat them on the back and say, Hey, I hope you understand. I'm an enthusiastic person, much like, um, bill is the same way that we're just trying to make you be the best you can be. That's all we. You can only be the best you can be and give you 100%, then leave the cards on the table and we'll play it from there.

Coach Mitz: 12:57

Yeah, I w I was very fortunate at Stevenson, especially after the first few years. I was John Martin's a department head or whatever. So I basically had a nice word. I taught early bird and first hour and I was, I was done for the day. So I have a lot of time where I could get my athletes, especially the varsity players in to see me during the school date, send them pass and they'd come up and we'd talk about things and things like that. But Richard brings up a great point. You know, there were times where, oh my God, I forgot to see so-and-so and I'd be. Kids on the phone saying, Hey, you know, I got after you a little bit today because of, you know, this and that. So, you know, and also in the, in the other side, I put my arm around the kid sometimes who we thought was supposed to play really well and say, you know, uh, Hey Jim, uh I think maybe I over assessed your abilities and you know, you see that fire either go on in that kid's eyes. Like, okay, well, I'm going to show him this next to tomorrow in practice or whatever, but, you know, we used to always use the term because we were so close. There's guys getting paid millions of dollars. Just about 18 miles from here in lake forest. The whole is ban. So, I mean, as Richard was saying before, somehow, you know, you try to get to each one of them and I'm real big on not only for the players, but for my assistant coaches, I would go watch their basketball teams play. I would go to baseball games, even though I was coaching, rustling and track my wife, God bless her. She knew. was going to be at Stevenson all the time. Now that life is different, I'm at home. But when I was at Stevenson, I made it a point not only to my players, but to my assistant coaches, I would get my family over to the events to show how much I supported and cared about what they were doing during their season.

Luke: 14:45

Yeah, I think that's such an important piece to be present in kids' life and be accessible, which is really what both of you are talking about. Never letting them leave the field with a negative feeling. Cause it's, it's never personal, but those are some life skills. And I think teaching life skills is just crucial to being a successful coach. I know that's something that, that both of you believe in as well. So coach mitts, I want to start with you. What were some of the life skills that you prided yourself on instilling in your.

Coach Mitz: 15:12

Well, I, you know, there's a lot of things, obviously just being a better man, discipline, accountability. Trustfulness and one phrase that I always with our kids is, and I told him I can talk to Kyle Brandt, my, my ex running back. Who's on the NFL today, every morning. And Rex Ryan, who's on the NFL thing this morning, whatever they're doing. If they're working at a gas station, if they're in downtown on the mark, if they're a doctor, whatever, or if they're an education, like we have, what you give is gone, what you hold back, is lost forever. And you use that every day of your life to show that what I gave today was important and what I hold back. I, I, I shouldn't be holding anything back. So basically it was to give our best every day and to look into that mirror saying I gave it my best.

Luke: 16:09

And code Trowers. What about you? What were some of those life skills that you pride yourself on instilling in your players?

Coach Roberts: 16:15

Well, again, I agree on so many things. I think that discipline factor being a self-disciplined person, uh, setting your goals, being organized, uh, first day of practice, and I mentioned it many, a times, we had a. And all level meeting our first day, we didn't just go varsity, sophomores, JV, freshmen, whenever we add them all together. And the first thing I said to them, along with these factors that were just mentioned, that you need to prioritize your life. And I gave him three priorities, family, religion, whatever it might be school, which is what you're here for. And then what are you currently involved? Right now you've made a commitment to be involved in football team not only to yourself, but also to your teammates and to the coaches. So any other items that you might be, any other organization, any other free time that you might have, then you can, but you need to prioritize those priorities and it will help you make a decision. For instance, coach Roberts. My dad wants me to go, we've got the Sam area union to dada and a. Well, I said, okay, where does that fit in your priorities? Well, that's family, religion coach. And I said, okay, fine. If that's a family, that's the only time that you can make it. Then that helps you make your decision. If you can keep your priorities in line in that way. So being organized and that's why football. For instance, bill and his family, my family, and any other cultures, family, also much of the game, because there's so much involved in it in being a good person being in our case, being good men, developing good. To be in as they progress, if they want to go into education or if they want to go into some other occupational field, good. Be the best you can be. And if you decide to get married, be a good family, man. And if you have children raise your children in the right vein that you hopefully have been raised in and have acquired.

Luke: 18:21

And I'm sure in this process of building relationships, teaching life skills. You really start to care for your players. And as coach Mitch said, you care for them. All right. I mean, they become pretty much an extension of your own family. They're they're like your own. How did you guys ensure that your players knew that you cared about them as people, that the relationship was not just purely a football thing? I mean, were you, did you wear your emotions on your sleeve and just tell players flat out, Hey, I care about you or was it just your arm around them as coach Roberts said, like, how'd you make sure your players knew, I care about.

Coach Mitz: 18:57

Well, I think that comes to what Ray rich said before also. I'm, I'm a real, as rich as a real people person. And obviously with your players, I would just always make time. I go down instead of sitting in the faculty lounge, BS. People I'd go into that cafeteria and I'd sit with my players and their girlfriends and their friends and talk to them just about anything. Hey, how's it going today? And in that class, what are you learning in math? Oh yeah, I'm happy. I only took one year after my last life, you know, I, I never really, I took geometry and that was it. They really coach. How did you get through college? I said, although I took a stats class in my master's program, but you know, let them see the other side of you. You know what I mean? I was really lucky at Stevenson. I had a secretary, so I would have all the players birth dates. so I'd walk up to, Jim Roberts, who was a freshman and he'd be in the hallway and I'd say, Hey, Jimmy, happy birthday. And that kid would turn around and look at me and say, how the hell did he know that, you know, it was little things like that. And then as time went on and, and like I said before, I thought it was really important. If Jimmy was our freshman quarterback and he was the point guard on the ATM, I made sure I got my butt there at nine o'clock on Saturday. And then on Monday, I'd go to the cafeteria and say, Hey, why didn't you have to drive to the hole a little bit better? Or why didn't you shoot, you know, back back when I started, of course there wasn't a three point thing, but you know, just talking to the kids about other things, obviously the football talk is always going to have. Well, we have them during the season, but in the off season, I really tried to get around to those kids and just talk to them and show them how much I cared. And I think just going down there like that is like not only the football players, the other kids would learn. Wow. That's kinda, kinda interesting that your coach comes in through time. Then you know, I was fortunate to work for Rick before we both came into Stevenson together. And I think that was part of his. Greatness at Stevenson, which made it so great to see he'd get in there with the student population and out there and talk to the kids all the time. So I think, uh, Rick or I, we both learned from each other a little bit about that.

Luke: 21:08

Coach Roberts anything you might've had into the idea of making sure players know you care about them.

Coach Roberts: 21:12

I think the big thing, and I, the point that he made that I'd like to re-emphasize again, is letting them know that you are a human. Let them know that you are a parent, let them. know that you are a father, let them know that you came up through the ranks, much like they have And letting them see that part. Whether it's a joke, whether it's a hug, whether it's a pat on the back. And going to all their activities, et cetera. The one, the one activity that has stuck out in my mind a lot, uh, at Buffalo Grove, uh, the football coaches would always, supervise the homecoming dance. There are a few homecomings. We took it on the chin. You didn't really want to get there, but you'd see them in a whole different level. You know, back in that day, they were rather, they still dress up a coat and tie some of them now, but everybody had a coat and tie on and, and their dates, they went with dates. Uh, maybe they had groups in, I don't know, but they they'd have a date and they'd come up. Hey coach, how are you? And they'd introduce it and you can talk. And then later on, maybe during the week, Hey, that was nice of you to come up and, uh, uh, see Amy and thanks for introducing me and hope you had a good time. Uh, I, I believe that. We're on the same wavelength. I know bill and I, in that situation, letting them see the other side of you that you're just not that person between the end zones on Friday night.

Luke: 22:39

And from what you guys have seen, I know you still go to a lot of games. You're just talking about some gains prior to us hitting record. Do you think that coach still exists? I mean, not putting anyone down, but like, does that still exist? You think these coaches are doing a good job of being present, being available, making sure kids know that they care about them, or you think it's become a little too focused on wins and losses and the ego of the coach.

Coach Roberts: 23:04

All right, I'll go bill before I forget what I want to say here. Um, I've talked about these new. With my son, Jimmy, uh, obviously as you know, as the head basketball coach at Jacobs and bill, uh, when he started, bill was one of his mentors as bill was the head football coach there and they had numerous, numerous conversations and I've, and I've talked with some of these coaches coming up. I don't know. And I mentioned this term before, are there any more lifelong coaches, you know, are they willing to do and make that type type of commitment? But, that, that's probably the biggest thing that I see as far as coaches.

Coach Mitz: 23:43

Well, you know, if it wasn't for COVID, I'd probably still be coaching and I may be coaching again next year, somewhere. I, I don't know. But, the biggest thing is, and I, I was fortunate. It was great. I, I really got close with, Rich's son, Jimmy, really close. And, um it was great to watch all his successes and, you know, Is unique about some relationships too, is when people ask you and I'll just say, Jim, he would ask me different things about football and game planning and structure and stuff like that. And I turned around and I'd asked him the same thing about basketball because you know, I was a Russell. I didn't really get the whole deal with basketball. And at Stevenson, the school is so big. Pan-Am. I really didn't know pat Ambrose at all and I, I think that was unfortunate because he was on his side of the building. I was on my side of the building, so I really got a whole different lifestyle. And I, after I retired actually being with Jim, but then I'd always say that to him too, you know, the younger coaches and I don't know, and the rich can attest to this too. It's like, you know, we Don and I, we, we. Many times of, barely making it to make the mortgage payment and stuff like that. Cause we we're firm believers in Donna being at home with the kids. So obviously then that means I took the, the workload and I coached wrestling and I coached track, but sort of all the other guys. And then when we got together on Friday nights, I mean our whole lives centered around Stevenson high school. I mean after basketball games, all the families went to the basketball games. We go to someone's house afterwards for pizza and stuff like that. And it was in Bob Mackey was my running back coach for 39 years. Think of that at Stevenson and at Jacobs and I don't see that nowadays. And for whatever reasons, I mean, the world's different. But that, that's the biggest thing that I, that I get a little upset about. You know, not seeing guys like that. Everyone just kind of goes their own way a little bit. So unless you're lucky and you hook it on with a couple guys, it's not the way it used to be. It really isn't.

Coach Roberts: 25:58

You know, you're talking about coaches and I think you alluded to this earlier loop. What I, what I, what I see in coaches too, and bill bill had mentioned this earlier, when I started my high school coaching career Buffalo Grove, and this has always amazed me. Uh, if anybody ever has a chance to ever start a brand with a brand new school or a whole new administrative situation where you can write. This is what they did. Grand Blaney was the head football coach. He was also an assistant JV basketball coach to Paul Grady. Paul Grady was the head basketball coach. He was the freshmen B football coach. Joe scar Pino was the head track coach. He was the freshmen because. Fred van. I was the head baseball coach and he was an assistant basketball coach. So I became an assistant basketball coach and I was very fortunate in my coaching career to be able to coach basketball and football. And as I moved up the ranks at one point in time, they had an opening and they asked me to be the head basketball coach. So I was defensive coordinator, athletic director, and head basketball coach at one time at Buffalo Grove high school now. For lack of a better term. It seems coaches and bill, you alluded to this there's time factor with these coaches nowadays that delineate in their own sport. I mean, it was always seemed to me. Oh, and the head wrestling coach was one of our assistant football coaches. There was always seemed to be that, that kind of crossover and. The not a problem, but for lack of a better term, possibly making decisions on these kids, sophomores were bill and I were just talking earlier about a certain sophomore kid making a decision. He's a very talented athlete and probably going to be a move on into his football career, but you're, you're only 15, 16, 17 once play a sport. But now we've. Everybody's got camps. Everybody is going to these showcases, and I understand that Buffalo Grove's top basketball player going to be a senior this year, uh, left to go down to, somewhere in the south, a specialized school. I don't know what it is for basketball, where he felt he would get a better look, you know, already been offered 9, 10, 11, full full shots. These are problems that us old school culture. If you want to call us that, which we're very proud of. I've said it twice now that we never really, really had that. I remember parents coming to me and bill, I know you did coach. They want me to pay you this one service wants you to pay $500. They're going to come out and take pictures and make a resume and a biography and send this all out to all these different colleges. What do you think? And until the time I left Buffalo grill, There was never a player and I'm sure it Stevenson also, there was never a player that went on to play college football at any level where I, or in Bill's case at Stevenson were not talked to about the character, the academics, and whether the kid can play at that level. I also had coaches come in concerning those recruiting services and those nice Biles with all the pictures. I said, what do you do with. Well we've we filed them as soon as we get them. Yes. we do. I have the graduate system filing in the round cylinder. Now, again, that was a few years ago. What actually happens right now? I don't know. Maybe you can add to that bill or look, maybe you, you know, more about that, but I just don't think that in this day and age with huddle and with, well, there is No, tape, right? Everything's on huddle

Coach Mitz: 29:51

Yes.

Coach Roberts: 29:52

I mean, they, they can see hundreds of players. We're talking about colleges, correct college coaches here, and they can see in their grad asses and their assistants can see hundreds of players at a clip. Why, why in these services? Why do you want to spend and pay that kind of money? I got off on a tangent there Excuse me. If it doesn't, there's an apropos, but I wanted to get the.

Luke: 30:16

No, there there's a lot to unpack from both the responses. And I agree with your saying that I am not old school, but I'm also not a newbie. I'm I'm 20 years in I'm right in the middle. And. There is definitely going to the point of the lack of crossover. There is no question that my football staff hung with my football staff. Now we would go to other games to support our athletes that play other sports, but there definitely wasn't a ton of crossover between coaches, which is a shame because coaching is coaching regardless of the sport. So I agree with that. The time commitment piece, that one is. I agree, but I don't agree. I think the time commitment now is as intense as it was in the day. And the reason why is because of sports are year round now, right? Like to be honest with you, I would have loved to all right. Football is over. I could kind of defeat decompartmentalize. Now I could go stroll into basketball or something. I think that'd be a lot of fun. I'd be honestly, it would've, it would've been great, but the reality was. I had her go run the weight room. I had to be the recruiting coordinator, their strength and conditioning coordinator. I had to recruit my hallways, especially now kids just aren't playing sports like they used to. So there was just so many different hats I had to wear that it felt like if I was going to be successful as a head football coach, I kind of had to make some tough choices. And then one other thing that is just different today's world. And I'm not saying it's good or bad. I'm just saying the reality. My kids playing sports. There is no local sports anymore. Everything is travel and intense. I mean, I'm, I'm rarely even in the state of Illinois any more, it seems like because I'm traveling all over for these sports because with coach Mitzi, And coach Roberts, this has become such a big business. Right. And it makes me, I, it makes me cringe how much people are making money off of kids, because I did it because I just loved it. I volunteered my time. Just like you guys did. Right? Like we volunteered our times and now people are spending money to get this personal trainer. And we did it all for free, but. Yeah. I mean, there there's, that's like a whole nother episode because it is different, but the one thing that's not different in my opinion, our kids, and now you guys have a right to disagree with me on this one. I feel like a, kid's a kid now they're growing up in a different world today, obviously. But I feel like a kid is a kid and the best parts and the worst parts of coaching and kids say in the eighties, as opposed to a coaching, a kid and 2010, in my opinion, I think a kid's a kid I'll let you guys refute or agree or respond to your thoughts of have kids really changed in today's world. Is it more difficult when you're.

Coach Mitz: 32:59

no, I, you know, so I'll go right there with that, Luke. So I was the head coach at Stevenson high school in 1982. And I ended up, well, I shouldn't say ended up cause I may be returning, but, 2019 at Jacobs, those kids at Jacobs in 2019. And those boys at Stevenson in 1982. I agree with you a hundred percent kids are kids, football players, rustlers whatever basketball players, kids who kids now. I think the discipline factor Devin changed for me at all. I coached those kids the same way as I did when I was at holy cross in the Catholic league in 1980 and 81. The.

Luke: 33:39

Yup.

Coach Mitz: 33:40

The big difference is all this Twitter and social media crap. That's the stuff that drive me a little crazy. And, uh, those guys knew when they came into a team meeting. If I heard that cell phone go off or anything like that, all hell was going to break loose. That's the biggest thing that I see different. Yeah. Players are players. They want to be successful. They work hard. They need that discipline. They want that discipline. That they may not be getting somewhere else. But I think the big difference is just the social media, Twitter, Instagram instant crap is, uh, coach Fitzgerald calls it at Northwestern. But I, I, I agree the kids, my kids that I've had the fortunate, uh, been fortunate enough that. Didn't change at all to me. Now, the other thing is what we've hit on already is the specialization. That's the thing that, that always has hurt a little bit, but you know, what, if a kid wants to do that, and that's where it's hard is you got to kind of say, you got to kind of bite the bullet with it. Whereas an 82, when those kids were going, they were playing football. The quarterback was the point guard and he was also a shortstop. Whereas now. It's tough to find the guy. That's the quarterback, the point guard in the shortstop. And I can remember Loyola. We played them in 90 Peter Patton was a point guard. He ended up going to the Paul of the play basketball and was playing for John over there for John horse there at Layola hell. We played them in the afternoon and that evening he was out practicing basketball for Wyola. You don't see a lot of that nowadays. And that that's what we're. I think the kids are a little bit different. And unfortunately, I don't think it's the head coaches doing that. I think it's outside stuff, uh, filling these kids' minds with certain things, and you can look at the mid suburban league, the Fox valley, the central suburban, and look at every year, the kids that sign declining get scholarships. As rich said before that that cylinder file is fall there. There's not. Th there's not a lot of kids going on for full rides and all these parents are believing it. And I have, you know, grandchildren that are thinking that way is that, you know, relax or you're 12 years old, you know, there's a long way to go. You just don't realize. So there was my part quite rich.

Coach Roberts: 36:08

Kiss my kids, your kids. Well, what's beautiful. Uh, even in the late seventies, eighties, nineties, and through the two thousands coaching, you don't carry your cell phone in your practice pants. You don't carry your cell phone in your name. So there's no difference or no difference. And I believe exactly it's all that technology. Uh, bill and I are dinosaurs with all that. He said, Jimmy does all his stuff, Jimmy, my, uh, I had a senior son, Matt, that's looking at colleges and he, he, they can do everything that we just were not accustomed to. My son, Jimmy, he's got all his players all the time on his phone. He, he can get all of them, some of them, whoever he wants to talk to, uh, meet me in 10 minutes, meet me in five minutes, any information, which would be completely alien to me. Maybe Bill's an expert on that. I don't know, but a very alien and very foreign. But as far as a kid, when you get them out on the field and I don't think there's any differences that you get to get into play hard and be the best.

Luke: 37:16

So coach Messer question specifically. What have you learned from being in this profession? I believe it was 38 years. And it sounds like it's going to eat, you're going to add to that and you're going to come back to coach, but what have you learned in this profession that you would want people to know? And that could be young coaches coming up. It could be parents just whoever's listened to something that you would want them to know about the profession of teaching.

Coach Mitz: 37:40

well, I, I think the big thing is, is how you can impact a young person's life, you know, being positive, all the, all the different experiences. That th that they can have whatever sport it is as an athlete. And, I, I always, when we would get newer guys on the staff and things like that, one thing is treat that young man or lady, cause I coach girls track to treat them the same way that you would want your child coached. Meaning, like we said it before it puts your arm around them. Tell them that you love him. You care about them. Also get after him when it, when it comes time. But I just think the biggest thing is just the relationships. And showing how much you care.

Luke: 38:25

And drivers specifically to you have a question. If you could change one thing in the profession of education, teaching coaching.

Coach Roberts: 38:33

Change one thing.

Luke: 38:35

Yup. You have your magic wand and you could just change one thing and fix it. What would it be?

Coach Roberts: 38:40

Wow. I need a couple of ones. what I see going on right now and hearing my wife is still teaching and involved in the profession at Buffalo Grove high school and hearing and talking to some other people around the building, teachers, coaches, et cetera. There seems to be a lax. And I don't mean this to be a hard word or a torturous word, a lax in the discipline, a lax in the case. Lax and the caring for your, your, your classmates and caring for people in general. And I think there's a big push, which is great, which is good to understand different ethnicity ethnicity of people and different, whatever it might be, religion, whatever color you are. It doesn't matter. And trying to understand that I would think that that could be a magic wand to be able to get back to a point of that.

Luke: 39:39

So both of you guys have provided a lot of nuggets for coaches and teachers to think about, because we know that resources are important to be able to turn to. Right. So what would, and either one of you feel free to jump in on this one, what are the most helpful resources that have helped you along the way in your teaching and coaching?

Coach Roberts: 39:59

Bill's thinking. So I'll go. Grand bleeding was probably one of the biggest influences along with my high school coach, Chad Shipley. I learned, learned so much from grant and bless his soul. He passed along. Oh, I remember one thing. When I was defensive coordinator, we had an opportunity to shut up, shut a team out. That was a pretty big rival against us. And he came up to me midway through the fourth quarter. And you never want to say you're definitely going to win the game, but there was a real good chance we're going to win this game. It came out and he said, you have everybody. I said, no, I thought we would go a little bit longer and he says, make sure you get everybody in and start getting them all in. Now I was very young coach at that time and he said there are some parents or someone up in those stands. They came to see that player play. It doesn't matter if we win by one by seven by 14 by 21 by 20. Get them in the game because knowing that they had a chance to play and contribute will mean so much more than a 21 or 24 point victory. Now, when we play Stevenson, the game was never in doubt. So we had to add to play, uh, our kids because those gains that we had against Bill's teams and Stevenson were, were great games. And. It was always a great competition. I can add that a little bit.

Coach Mitz: 41:23

Um, so, so with that, I was fortunate enough as a kid to play for Mike who was an All-American All-Pro and, uh, you all date myself. So I graduated high school in 73 coach Bajorek played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1937. I believe it was. And so I absorbed a lot from him as a young kid playing for him. And then. One of his assistants, Don Hufu who hired me. Um, and of course my college coach, coach Jack Wallace, who was years and years above everyone in the passing game, people die when they cause it's, you know, basically it's Stevenson and Jacobs pretty much a run football team, but my background was basically passing. So I learned a lot from him. And then Tim Fay, who I worked for at holy cross high school, who ended up going into the athletic administration role. But I think the big thing is there are things that you learn from those previous coaches that you work for, and other guys too, you know, I, I learned things all the way until I just officially got out before COVID. So I think as a coach, you're going to gain that knowledge from people that you've been around both good and bad, some things you're gonna want to do some things. All boy. I'm never going to do that. When I become a head coach, I remember seeing a guy grabbing kids face, man. I so telling anybody have grabbed my face mask, it'd be, it'd be hell I, you know, but, just things that you learn and I think that's the biggest thing about coaching and that's why you go to clinics. That's why you go to spring practices, you learn. And that's the great thing about football. And I, I can't speak for their sports. I know Jim would always share things with other basketball coaches too, but I know that's the big thing about football. Everybody was always so open to year. With you at Stevenson every spring as a staff, we would take our families and go to Florida. We went to Miami, Florida once a year, we went to Arkansas and coach Holtz was there, you know, to constantly learn. And like I said, until two years ago, I would pick up things from different people and also from coaches and other sports. So I that's my biggest advice to, to anybody that gets into the coaching profession. Ears open and your eyes open because there are good things you're going to see and some bad things that you may want to implement into your program as you become a head of.

Luke: 43:53

What other some great piece of advice, and I'd be remiss not to go back to something that coach Roberts touched upon that was head to head. How many times did you guys meet as head coaches versus each other?

Coach Roberts: 44:03

I tried to forget.

Coach Mitz: 44:04

Well, I don't forget. Cause one of them are running back, was standing in the end zone with the football and the, the zebra had blown the plate.

Coach Roberts: 44:16

That's correct. You are correct. And that's why he went at, in the end zone because the whistle blew.

Coach Mitz: 44:22

yeah. Yeah. Right. No, he was

Coach Roberts: 44:27

You need to understand this was a leading rusher in the state of Illinois.

Coach Mitz: 44:30

correct.

Coach Roberts: 44:33

In the state of Illinois.

Coach Mitz: 44:34

So be BG got that one. And then we went over there. Hell of a team and me and Jimmy would talk about it because Jimmy was the ball boy freezing as you know what off. And we went over there. And as I said before, we ran the football and, and re rich, of course, when we went to prospect, he had got Jeff Francis and the Sculley boys who I know real well and his quarterback at BG. And I think if I remember right, Buffalo Grove was. Right up there at the top. We went over there that first quarter. I think we ate 10 minutes off the clock and scored and we escaped from there, with the victory. So I think a record thing, I think we were one-on-one against each other, I think.

Coach Roberts: 45:19

One and one,

Luke: 45:20

Well, it sounds like.

Coach Roberts: 45:22

we never had a chance to throw the football. You write it three and four yards and the clock's winding down, winding down, never got

Luke: 45:32

Well, I'll tell ya, you know, this is not a podcast about an X's and O's, but what you just said, co-drivers drivers. I, I think that's a part of football is so grossly overlooked. Everyone's going to temple temple, temple. I still think man, time of possession control on the football, running the ball. I think that's completely overlooked. Part of football. Karen wants to be. Glamorous, but I'll tell you, especially high school football. If you have the rock and you can run the rack, you're going to, you're going to win. And I know I don't have to tell coach mitts on that.

Coach Mitz: 45:58

You know, you watch out, you watch on two weeks. I obviously, because my son played there and took them to their first state championship in all four here at Kerry Grove, a lot of people are going to be surprised at two weeks when the Trojans lineup against east St. Louis watch out don't bet against the Trojans.

Luke: 46:17

All right. Break the news here and here first. I like it. That's a pretty bold statement. I like it though. So let's talk about a legacy and, what you want people to, to say about you. So coach rappers starting with you, how do you hope that. You're going to be remembered. If I walk up to one of your former players, regardless of the year that he played for you, what do you hope that young man is going to say about you?

Coach Roberts: 46:41

I would hope that he would say that being part of at Buffalo Grove football made him a better person, a better man, and you're going to win some games. You're going to lose some, but that is secondary to being part of the program and learning and acquiring all those traits and skills that we had alluded to earlier and being the best person possible. And I'm a better man. Young man, graduated and playing in Buffalo Grove football.

Coach Mitz: 47:13

Well, I agree exactly with what coach just said. I was fortunate to be the head coach at Stevenson for a number of years, and then go to Jacobson, turned that around a little bit and, uh, The, the being a better person, a better man, without a doubt. And then I would hope that they, as we talked about before, I would hope they would say about me that, that he was a very enthusiastic person who cared about us and made that time of playing football. The main thing that was a fun, a fun time. One of the greatest times of my life.

Coach Roberts: 47:51

I agree. That's exactly bill. I agree. 100% and you do talk to them when they come back and they say that was the best time. I wish I could put that uniform on again, as the best time of their life. Good.

Luke: 48:07

Yeah. And that's the, that's the true measure of success. That's how you know that you're really doing it. And I think you would agree with me. That's more important than any trophy that the IHSA could hand over to you.

Coach Mitz: 48:16

And you, you know, you talk about those trophies and things like that. And I, as I want you to talk about traditions too, and I'll never forget it at Stevenson high school, our seniors, after we would get, you know, we were fortunate enough to be in the playoffs for a number of years in a row, and the seniors would take their shoes. At the night after that last game and they would hang them on the goalpost and for 22 straight years, whatever it was, our custodian would come to me like in February and say, coach, can I cut the shoots down yet? But they would let those shoes hang there. I mean, it was just a kind of a neat thing and something crazy like that. Those kids remember that was very meaningful for them. And I'll never forget our running back. When they would give those awards for the helmets, it was a Stevenson tradition that the backs cause they'd score all those touchdowns, get all the RS. They would give all their stickers to the offensive line.

Luke: 49:14

Very cool. And a great way to end the segment and talking about legacies and traditions and Coach Mitz hopefully see you back on a sideline coach Roberts, maybe you too, who knows maybe what do you guys become the head coaching you hire me. And the three of us could be re re reunited, who knows, but.

Coach Roberts: 49:29

I told him, I'm going to tell bill this. He gets, she gets back. I'll be more than happy to come and be an assistant, but. I want my own golf cart.

Luke: 49:40

Sounds like a doable request. Coaches, thanks so much for your time. It's been a lot of fun. I hope you guys enjoyed reliving some of the memories and you shared a lot of great nuggets for coaches listening to take home and think about, and really hopefully become a transformational coach that focuses on people and the journey of impacting lives rather than just outcome. So Coach Mitz, Coach Roberts. Thank you so much for your time.

Coach Mitz: 50:03

Well, thank you.

Coach Roberts: 50:04

See you. later. Thanks Lou.

Luke: 50:06

Although I'm a novice at best in the podcasting world. I always knew I wanted to attempt to simultaneous guests and I'm so pumped that I did so with Coach Mitz and Coach Roberts. Their stories were engaging. Their genuine care for students is inspiring and they pass along many lessons. Highlighted by the importance of being fully engaged in the lives of your student athletes and really your entire school community. I sincerely hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I did. Thank you for listening, and please continue to grow The "I" in Win community by recommending a podcast to others. If you want to connect with me, do so on Twitter (@LukeMertens) or email (lukemertens44@gmail.com). Loved to hear any show ideas or your guest suggestions and with that thanks again for listening and remember the more I's we impact in this world the more everyone wins that's The "I" in Win!