Warrick Dunn, one of our judges and a former Most Caring Athlete, tells us about his childhood mentors.
By Kathy Rowings
It's that time again! For the 13th year, USA WEEKEND will honor the dedicated individuals who help young athletes achieve excellence on and off the playing field. The Most Caring Coach Awards, co-sponsored by the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame, honor outstanding men and women who, through schools or recreation programs, go beyond typical coaching duties to make a difference in their communities and the lives of kids.
Nominees are eligible if they currently work with kids through high school age. Our judges will select three honorees, whom you'll meet in a spring issue.
Or, mail to:
Most Caring Coach, USA WEEKEND
7950 Jones Branch Dr.
McLean, Va. 22107
Nominations must be postmarked by
Feb. 1, 2008.
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Employees of Gannett and USA WEEKEND carrier newspapers, as well as their family members, are ineligible. Honorees must sign a release. Entries become the property of USA WEEKEND Magazine and will not be returned.
Go to topOur 2009 judges: Pat Coyle, coach of the WNBA's New York Liberty
Warrick Dunn, 2008 inductee into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame
Denis Hamlett, head coach of the Chicago Fire soccer team
Kelly Inouye-Perez, UCLA softball coach
Gary Wilson, University of Minnesota women's cross-country coach
Hilary Witt, Yale women'sice hockey coach
Winners will be recognized at the hall of fame's awards dinner in June 2009. Each will receive $1,000 for the team or a charity.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' running back Warrick Dunn, 33, knows firsthand how the right mentors can make a difference in the lives of kids. He credits one of his childhood football coaches, Maelen "Choo-Choo" Brooks, with teaching him life lessons. "He taught me that we're not all perfect, that we'll all make mistakes," Dunn says. "If you don't make the grades at school or you talk back to your parents, you're going to have to pay the price for that. But you're also going to have the opportunity to correct yourself and be better in the future."
A great youth coach should be patient, know how to motivate players and bring the team together, Dunn says: "Coaches set the example, on and off the field. It's important that they talk to their players, tell them to stay away from drugs, stay off the streets, respect their parents. If your coach volunteers, the players will follow, and the coach should encourage it. Whether it's feeding the hungry or going to see a kid in the hospital, all it takes is something small that can make a big difference in someone's life."
Dunn has found unique ways to give back: His Homes for the Holidays program helps single parents achieve the dream of home ownership. As he writes in his new autobiography, "Running for My Life," his inspiration was his own single mother, a Baton Rouge police officer who was killed when he was a high school senior. Since 1997, the program has helped 78 single parents, with 205 kids, become homeowners. "If she were still here, she'd want to continue to help people and point them in the right direction," he says. "That's what I want to do, too."
