Track and field coach reflects back
He’s a self-published author, a life coach who works with his
clients on everything from how to go about quitting smoking to
boosting self-confidence, and he also happens to be in charge of
the track and field program at San Benito High School
– a program that has seen the boys’ team win six league titles
in a row.
Track and field coach reflects back
He’s a self-published author, a life coach who works with his clients on everything from how to go about quitting smoking to boosting self-confidence, and he also happens to be in charge of the track and field program at San Benito High School – a program that has seen the boys’ team win six league titles in a row.
Not too shabby for a guy who is 30 years old.
Recently, we had a chance to talk with Iran White about his coaching philosophy, why he believes San Benito High has built such a winning track and field tradition and about tomorrow’s Central Coast Section track and field finals, which take place at 4 p.m. at Gilroy High School.
We also wondered how he is able to get five percent of all of the students at San Benito High to come out for the sport every year as well as his impressive 27-1 record in league meets since he took over the boys program four years ago.
Q: You went to San Benito High. What did you compete in while a student, and did you compete after high school?
A: I graduated from San Benito High in 1994. In high school I competed in both the sprint and jump events. I made CCS my senior year in both the long jump and the 4×400 relay. That year, I was second in the league in the long jump. I believe I jumped 21 feet, 2 inches. After high school, I went to Gavilan to study criminal justice. I wanted to be a cop but I changed my mind. Gavilan didn’t have a track team so I didn’t really compete much after high school.
Q: You took the track and field program over from Randy Logue four years ago but you have been coaching for a number of years at the high school. Tell us about that.
A: First I did two years at Rancho San Justo Middle School, and I’ve been at the high school the last 10 years. I coached sprints, hurdles and distance one year. I was even an assistant under Jess Morales with the cross-country team in 2003 – the year they first won the CCS title.
Q: The cross-country team was successful that year, and since the baton was passed to you to run the track program it hasn’t missed a beat either. There were two titles in a row when Randy Logue was at the helm and now you’ve been there for the last four boys titles. Why all the success and what is your secret?
A: There are a few reasons. One, the kids work really hard and I have a great coaching staff. When we lose someone, we all work real hard to find the perfect person to replace the one who left. Ideally, the coaches all have to be there for the kids. That’s what is important. Our team is really like a big family. Any kid will tell you year in and year out that we are like one big family. I also use positive reinforcement. Sometimes we have to yell and stuff, but, like I said, it’s like one big family.
Q: It is a big family. Last year you had 200 kids on the team and typically you get 160. Why is it that so many kids want to be a part of this program?
A: It’s not difficult pulling in that many kids; we have a great coaching staff. And by keeping as many kids as possible each year, it makes for a sweet transition when others graduate. I didn’t create this program. Randy Logue and the coaches before him did. They put everything in place so that we all can enjoy the smoothness of it – so that we don’t start from scratch ever year.
Q: So all of the success has to do with coaching?
A: It’s the kids’ attitudes, too. We let them all know that if they are willing to work hard, we want them on the team, whether or not they score points for us. It’s all about work ethic and desire. It doesn’t matter if a kid is the best athlete on the team or someone who is not going to score any points for us. If they have the right attitude, they are on the team. There are 160 people on the team but it’s usually several that score all of the points, but we welcome everyone.
Q: What do you enjoy most about coaching?
A: It’s got to be seeing the kids set their personal records. When the kids cross that line, they are proud of themselves. There are so many levels of improvement. It may be 1/100th of a second but it’s still improvement. Sometimes kids come into the program not believing in themselves and they come out a new person. They start at point A and end up at point B. And, with that improvement, they realize that if they can do it on the field maybe they can improve other areas of their lives, too. We had one kid who entered the program running a 20-second 100m and ended up running 14 seconds. That’s not going to win CCS but it was a huge personal improvement. That is what is rewarding. And stories like that happen every year. Look at Rigo Vasquez. When he came here as a freshman, he had never run before. This year, he was the league champion in both the 1,600 and 800m events.
Q: In 1994, you were a senior. Did you ever think you’d be coaching this program?
A: Never. In fact, I remember the impact this program has had for years. I came here from Gunderson High School in San Jose in the fall of my junior year. At Gunderson, we had 30 kids on the team and there were about 100 on the team down here. I remember thinking, “Wow!” I knew how successful it was and I remember asking Randy Logue if it would be okay if I tried out for the team. The expectations were so high here that I wanted to be a part of it. I knew he would let me try out but I figured I better introduce myself. I knew I had to raise myself up to be a part of it. That’s one of my favorite stories because that shows just how special this program has always been to me. I never dreamed I’d be coaching it one day. It’s a long tradition here.
Q: What goals do you set each year for the team?
A: First, we have the kids sign a contract that tells them that we expect them to give us their best in every area of life – not just on the field but in the classroom, too. We tell them that the best is expected of them and if they can’t do that, then good luck to them. We always have the goal of winning league and never taking it for granted because it’s always going to be a battle.
It’s a battle that Iran White and his team seems to win every year.
