Sports don’t always rely on how you play the game.

The coach-athlete support structure needs to be strong. For that to happen, a coach has to teach the students how to impact the world positively.

Jordan Ramey, the head girl’s basketball coach and Algebra II teacher, always supports the students he teaches. During basketball games, he gives criticism while also building the team closer together. He doesn’t only think about what’s happening on the court.

“I think our jobs as educators, teachers and coaches is to be an extended family,” Ramey said. “To help students learn. Not only about algebra, science or whatever class they’re in, but about life lessons that are going to teach them beyond school.”

The stereotype of athletes being selfish and rude has been prominent in the media and society. At our school, we have the opportunity to change it and set a standard of our ability in sports.

“My belief in teaching and coaching for me is to be a difference maker,” Ramey said. “When I hear the word education, I don’t think books. I think of shaping the students into good people. I believe education will help athletes beyond just sports. To achieve this, I build good relationships with students so that way they feel that they have someone that they can either talk to or run something by.”

Being an athlete is about the effort and mental strength that you maintain while playing and practicing.

“I believe positive energy comes from you deciding that’s what you want to bring,” Ramey said. “It’s an attitude. It’s something that doesn’t naturally happen. You have to bring good energy into the gym, onto the floor or onto the field. You can’t just walk out there and go okay, ‘good things are going to happen!’ You have to will them to happen.”