Defensive Coordinator Returns to Coaching

Coach Ramos and LB Kayla "Gorilla" Bruner

by MICHAEL RAMOS

"You know he's going to ask you to coach, right?"

That was my wife's response when I told her that Rick wanted to meet me for lunch.  Rick had been offensive coordinator on a team I had helped coach.  He and I have developed a mutual respect for each other.

Normally I would chalk her response up to her uncanny ability to read the vibes of others (think Malcom Gladwell's, Blink).  This time, however, it didn't take Nostradamus to know the "meeting" was going to be an invitation back into coaching.

Rick and several players had previously been on a team that had started to unravel.  While they had success on the field, the environment they were in wasn't ideal.  As a result, he and several players walked away.  Rumor had it they were forming a new team.

So we met at Rocky Mountain Pizza, a pizza place in Sandy.  We exchanged pleasantries, talked family, and politics.  But I knew it was coming.

"Hoki's starting a new team," he finally said.

"So I've heard," I replied, knowing there was more.

"The Utah Falconz," he continued, "and it's going to be done the right way.  I want you to run the defense."

The initial inclination was to resist.  I'd coached two women's teams, and was content with early retirement.  But Rick, as silver-tongued as a politician, knows how to get your attention.

"These ladies deserve better.  Think about Bean, Berry and Hoki; they don't deserve to have their careers ended the way they were."

And they didn't.  Aside from being good football players, they are great people.  (Nicole) Berry is sweet, engaging, and the real-life version of Elsa from Frozen.  (Louise) Bean was the smack-talking quarterback who just wants to be the best.  And Hoki Jolley, she's the protective mother who often puts others before herself.

Her sacrifice was evident by the fact she was looking to build a team.  It was surprising, and not surprising at the same time.

Then Rick explained what "the right way" was going to be:

-Safety first - Players' safety is more important than wins and losses.  This was a big one for me.

-Coaching autonomy - Those who know me know that I'm a free-spirit.  And I don't take micro-managing well.  One team I worked with, players had all the power.  On another team, the owner called the shots.  Hoki's new team was to be the perfect balance.  Hoki takes care of administrative duties.  Players would police themselves via an Honor Committee, and coaches would be allowed to decide all on-field issues.  It was perfect.

But Rick wasn't done, "Think of all the players who will come back to women's football because you're coaching."

That was all I needed.  Not for any sense of ego, but because there were women who left the game who wouldn't play for any other team in Utah.  I knew they would come back if given the right opportunity.

I told Rick I needed to think about it.  But we both knew I was all-in on being a Falcon.

As soon as I got home my wife said, "You're going to coach again, aren't you?"

It's like she's got a sixth sense or something.

*(This was confirmed months later. During one of our first practices, I put my arm around team-captain Jessie Barlow and said, "I'm so glad you're back."
To which she said, "I'm only back because of you.")