Sports: pages

From player to coach

New head coach David Bryant coaches football where he once played

said Bryant. (Photo by Vincent Hsiao)

by Joseph Baker

health & sports staff

ike Tarpey left the head

Mfootball coach position open at Ladue in 2021. After leaving the job to be come in. I believed that he could take David Bryant, who was previously the defensive coordinator for the Ladue football team, was named the new over and with the energy he has, he would succeed.” In the early 2000s Bryant played underneath Tarpey as a running back and come in. I believed that he could take over and with the energy he has, he would succeed.” In the early 2000s Bryant played untaken by someone else, this opportunity was then taken by David Bryant, who is now became Ladue’s new head coach for the "Outside of just the football team. After 24 years as the head coach, Tarpey felt �oot�all feld and coaching those �ids� it was time to move on it's helped me be more and give someone else compassionate." the oppurtunity to be in the position he once held. In order for a new David Bryant person to succeed as the leader of the team, they needed to have a similar level of passion as Tarpey did, or more.

“It was just time for me to pass [the head coaching job] on to somebody who I felt could take over the path I laid and that allowed for me to get out,” Tarpey said. “It needed to be coach Bryant to head coach this summer. He took the job linebacker. Having a strong connection after it was vacated by previous head coach, Mike "Outside of just the football feld and coaching those with the sport and an ability to lead others made him a considerTarpey, after the kids, it's helped me be more able candidate for the 2021 season. compassionate." position. Feeling that After 24 years as the head David Bryant, coach Bryant would be a good successor because of coach, Tarpey felt his history with team, it was time to move on and give someone Tarpey gave him the else the oppurtunity to be in the position position and his suphe once held. In order for a new person port. Bryant is also a to succeed as the leader of the team, they skilled communicator who can be a leadneeded to have a similar level of passion er to others, forming a strong team bond. as Tarpey did, or more. “My teacher for speech and debate

“It was just time for me to pass [the thought that I would be a pastor one head coaching job] on to somebody who day,” Bryant said. “I never quite saw myI felt could take over the path I laid and that allowed for me to get out,” Tarpey said. “It needed to be coach Bryant to derneath Tarpey as a running back and linebacker. Having a strong connection with the sport and an ability to lead others made him a considerable candidate for the position. Feeling that Bryant would be a good successor because of his history with team, Tarpey gave him the position and his support. Bryant is also a skilled communicator who can be a leader to others, forming a strong team bond. “My teacher for speech and debate thought that I would be a pastor one day,” Bryant said. “I never quite saw myself in that realm, but I definitely saw myself communicating with people and leading people. Once I finished my playing career, I was just trying to figure a way to stay connected to the game of football. For me, coaching was that opportunity.”

Football was a pillar of Bryant’s life from a very early age in his childhood because of his famiy's long-held affinity for the game they cherished. It created an early passion towards the sport having a grounded family connection with the game in its entirety.

“I had an uncle who played in the NFL [Henry Jones of the Buffalo Bills],” Bryant said. “When I was growing up, foot- ball was a really big sport. All the men in the family played football at some point. Not that it was a forced thing — I always enjoyed football — but it was definitely something I knew I would try out.”

With having such a natural fondness for football and leadership, Bryant is the type of person to inspire his players, just as the men in his family inspired him to succeed. Bryant’s time spent playing football has allowed him to “push himself to

self in that realm, but I definitely saw myself communicating with people and leading people. Once I finished my playing career, I was just trying to figure a way to stay connected to the game of football. For me, coaching was that opportunity.”

Football was a pillar of Bryant’s life from very early on because of his famiy's affinity for the game they cherished. It created an early passion towards the sport having a grounded family connection with the game in its entirety.

“I had an uncle who played in the NFL [Henry Jones of the Buffalo Bills],” Bryant said. “When I was growing up, football was a really big sport. All the men in the family played football at some point. Not that it was a forced thing — I always enjoyed football — but it was definitely something I knew I would try out.”

With having such a natural fondness for football and leadership, Bryant is the type of person to inspire his players, just as the men in his family inspired him to succeed. Bryant’s time spent playing foot-

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ball has allowed him to “push himself to helps anyone on the team facing hardhis limits” in everything he does. This his limits” in everything he does. This ships or difficult up-bringings. Bryant translates to his coaching career and has translates to his coaching career and has is teaching the players lessons that will allowed him to lead his team e allowed him to lead his team effectively ffectively help them flourish in their lives outside and wholeheartedly. He stands out as a and wholeheartedly. He stands out as a of high school football. profound leader making a title for him-profound leader making a title for him- “[I want them to start] investing in self and helping others reach their full self and helping others reach their full themselves, invest in the sport. [I want potential as football players. potential as football players. them to] think about how anything you "He's a good leader,” said Chase Allen, "He's a good leader,” said Chase Al- do in life that is worthwhile takes effort,” a team captain. “He can also be intimi-len, a team captain. “He can also be in- Bryant said. “[They have to realize] that dating in a good way which makes you timidating in a good way which makes when you are doing anything at a highwant to listen to him. Also he's one of the you want to listen to him. Also he's one er level, your talent in those areas can smartest people I've been around football of the smartest people I've been around only take you so far. Work ethic is always wise. He really knows what he's talking football wise. He really knows what he's something you can fall back on when about. He knows how to get you going talking about. He knows how to get you times get hard or when your talent can't and can really lead the team really well.” going and can really lead the team really pull you any further ahead.” Bryant’s coaching has farther impacts well.” Experiencing first-hand how football beyond the sport itself, helping players Bryant’s coaching has farther impacts shaped his life to be able to express the get better at football and in the process, beyond the sport itself, helping players valuable skills that he had obtained from learning everlasting life lessons. Bryant is get better at football and in the process, playing the sport, it is not surprising that a charismatic type of person who’s there learning everlasting life lessons. Bryant is Bryant wanted to pass on his passion and for his players and works with different a charismatic type of person who’s there legacy to a new team. people from all backgrounds of life, unfor his players and works with diferent “I always view football as a coach and derstanding their situations. Through people from all backgrounds of life, un- as a player," Bryant said. "[Football is] the communication and compassion, Bryant derstanding their situations. Through sport that I relate to the most in life." P communication and compassion, Bryant helps anyone on the team facing hard- ships or difficult up-bringings. Bryant is teaching the players lessons that will help them flourish in their lives outside of high school football. “[I want them to start] investing in themselves, invest in the sport. [I want them to] think about how anything you do in life that is worthwhile takes effort,” Bryant said. “[They have to realize] that when you are doing anything at a higher level, your talent in those areas can only take you so far. Work ethic is always something you can fall back on when times get hard or when your talent can't pull you any further ahead.” Experiencing first-hand how football shaped his life to be able to express the valuable skills that he had obtained from playing the sport, it is not surprising that Bryant wanted to pass on his passion and legacy to a new team. “I always view football as a coach and as a player," Bryant said. "[Football is] the sport that I relate to the most in life." P

TARPEY'S TOP TIPS

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“Coach your program for kids that aren't the star players.”

“Create a culture of teammate accountability instead of accountability to coach.”

“Win or lose you want kids to go home feeling that they got something out of the game.”