Samo’s Clark named ABC Sports’ coach of the week

Brooke WeissStaff WriterAfter hard work this season and perseverance throughout his four years of coaching, Samo football coach Travis Clark was named ABC 7 NFL High School Coach of the Week on Oct. 31.The award is given on a weekly basis to high school coaches around California. Coaches can be nominated by anyone for their coaching methods, connection with players, team’s accomplishments and other skills. Clark was put on the radar and set apart from all other coaches due to Samo’s Athletic Director Daniel Escalera. “I immediately wrote the letter of recommendation and sent it to ABC 7,” Escalera said. “I believe Clark is a perfect candidate for ABC’s program. He deserves this award, putting each and every one of the players’ problems before his. He is an amazing role model to all.”The football coaches nominated all have a different method of teaching young athletes about the game of football. According to ABC’s application process, they look past a team’s record, focusing mostly on the coach’s off-the-field efforts and how the athletes respect and idolize their coach. According to Escalera, Clark’s connection to players on a higher level than just football is one of the many reasons why he is such a successful leader. He said Clark is like a father figure to the team and constantly pushes the players to reach their full potential.“[Clark] produces. His program has gotten stronger every year. The kids love him and would do anything for him,” Escalera said. “He has done a good job representing the school through the football program.”Clark, a former Samo football player himself, works for hours with the team after school, conditioning both his and the players’ passion. The players’ families and parents also have an incredible amount of love and respect for Clark and his character. They feel Clark’s presence has shaped their children into better, stronger, more respectable people.“Coach Clark is someone who is dedicated beyond 100 percent. He is one of the most inspirational speakers I have heard and has so much passion,” Johanna De La Rosa, sophomore and varsity corner back and wide reciever Josh De La Rosa’s mom said. “One of the best moments I remember about Clark is when he called a last minute, off season meeting last Feburary. About 90 players were there and he addressed all of the players with such dignity and respect. He truly has a deep connection to each of the boys. He didn’t mainly talk to them about football, he talked to them about being young men. He told them that in the commnuity, on the field and in the locker room, ‘it’s all in the details,’ which was his motto to the boys. He discussed how he needed players who would be dedicated and would work as hard as possible. But most importantly, Clark cares about the players’ education. He emphasizes the idea of being unified but mainly, [he] sets the children up for success. He guides them and puts them into the real world but makes it clear that the rest of their future is up to them. He gives these players what he did not get from his coach. The Vikings play for him, win for him and would do anything for him. Clark is not a coach to these boys, he is an incredibly important man in their lives who has made them grow into exceptional young men.” The Vikings are grateful to have a man like Clark teach them the game of football.“Our team couldn’t have progressed this much without a coach like Clark,” junior and kicker Denicio Gonzalez-Drake said. “He understands us. Anyone could watch him practice with us and see all of the patience and impact he has with our team. At random times during practice, he just breaks down and shows us his emotional side. He constantly reminds us how much he loves and truly cares about us.”The Vikings see all sides of Clark, cherishing and experiencing his tough love. As a coach, Clark feels that without correction, there is no room for a player’s growth. He also feels that without this necessary criticism, a coach does not show true compassion towards the kids.Clark feels honored to be recognized by such a notable program. However, his humble and modest mindset focuses mainly on how he can help the players grow as people. His main goal is to teach all of the players that the game is more than just a sport and at the same time, can influence the rest of their lives in a positive light.“I don’t do this thing for me. I do this for the kids and my love for the game,” Clark said. “I am amazed by what the sport of football can do for kids and their lives. It is an awesome honor to be acknowledged, but I am more proud of all of the players’ individual accomplishments along with the team efforts.” ABC 7 came to Samo to film on the football field on Wednesday, Oct. 31. The final segment aired on Saturday, Nov. 3. The filming brought huge exposure to Samo’s football program, which is something Clark is excited about.“The program is recognized in a nice light and the fact that they [were] featured with me on ABC is just another way that Samo can bask in its glory,” Clark said. Not only does this award show the accomplishments Clark has made throughout his career, it shows how Samo has progressed as a team throughout the season. “The hardest thing about coaching is time. I take loads of time away from my own family,” Clark said. “You need to give these kids more time than your own and you give them all of this time that you can’t get back. However, each and every one of these players makes me excited to coach them every day.”However, this award is long overdue. Clark has been putting all aspects of his life into the Samo football program since his first day coaching here at Samo. “His love and ardor for the Samo football team is incredible. I hope he realizes what a legacy he is to the school and how much we love and honor his presence. We hope to have him stay at Samo for a long, long time,” Josh De La Rosa said. Clark is the alpha male, leader of the pack and the father of the tight-knit football family. The idea of coaching is not a job to Clark; it’s a passion that he would put before anything. He takes care of each and every player like a child of his own, not only teaching them the game of football, but sharing life lessons and acting as a figure who is there for any one of the kids at any given time of the day. His passion and love for football and the players inspire the players and give them all motivation to win, not only for themselves, but for Clark as well.“Not only has he proven us to be a successful football team, he has made us successful in life. From the football field, to the classroom and as a gentleman, Clark has made the Samo football team invincible,” junior and linebacker Jack Keslow said. “Speaking for the team as a whole, we will always love him and honor him for his generous gift of coaching.”bweiss@thesamohi.com