Since I left Golden in 2022, I have always wanted to close the chapter. It was a time I will cherish forever, and a place I learned many lessons. It helped shape the coach and person I am today.
Many people do not realize that my journey to Golden started with rejection. I was twenty-four years old when I walked into an interview with fourteen people on the committee. It was for the head football coaching job at Golden. That interview led to the second and final interview, with just the athletic director and principal.
I was hungry, ready and eager. I remember leaving both interviews confident I would be their next head coach. However, the next day I got a call from the former athletic director.
I will never forget waiting for the call and anticipating good news. The AD called, and I was greeted with disappointment.
“Jared, the committee, and everyone was very impressed by your interview. However, I feel you are too young for this job. We are going with a more experienced coach, who will also bring on some other experienced coaches.”
Those words stung, and I remember telling myself I would apply for a job with a team that played against Golden. In that moment, I told myself I would never interview at Golden again.
Over the next four years, I continued to coach at Pomona as the offensive coordinator. I was in no rush to leave Pomona, but each year I would look to see what head coaching jobs came open.
I remember watching and checking on Golden’s record and scores occasionally. In those four years, they struggled to find any success. It added to a seven-year span at Golden where they only won ten games. That was less than two wins a year.
In 2016 Golden went 1-9, and I got a phone call from the current AD JC Summers (not the same AD as the first time). I remember he told me that they are opening the head football coaching job. He said he had heard my name surface, and he wanted me to interview and apply.
At the time, I was at Pomona and we were in the playoffs. I told Golden I would think about it, but I will not interview while we were in the playoffs. The amount of time to get ready for an interview would not be fair to the current team. He said they would wait until we were done and would reconnect again. We eventually went to state and lost that year.
The next week, I got a call again with all the details for the interview. While I accepted the interview, I was unsure it was a job I wanted to take this time around. Golden was a program that struggled for many years, and the coaches and people in the coaching world did not think it would be a good first job.
I vividly remember being told, “You don’t want your first head coaching job to be your last.” I was also told by many how they didn’t think it was a program that could not be fixed. However, I went against the grain, interviewed and accepted the job.
That year will always be one of the most memorable years I will ever have coaching. The coaching staff and I took over a program that just went 1-9, and a program that had not reached the playoffs in sixteen years. In our first season we went 7-3 and made the playoffs for the first time in sixteen years.
Over the next four years we accomplished what many thought could never happen.
- The first playoff appearance in sixteen years
- The first time beating Wheat Ridge (biggest school rival) in fifteen years
- The best regular season record in twenty-three years at 8-2
- The first playoff win in nineteen years
- 33 wins from 2017-2022 (Five years) — 10 wins from 2009-2016 (Seven years)
- All levels of football in the program
- Doubled the numbers of players in the program from 2017
With that type of success and turnaround it made me reflect on how it happened. As well some of the important lessons I learned with my time at Golden.
- You are only as good as the people you surround yourself with– I was very lucky to have some of the best assistant coaches in the state. They had the drive, energy, focus, and enthusiasm to help turn this program around. In any leadership job I truly believe you are only as good as the people around you. I also had some amazing parents, administrators and staff members.
- W.I.N. (What’s Important Now)– When you have a million things to do where do you start? This acronym is W.I.N. It’s looking at your task and taking care of What’s Important Now (W.I.N.). It is so simple, but it helped me stay focused on the most important task and forced me to prioritize my day.I still use it today.
- Believe in your vision-If you are going to be an authentic leader you need to believe in your vision. You have to see it, feel it and understand it before it happens. When you do this people will follow and listen. It is very important that your vision is realistic and has short and long-term goals.
- You will not be liked or understood by all– There is a quote that says “If you want everyone to like you, sell ice cream. Don’t be a leader.” When you stand for something, and are trying to make a big change, be ready for push-back. Your energy cannot be wasted on the people who are trying to go against the grain. Be strong enough to follow your vision with integrity and conviction.
- Live what your preach-High school kids can read a phony and fraud better than anyone I know. It becomes easier to lead if you practice what you preach. As a coach, I have never asked my coaches or players to do anything I was not willing to do.
- Sometimes a “NO” is the best answer– Being told NO the first time was a disappointment. However, it was probably the best rejection for my career. It made me focus on my craft more, and made me hungry for when the next opportunity came. Don’t let the first no sidetrack your goals.
- Pray-The power or prayer is real. It has helped me gain strength, clarity and focus when I needed it most.
- Let the voice in your heart be stronger then the voices from the crowd- The amount of people who were scared or didn’t want me to take the job was much bigger than the ones that said go for it. However, I felt it was the right time and decision. I can’t explain how that happens, but when you feel something is right in your gut, don’t be afraid to go for it. Trust your instincts. Even if you are the only one who feels it.
If you were a part of my Golden chapter (2017-2022) in any way, I want to thank you for the memories. I will cherish them forever. It was a special time and I know many of us will never forget it. I will be rooting for you forever Golden!
