A good coach is, “someone who devotes all their time and effort into their athletes,” said Senior Chris Canseco. Senior Chris Maligsa said, “A good coach is knowledgeable of the sport, inspirational towards their athletes and colleagues, and passionate about his or her work.” According to Senior Tim Patrick, “A good coach is somebody that knows where to put their players and someone that listens to the team.” Senior Janay Pierce said, “Someone who not only cares about us on the track, but off the track and makes sure that we get good grades and stay focused on the important factors of life.” At UCHS, a good coach is defined as Coach John Hutsel, who is the 2010-2011 Commander Coach of the Year. Hutsel is the Head Coach of the UCHS Football Team and Track Team.
Hutsel has been coaching at UC ever since the school opened in 1980. According to Hutsel, he was inspired by his coaches at Point Loma High School, Former Coach Rick Mitchel and Former Coach Bob Vee, who were and still are his mentors. Mitchel initiated the track program at UC and was succeeded by Hutsel in 1983. “The coaches I had in high school were very important in my life and helped me grow into becoming a better person. I guess it’s just one of those payback things,” said Hutsel. He used to be a javelin thrower but unfortunately separated his shoulder and that ended his career. Mitchell asked Hutsel to help out for a year, and Hutsel eventually took over, became coach of the track team, and in three years became coach of the football team.
“Hutsel’s a great coach because he pushes you to do your best,” said Junior Marin Sanders. “When you’re having trouble with something, he tries to do his best to fix whatever the problem is. He pushes us really hard, but gives positive feedback on what we’re doing right, instead what we’re doing wrong.”
Hutsel not only trains an athlete’s physical body but their character. He always tells his athletes, “Be the best you can, understand the responsibility that being an athlete has, and this is as much about athletics as it is about becoming a better person and better part of society. It’s the same thing my coaches taught me when I was in high school,” said Hutsel.
“He definitely kept me focused and forced me to come to school, even though I didn’t want to. He helped me with my grades, and made me come to tutoring sometimes. He always put academics before sports,” said Senior Tim Patrick.
“He pushed me to become better as an athlete, a leader, and an individual,” said Maligsa. “He also encouraged me to push past what I thought were my limits in order to improve my abilities.”
“He got me motivated to go to the practices, stay on the team, and realize my full potential and what I can do in this sport [track],” said Pierce.
Hutsel has coached a myriad of successful athletes throughout his career. According to Hutsel, Alumnus Matt Brock later became an All-Pro football player for the New York Jets and later the Green Bay Packers. Alumnus Felix Sanchez, nicknamed as Super Felix, the Invincible, is a Four-Time Gold-Medalist in the Olympics and was named Track and Field News Track & Field Athlete of the Year in 2003 (trackandfieldnews.com). Blake Frazier was the number one ranked high school athlete in the world for 110 hurdles in 2002. Alumnus Jerome Price was the number one ranked 19 and under long jumper in the world in 1990. Alumnus Paul Turner held the National High School Indoor Record for the men’s 50 meter in 1993 (athletic.net). All these athletes were coached and trained by Hutsel and became phenomenal successes. “UC has always had amazing student athletes that are achievers and they’re willing to do what it takes to become the best they can,” said Hutsel.
“What the athletes, that I know, have overcome in their personal lives to succeed and the hurdles they have overcome are just so amazing, at times, that they inspire me,” said Hutsel.