A story in the Modesto, Calif., Bee, about a first-year coach in their community, gives credit to the football coach at Grace Brethren High School in Simi Valley, Calif. (The Simi Valley school is a ministry of the Grace Brethren Church there, where Jordan Bakker, is senior pastor.) A portion of the story appears below. Click here for the complete article.
How do you go 8-0 at a school with low enrollment and first-year coach? Order.
One by one, the Big Valley Christian varsity football team files out of a meeting room with military precision.
Each footfall replaced by another. They don’t speak or step out of line. In blue jeans and uniform tops, they are indistinguishable.
First-year coach Brian Berkefeld believes in order above chaos. He likes straight lines and silence. He inherited this meticulous nature from his former boss, Grace Brethren coach John Henderson.
“We always tell our kids we want to outclass our opponents in everything we do, whether it’s stretching or how we walk onto the field,” Berkefeld says. “In all the things we do, we want to say we do it better. Hopefully, by doing all the little things right that translates to wins on the field.
“It doesn’t always, but I like to think so.”
Berkefeld hopes Big Valley Christian is on its way. A straight-edge program has burned a straight line through its schedule: Eight wins in eight games, and a Central California Athletic Alliance title within site.
“He’s the most influential coach I’ve ever had,” Berkefeld said of Henderson, “even as a player.”
Click here for the complete article.