Football: Coach Casey Clausen

Madison Young: What are your goals for the year?

Casey Clausen: The biggest thing this year is to build a program that the school and community can be proud of, and to build a program that builds the kids confidence and also where they can have fun.

MY: How do you initiate team bonding?

CC: We have a lot of team activities, so football is a very close-knit group. We have two teams this year, so before the games, both teams get together and have a pregame. We also sometimes have beach days.

MY: What do you look for in the players on your team?

CC: Kids that want to compete and will work hard.

MY: What about the sport football appeals to you most?

CC: It’s a team game; it is very fast paced, and you can go out and have fun with friends.

MY: Are you a football player yourself?

CC: Yes, I played in high school and at the University of Tennessee then at Kansas City. •

Tennis: Coach Gerald Matthews

Madison Young: What is the most important lesson you can teach your team throughout the season?

Gerald Matthews: To work hard and gain work ethic. The harder you work the better results you get, so you can achieve the things you want to achieve. 

MY: Did you play the sport you are coaching in high school or college?

GM: Yes, I played it at the levels high school, division one school, at my university and professionally.

MY: What are your goals for the year?

GM: As being a first year coach I want them to have a better environment and to set a new standard for the tennis team and what we can achieve as individuals.

MY: What about the sport tennis appeals to you most?

GM: Tennis is all about you – if you’re prepared, you will succeed, but if you are not prepared, it’s on you. You get all the glory if you do the work but all the blame if you don’t, and tennis is definitely a sport where you have to do the work. •

Soccer: Coach Brian Collins

Madison Young: What is the most important thing you can teach your team this year?

Brian Collins: It is to be competitive, go out and compete at every single game and win or lose they come off the field satisfied with the way they played.

MY: Did you play the sport you are coaching right now in high school and college?

CC: Yes, I played at Newbury Park High School and at Cal Lutheran.

MY: What are your goals for the team this year?

CC: You want to first win league and then try to win CIF. I want the girls to be competitive and to try their hardest and then they will get good results and hopefully do well in league and CIF.

MY: When coaching what do you find is the most effective way to motivate your team?

CC: It depends on the player some you can be verbal and some you can be hard on and they will react to that. Other players you have to do it in more of a positive fashion. Each player is different but all in all I like to coach with positivity.