Kent Reporter Coach of the Month: Billy Bergendahl

The Kent Reporter Coach of the Month is Billy Bergendahl from Canyon Ridge Middle School track and field coach.

KSD Athletics is working with coaches and athletes to better understand #myreasonwhy they participate in athletics. Please share with us your reasons for coaching.

When asked about who influenced me the most growing up, 4 out of 5 of my people would be a coach of mine. Coaching to me is a lot more than the sport itself. It overflows into the lives of our athletes. We act as mentors, counselors, supporters, motivators, and many other titles. I love sports, but I especially love building confidence, fostering discipline, modeling perseverance, and creating positive environments for our athletes. I am who I am today because of the influence my coaches had on me growing up. I aim to be that for others as I coach and lead student athletes.

What are some of the ways you seek to explore and provide opportunities for students to become involved in athletics?

I have the opportunity to see kids throughout the school day on campus. Throughout the day I ask kids questions and encourage them to join in sports. Whether that’s the sport I am coaching or a different sport that they clearly are gifted at. My hope is that they are able to come and try it out. Another area where I have focused some attention this season has been with our Unified team. I work in an Inclusive Education classroom and have been able to work with students and their families to have them join the track team. This year we had our 1st Unified track and field team. Unified is a branch of the Special Olympics organization that helps provide resources and funding for school inclusion. We had 3 unified athletes this season! That was a huge win for our team, school and community. To find out more about Unified go see their mission and website at: https://www.specialolympics.org/about/mission

After they leave your school, what are some of things you hope your students will take away from their experiences on your teams and with athletics?

As athletes move on from my teams, my hope for them is that they continue to show positivity, excellent sportsmanship, and that they try new things. I encourage athletes to push their comfort zone a little and explore new things. Whether that is a new skill, a new sport, a new technique, or a new thought. Seek to understand things more by exploring other options and techniques. They may surprise themselves along the way.

Do you have a favorite book that has helped you become a better coach?

Most days, the only books I read are children’s books, both at my job and at home. However, my most consistent book would be my bible. It teaches me how to be patient with athletes and their families, kind to all teams and officials, self-control when things get frustrating, gentle in times of hardship and how to find joy in the everyday and what I bring to the table as a coach.

Why does this coach deserve to be honored as Coach of the Month?

Billy exhibits everything that you could want in a coach for middle school athletes. From a listener when an athlete is having a day to a booming motivator when someone doesn’t think they’re capable, he does it all. Prior to this year we had zero athletes participating in our unified athletics program, now we have at least 3 athletes running on unified track teams. Thanks to Billy. Outside of track he encourages students to participate in a variety of after-school activities from our after-school E Sports intramural activity to wrestling and football, which he also coaches. It is easy to see why Billy deserves to be honored as Coach of the Month when you walk through the halls of CR.