Track star Jeep Davis won 3 Olympic gold medals, competed at or near world record pace in 9 separate events ranging from sprints to hurdles, won 26 Big Ten titles and 4 NCAA championships, held 5 separate world records when he retired and entered the NFL, and was considered to be as great a talent as the immortal Jesse Owens. But his greatest and lasting accomplishment was his success as a coach.
Davis retired from football and coached for several years at Cornell University. He then returned to his alma mater high school in Barberton, Ohio where he taught mechanical drawing and driver’s education, and coached track and football, for more than 30 years. In addition, aspiring Olympic hurdles stars from around the country came to tiny Barberton in order to learn from the champion. Davis never charged them for his services, instead deriving his sole compensation from their ascendance toward their possible potential.
In his youth, a coach told Davis, “you’ll never be a good athlete.” Those words drove him to success as an athlete, and molded his coaching style as a supportive, encouraging, benevolent taskmaster. He demanded maximum effort, focus, and dedication from his athletes. A former student said it well: “Jeep was an amazing athlete. But he was even more amazing as a person … I am a better man today for having been coached and taught by {him}.”
A great man achieves, and helps others achieve. He knows that his greatest legacy derives from the gifts he imparts, teaches, and inspires. Be a great man and leave a lasting legacy of greatness in everyone you encounter. Is someone better because they know you?
From September 2010, http://raising-a-man.tumblr.com
Davis retired from football and coached for several years at Cornell University. He then returned to his alma mater high school in Barberton, Ohio where he taught mechanical drawing and driver’s education, and coached track and football, for more than 30 years. In addition, aspiring Olympic hurdles stars from around the country came to tiny Barberton in order to learn from the champion. Davis never charged them for his services, instead deriving his sole compensation from their ascendance toward their possible potential.
In his youth, a coach told Davis, “you’ll never be a good athlete.” Those words drove him to success as an athlete, and molded his coaching style as a supportive, encouraging, benevolent taskmaster. He demanded maximum effort, focus, and dedication from his athletes. A former student said it well: “Jeep was an amazing athlete. But he was even more amazing as a person … I am a better man today for having been coached and taught by {him}.”
A great man achieves, and helps others achieve. He knows that his greatest legacy derives from the gifts he imparts, teaches, and inspires. Be a great man and leave a lasting legacy of greatness in everyone you encounter. Is someone better because they know you?
From September 2010, http://raising-a-man.tumblr.com
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