Tag Archives: Athletic Coaches

Teacher, coach, and former pro football player Herb Banet

Posted on by

Teacher, coach, counselor, and former professional football player Herb Banet

When I think of chalkboard champions, I never forget all of our nation’s talented coaches. These dedicated professionals work many long hours with our young people, teaching them the value of self-discipline, healthy competition, fair play, and teamwork, and helping them to choose a healthy, active lifestyle. One such chalkboard champion in Herb Banet, a high school teacher, basketball coach, and guidance counselor from Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Herb was born in 1913 in Fort Wayne. As a high school student, he was a gifted athlete.  At 6’2″ and 200 pounds, he earned All-City Honors in both football and basketball. After his graduation from Fort Wayne South High School in 1933, he attended Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana, where he played collegiate football. While at Manchester, Herb played All-Conference Football and All-State Football in 1934, 1935, and 1936. During the 1937 season, Herb played in the National Football League with the Green Bay Packers.

As if all this were not enough, Herb was also a war hero. When World War II broke out, he served his country in the US Navy.

These experience served him well during his eighteen-year career as a coach at Central High School in Fort Wayne. While coaching there, his team made one trip to the Final Four in 1960, where they were defeated by just one point by East Chicago Washington. Later in Herb’s career he served as a guidance counselor at Northrup High School. This talented educator retired in 1979. In recognition of his illustrious career as an athlete, he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.

Herb Banet passed away in 2003 at the age of 89 and is buried at Falls Memorial Gardens in Wabash, Indiana. It is certain that his efforts as a gifted teacher, coach, and counselor will always be well-remembered.

Science teacher Donna Gradel recognized as Oklahoma’s 2018 Teacher of the Year

Posted on by
Donna Gradel

Oklahoma’s Donna Gradel, a science teacher and girls’ basketball coach at Broken Arrow High School,  recognized as 2018 Teacher of the Year

Oklahoma’s 2018 Teacher of the Year is Donna Gradel, a high school science teacher and girls’ basketball coach. Donna has taught at Broken Arrow High School in northeastern Oklahoma near Tulsa for 21 years. She taught in West Virginia for seven years before moving to Oklahoma.

Throughout her career, Donna has led her students in projects that explore ways they can help improve their local environment. The students have already helped their city to develop and implement low-cost,solar-powered solutions that improve the city’s water quality. The students have also worked on developing aquaponic systems to help feed people living in poverty in Kenya.

Donna once said that  there are three principals at the core of her practice as an educator. “Number One: All students can learn regardless of their starting point, she declared. “Number Two: All students have a sense of purpose, and they want to make a difference in the world,” she continued. “And Number Three: All students need to know that their teacher has a genuine concern for them and is willing to be their champion,” she concluded.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Donna serves as her school’s Science Department Chair and is an advocate for STEM curriculum and facilities. In 2015, she was one of ten educators throughout the nation to the receive the Henry Ford Innovation Nation Innovative Teacher Award. She was the recipient of the 2017 Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators which recognized her innovative approach to environmental education. And as if all this were not enough, Donna has also coached her school’s girls’ basketball team to a state championship.

Donna earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1982 and her Master’s degree in 1983, both from West Virginia University.

Stuart W. Hunt, Sr.: Gifted teacher, coach, veteran, businessman, and politician

Posted on by
Stuart Hunt

Stuart W. Hunt, Sr.: Gifted teacher, coach, military veteran, businessman, and politician.

There are many examples of fine classroom teachers who have a made a name for themselves in arenas outside of education. This is true of Stuart W. Hunt, Sr.,a  high school teacher and coach who also served as a legislator for his home state of Vermont.

Stuart Hunt was born in Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont, on April 28, 1927. As a young man, he attended Brattleboro High School, where he excelled in sports. When he graduated in 1945, he was honored with the Stolte Memorial Cup, given to the best all-around athlete.

Because World War II was in full swing in 1945, immediately after his graduation, Stuart enlisted in the military. Throughout the war, he served in the US Army Air Forces.

When the war ended, Stuart earned his Bachelor’s degree from Arnold College, now known as the University of Bridgeport, located in Connecticut. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1952. Once he earned his degree, Stuart settled in Guilford, Vermont, and accepted a position as a physical education teacher at his alma mater, Brattleboro High School. He also coached football and basketball there. In addition to coaching, Stuart was instrumental in starting the Auto Mechanics Training Program at the Vocational Center at the high school, and he was one of the founders of the Brattleboro Little League Post 5 program.

In addition to his classroom and coaching responsibilities, Stuart worked in the real estate and insurance fields. Also, he was very active in town and state government, serving as a selectman, a trustee of the Guilford Fire Department, a trustee of the Guilford Fair Association, a Justice of the Peace, and a Member of the Board of Civil Authority. As if all this were not enough, Stuart was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives on the Republican ticket. He also served in the Vermont State Senate.

This gifted teacher, coach, military veteran, businessman, and politician passed away of natural causes in Vernon, Vermont, on December 9, 2014. He was 87 years old.

Former NFL player Beau Almodobar now teaches PE, coaches football

Posted on by
Beau Almodobar

Former NFL player Beau Almodobar now teaches junior high school physical education and coaches high school football.

There a numerous examples of talented athletes who go on to become coaches after their careers as professional players are complete. This is true of former NFL player Beau Almodobar, who went on to become a junior high school physical education teacher.

Beau was born born October 25, 1962, in San Francisco, California. As a college student, he played college football for the Norwich University Cadets. Norwich, also known as The Military College of Vermont, is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont. It is the oldest private military college in the United States. At 5’9″ and 180 pounds, Beau played the position of wide receiver for the Cadets. After he graduated from the university, he played one season with the New York Giants as a replacement player. That was in 1987.

Beau currently teaches physical education and health at Cyrus Pierce Middle School in Nantucket, Massachusetts. He has served as the Head Varsity Coach for basketball in the Nantucket Public School system, and also coaches football for the Nantucket High School Whalers. A well-rounded athlete, Beau also runs ACKventure summer camps for baseball and basketball for Nantucket youth.

Well done, Beau!

Retired high school and college football coach Alan Weddell

Posted on by
Alan Weddell

Retired high school and college football coach Alan Weddell reacts to a win for his team from La Marque High School in La Marque, Texas.

There are many fine examples of high school athletic coaches. I love to share those stories! One such story is that of Alan Weddell, a retired high school and college football coach from Texas.

Alan was born on March 12, 1950, in Lake Jackson, Texas. While a youth in high school, Alan made a name for himself playing football for Brazosport High School in Freeport, Texas. After his high school graduation in 1969, Alan enrolled at Texas A&M, where he played the position of offensive lineman for the Longhorns. He played there from 1970 to 1972, and during this time, his team was named a National Championship team.

Alan earned his Bachelor’s degree in Production Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1973. He later earned his Master’s degree in Education and Administration from the University of Houston, Victoria.

Alan inaugurated his coaching career as a Junior Varsity and Varsity Assistant Coach at Angleton High School in Angleton, Texas, where he worked from 1973 to 1977. Then he transferred to Victoria High School in Victoria, Texas, where he coached for the next 12 years, the last seven of those as Head Coach. In 1984, the Victoria Stingarees lost every game. Two years later, they went undefeated in the regular season, won District, and made it to the playoffs for the first time. Under Coach Weddell, the Stings also made the playoffs in 1988 and 1989. Twice Alan was named Coach of the Year.

In 1990, Alan moved to La Marque High School in La Marque, Texas, where he worked until 1997. During this period, the gifted athletic coach led his team to five consecutive appearances in the Texas state title game. In three of those years his team took the championship title. Six times he was named District Coach of the Year, and three times he was named Galveston County Coach of the Year. In addition, he served as the Head Coach of the South Squad Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star game in 1997.

In 1998, the highly successful high school football coach was hired by Texas A&M to the position of Assistant Defensive Coordinator. While there, the team participated in the Sugar Bowl (1998), the Alamo Bowl (2000), the Independence Bowl (2001). From there he worked for a short while as the Defensive Coordinator at his Brazoswood High School in Clute, Texas, and then he joined the staff at the University of Houston in 2005. It was from there that Alan retired in November of 2014.

In addition to the accolades already mentioned, in 2018 Alan was honored by the Texas High School Coaches Association when they inducted him into their Hall Of Honor.