Andrew Dirst is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Valley Lutheran High School for AZPreps365.com

Head football coaches have long been a symbolic role model for high school-aged boys. But they aren’t young athletes’ only mentors in the sport.

Assistant coaches, who are typically delegated the smaller tasks in running a team, fly more under the radar to fans. But they are often able to be much closer to specific players, serving as role models to the student athletes they take under their wings. 

Assistant coaching, especially at a lower level like Valley Lutheran in the 2A conference in Arizona, is subject to constant change and turnover that isn’t always easy to manage. 

Assistant coach KiAndre Whitmore said that his prior experience has helped him shape his coaching style. 

“I had hard coaches myself in high school,” Whitmore said. “Now that I’m coaching, I see why they get mad at certain little things because some things just take reps. Some things take discipline, some things take focus. And it’s very simple.” 

Though coaches are focused on both improving the performance on the field and winning, both Whitmore and fellow assistant coach Jalan Pugh said that they understand the impact they can have on their students as people, not just players. 

“You have to set a good example for these kids because once they get out of high school, they’re on their own. They’re adults,” Pugh said. “So, you’re trying to set them up for success and not failure. Once they get to that point of adulthood, some of those life lessons can come around and be like, ‘Oh, coach told me this, this is what I need to do.’”

Freshman safety Cole Henley has worked closely with both coaches, and said that they’ve taught him a lot on adapting into the ups and downs of varsity high school football. 

“Pugh, I view him as a mentor coach: He’s the one that helps me get through things,” Henley said. “It’s important because football’s a mental game. It’s always tough when you lose, and it’s always helpful to have someone there motivating you through it.”

Valley Lutheran wasn’t always successful this season on the scoreboard, but that doesn’t tell the whole story of the positive change that both coaches and players have on one another. 

Jason Stanfield Jr, the star running back for the Flames in 2023, dedicated part of his senior night letter to Pugh and Whitmore, thanking them for pushing him to be “greater than average.”

High school football will end eventually for everyone. What matters to these coaches isn’t even primarily what happens on the field under the Friday night lights — but rather the imprint they leave on their pupils once they leave.

“They’re going to watch what you do,” Whitmore said. “They’re either going to pick up what you do or not want to do what you do. And that’s where you’ve got to come in and be that role model, that positive role model. That’s one thing I like about coaching.”

Pugh said that most of all, he hopes his players take tools to be successful from his mentorship. 

“You’re not teaching them about football,” Pugh said. “You’re teaching them about life.”