Dr. John Thomas, Master Coach--Leading by Example



Dr. John Thomas coaches, teaches, models and inspires...

"A good coach will make his players see what they can be
rather than what they are." -unknown


John Thomas realized at an early age that he had a calling and a gift, coaching and leadership came naturally to him and others responded to his leadership.  "Because of that realization, anything I do in the world of soccer is never a chore, or a job, its fun, its my destiny."  Dr. JT as he is fondly called by his peers, is driven by the fact that many people don't take advantage of opportunities.  "I realize that doors are often opened to us by grace, by it is our responsibility to walk through that door and take advantage of the opportunity afforded us." 

John Thomas has certainly taken advantage of many opportunities throughout his life and has also created opportunities in order to meet his goals and his personal mission to lead and impact others.  John grew up in a small town in New Jersey, divided by tracks that symbolically and physically separated blacks and whites from one another.  It was a poor town that could not afford many athletic programs at its high school but it did offer soccer.  Soccer became the sport that all of the athletes played in his town and John fell in love with it.  He counts his high school soccer coach, Vince M. with being an amazing role model both as a coach and as a person.  "He was one of the first men I met who stood up for the black students at our school.  He allowed seven or eight black athletes on the soccer field at a time when that simply wasn't happening.  It was the early 1970's and we often found ourselves with police escorts to and from games as well as at games to protect us from the hatred and racism directed as us and our coach," John reflected.  "But despite the tension, controversy and drama surrounding our team, Coach M led us to a 78-1 record during my high school soccer career and I earned the distinction of being a HS All American player."

John went on to college at the University of Maryland where he earned a BA in Sociology and continued to play soccer. "I knew that I wanted to help people and my studies in sociology make it easier for me to deal with the whole person, not just the athlete."  After college John joined the Army, determined to earn a living despite a bad economy.  John would spend the next 23 years in the military, 11 in the Army and 12 in the Navy, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant in the Army and the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the Navy by the time he retired in 2003. While in the armed forces John coached the United States, All Navy, All Army AND All Marine soccer teams, winning gold and silver medals in the Armed Forces tournaments.  As the Head Coach of the US Armed Forces National Soccer Team, John led the team to international competition in Italy where the team won First Sportsmanship honors awarded by the International Military Sports Council. He has the distinguished honor of being the only coach to train US Navy, Army, Marine AND United States Armed Forces soccer teams.

While continuing in his role as a coach, soldier, husband and father, John never stopped striving to improve himself academically and earned both a Masters and a PhD in Business Administration.  John has held positions as Assistant Director of Coaching for US Youth Soccer, Adjunct Professor for National University in San Diego, CA, Head Soccer Coach for San Diego Mesa College, and Coach for two Olympic Development Teams.  He currently is running Thomas Soccer, his own company designed to engage young people and train coaches/leaders in under resourced areas.  He knows that soccer provides opportunities across the life spectrum and wants to open that door for young people growing up today. 

One of John's other role models, his Black Studies teacher in HS, Mr. Crawford, taught him to hold his head up and work with pride.  "He encourage us to put our heads up, and challenged us not to look down or slump over when we walked.  That was powerful and important to my classmates, teammates and I.  I want to have that kind of impact, teaching kids about leadership, collaboration and success."  Dr. JT thinks that is what makes him a 'Smart Guy'.  "I believe that if you fail, get back up and try it again.  It's never too late.  Ask for help. Pride can get in the way, don't let it keep you from taking opportunities to move forward and be better."  Dr JT wants all emerging 'Smart Guys' to "always do the best you can, not the best they think you can do, but the best YOU know you can do."

Coach 'Smart Guy',
John Thomas

John is currently working hard with the Black Soccer Association whose mission is to promote soccer in the African American community.  You can learn more about their work at:

http://www.blacksoccerassociation.org/Home_Page.html

Modeling Success: Keith's Story

 Whether kids are striving to be the President, a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, a CEO, a professional athlete or an entertainer, obtaining all of these careers takes a lot of dedication, focus, hard work, studying and listening. So it seems obvious that teachers, mentors and coaches are a very important factor in guiding youth towards their desired careers.  'Smart Guy' Keith Haliburton guides youth from all of those positions.  He is the Physical Education Department Head, Head Coach for football, cross country, track and field, and an Assistant coach for the basketball teams at Forest Oak Middle School, in Fort Worth, Texas. Keith understands the importance of reaching kids early and helping guide them in the correct path.  “I am a mentor, surrogate parent, counselor, trainer, and on many occasions chauffeur.” Haliburton explained. “I have a lot of responsibilities, but I feel it is the calling God placed on my life to be what I am today.”

Haliburton had no idea that this is where he would end up as he began his college career at Grambling State University. Originally, he had aspirations of being a Physical Therapist. However, after working with the football team’s training staff, and seeing the inside scoop on what athletic trainers have to work with and work on, “I felt it wasn’t for me.” Haliburton said.

During Haliburton’s first semester of his sophomore year, while taking an education class, the teaching path opened up for him. He decided that he would be the “light” for the next generation that others were for him in his life.  “I never saw myself as a leader type,” Haliburton said. “Especially being able to lead young minds to a better way of thinking, acting, way of life through education, but after taking a class or two, I began to see how it made total sense for my life.” 

This path to becoming an educator, coach and mentor was not a smooth one for Haliburton. “I grew up on the north side of Fort Worth, up the road from “Dog City,”  and Samson Park, over on 32nd street.” Haliburton said. “At the time the 'Crips' street gang was prevalent. My environment was tainted by poverty. Racism was evident in both the community and in the school I attended. I was called all kinds of racial slurs. I even remember having to face bigotry from educators when I was trying to get into honors classes. I even had to deal with being called a 'sell out' or ‘white boy,’ or 'gay' my first year at Grambling, because I was about my books, and track and field, and I did not put a lot of emphasis on the women.”

As a devout Christian, Haliburton used his faith in God and prayer to get over most of the obstacles that appeared to block his path.  “With most of my challenges, I got over them through prayer and talking with people I trusted like my parents and close friends,” Haliburton continued. “I sacrificed the negative temporary pleasures of life for the positive pleasures of the future. I took time to really assess situations and cross reference them with other peoples experiences so that I would (a) not make the same mistakes and (b) make good use of the resources I had been given.”  Keith understands that there are going to be times that he will make decisions that are not the best, but as long as he takes the opportunity to learn from them and assure that bad decision will not occur twice, he believes that is what makes him a 'smart guy'.

“Do I make mistakes, heck yeah! Am I perfect, not even in the slightest. However, as I make decisions I think heavily about the consequence on a heavenly perspective and not a worldly perspective. I would also have to say taking in wise counsel (from people who have been there and truly have good in their heart for you and knowing how to discern those types of people). Always making sure that if I give my word; I follow up on what I promised, to give the best of my ability. I also feel choosing to go to school at Grambling State University was a pivotal decision in my life. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today… I am somebody.”

Haliburton always advises people to live life fully, yet not at the expense of someone else’s happiness. Treat people, as you would expect to be treated. Sacrifice and work hard to achieve your success. Appreciate those that love and respect you through reciprocation of the same sentiments.  Forgive others for what they do to you, because it allows greater personal growth. Do right by your body because you only have one, exercise! “For those that are believers in Jesus,” Haliburton said. “I would also offer to you to remember who’s you are, and remember he’s watching and evaluating your actions to see how you’re bringing glory to his name. And for my non-believers, do well in the world there is enough bad already.”

Haliburton is consistently impacting the lives of the youth that he comes in contact with on a daily basis. He is providing the kids with a positive African American male role model that many of the kids do not see until they get to Forest Oak. Haliburton routinely pushes his students to be the best that they can be and to go after what they want out of life, whether it being a professional athlete, doctor, lawyer, president or even his own profession, a teacher and coach.

“My focus is on the kids I serve.” Haliburton said. “We as teachers, coaches and after school programs are already  under funded and now the nation is on the bandwagon of cutting funding for education and youth development. Our youth don’t stand a chance with this way of thinking, it simply can't be every man for themselves."

An Educated 'Smart Guy',

Keith



a student athlete from Keith's school