LovePrints - Wakefield Warriors Head Basketball Coach Tony Bentley

The baby faced assassin. He appears to be the neighborhood dad, the guy next door, and the guy you want to know. And then he starts coaching, and you realize that he is authentic in his ways, and you begin to lean in. You begin to look closer, and it becomes clearer. He is that dude. He is that guy. You would trust him with your name and your kids because he has learned to trust them with his. His value system is noticeable in that he gives proper weight to his name and yours. He understands that they both matter, and that he must be trustworthy to gain their trust, and yours. And he does. Coach Bentley is the product of a loving family, a tight knit community, and a sports circle of successful friends and associates who all have enough trust in him that they are not only connected, but they stay connected because something good is going on around him. Something good is coming because of him. Something good is coming from him. And he makes you care. You want to be around when those good things happen. You must. And, they never leave his circle. They are loyal. He is loyal.

Arlington County is a unique place. Diverse and unified, while still functioning within separate and different communities. Coach Bentley is a product of South Arlington's Green Valley (Nauck if you must), and North Arlington's Washington-Lee High School. And somehow, he has taken those two different worlds and created a culture at a Wakefield High School Basketball Program that includes anyone willing to trust in him, and him in them. Anyone willing to care enough about their name and his to do their best, for one another. For the school, program, community, family, and self. The program is special. The community is special. The result is special. It starts with its leaders. Coach Bentley is a leader.

Coach Bentley is humble. He will say (rightfully so) that he is blessed with great kids, great support from his wife, his family, his school, his community, and his amazing, experienced staff. All true. But there are coaches who also get those things and do not have the impact that Tony does. Tony is the energy source that moves the program. And its through him that the program gets light. It starts with him.

I call him the baby faced assassin. He smiles as he prowls the basketball sidelines. He smiles because he knows that he has honored this thing the right way. And in that, something good is coming. Something good is why he does it. And in that, he knows that he can smile. All of those in his circle have already won. Family. Community. School. Program. Friends. They have all won.

Coach Will Hawes is love and faith in action. LovePrints everywhere.

Linda Gross

Today I'm grateful for this man.. most people call him "Coach", but Will Hawes is so much more then that. He has been so much to so many people. To me he's been a friend and a mentor. We've had some incredible talks about his life experiences, his walk with God and I've picked his brain when I needed advice about something. We met when we both worked at LCA. He was a teacher, coach and mentor. Like me, he was also a host parent to many kids over the years. His heart was to pour into their lives and show them God's love. One particular young man from Germany completely did a 180 largely because of the love, commitment and time Will spent pouring into his life. Will often wasn't given the opportunity to run with the ideas he had and I don't feel he was really fully given the chance to do what his heart wanted to do, which was take kids under his wing and love and mentor them. But he's gone on to continue and further his God given gift of teaching, mentoring, preaching and unconditional love to touch the lives of those he comes in contact with. I'm proud and honored to have worked with him for the same cause. And although I don't see he and his wife Kathryn much anymore, I'll always consider them dear friends and I have no doubt that wherever he is or whatever he's doing, Will is pouring into the lives of kids and doing what he knows how to do. Love God and love people. I'm thankful for you my friend. Thank you for being down in the trenches with me and doing it with such joy and passion. -Linda Gross

This letter was shared with me, so I am sharing it with you. Here is why:

When you measure a man, start where you will, and end up where you will, but get to the heart. In the case of Will Hawes, no matter where you start or finish, inside or out, into the heart and outward, he is LARGE. Almost superhuman. And the energy that hits you from him, even from a distance, is all consuming. He is part Giant, part elf, and all purpose. He possesses a spirit that is only out-shined by his his over sized shadow, which is there as a signal of attention before he gets there, and a reminder of his path crossing yours afterwards. And no matter what the path led, it would be forever changed and bettered by your crossing his.

An athlete of talent, drive, and IQ to match his imposing height and mass. A wrecking ball of manhood, and the ability to set a foundation with it for all of those in his orbit to base their direction and purpose with. To call him a gentle giant might be a disservice to his ability to wreak havoc on nonsense and malaise. He is all love, and often, love is loud. It is often forceful. It is often driven and direct. And in that, is brilliance. The kind of brilliance that changes paths and direction, that changes ways and meanings, that changes lives and living.

As a leader of young people, he goes first. He has gone first. And that is leadership. That is command. That is needed. He makes it easy for those in his charge to trust. He makes it easy for them to believe. He makes it easy for them to be authentic. Most importantly, he makes it easier for them to love and be loved. He cheers truth and character. He understands flaws and mistakes, but redirects and leads anew, and that is from his heart.

He loves. He cares. He matters. And, he is authentic. As a coach, he is in it for the right reasons. He loves. He cares. He matters. He is authentic.

My brother. My Brother's Keeper. My man. My dude. My partner in love crimes. His LovePrints are covering the world in love. And he is covered in them.

Thank you Linda. Thank you Coach.

We need and love you both!

Fairfax Football Academy Coach Barry Thompson has left LovePrints everywhere.

One. Just one special one. Barry Thompson, Founder of Fairfax Football Academy is a special one.

If we get lucky, as coaches, players, teachers, mentors, students, parents, or fans, we run across one special one. Just one. Of any of them.

I luckily have happened to have crossed paths with several of each in my life. Incredibly fortunate. And in most cases, they are far to humble to speak of or for themselves, so I ill use this vehicle to speak on them, of them, and about them. It is not that people do not speak about them, it is HOW they speak about them that I wish to change. I will start this one with someone that I am close to, and someone that I admire deeply. As I explain who he is, I will explain those traits about him that make him special. Special to me, to others, to anyone. Barry Thompson of Fairfax Football Academy is a unicorn in a dancing grizzly bears clothing.

I first met him in Arlington, Virginia back in 1975. We were both attending Swanson Jr. High School, and he was already an elite student and athlete. He also was already forming as a leader of his peers and community. He ran track, was a roller skating phenom, a black quarterback, and a wrestler. And what anyone that ever met him can tell you that he sparkles. We met again at Washington-Lee High School in the same country, and his trajectory continued as a human and as an athlete. On a team with future Division 1 and NFL players among them, he was still a leader of stars. A "do it the right way", "is that your best effort", "now that we are done working, lets smile" kind of guy. Those traits took him to Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, a factory of amazing leaders itself.

His story goes deeper off the field, than on. Yes, he was a high school quarterback who was athletic enough to switch positions to play defensive back in college. No small statement there at all. And another key to his uniqueness and his ability to analyze, adapt, and succeed. And those things serve him well today, as a honorable son, a loving husband, a doting father, and a shining light to young people all over the country.

Life put us on each other's paths again some 25 years after high school. A random encounter at a youth league event put us face to face, and back in time. The quarterback in his huddle, calling his wide receiver to attention and tasking the troops with the next goal. And off we went, to rally some younger troops in a new place and a different times. But the same ole QB, same leadership and wisdom. And, the IT thing. The subtle character and trust factor that makes you want to GO! The thing that makes you want to work, improve, and try to be better. He is truly unique in his energy to assist, lead, and love.

He is blessed and gifted with a partner in life of epic standard. She too, a beacon of light, good, and beauty. Strong, resilient, and purposeful, she is the backbone to the family and community, and the two of them have raised two of the most incredibly beautiful humans anyone can imagine or hope for. Two life stars who will grow to change the world for the better, and that is why they are here. To be the standard makers and North Stars. I applaud them as loudly and proudly as I can, no matter where they are or what they are doing. It's like standing on a beach as the sun rises. The beauty is astonishing, and the possibilities are endless.

I know a lot of great people. I know a lot of great coaches. Barry is the type of person/coach that everyone should know. He is a walking, talking, good filled LOVEPRINT.

WT Woodson Cavaliers Basketball Coach Doug Craig leaves his LovePrints

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Doug Craig is far too humble to say any of this about himself, so I will say this for him. He is deserving of every award and accolade given to him, and some that have eluded him. He is actually in the profession of young people for the right reason. He cares. He has recently led the WT Woodson Cavaliers Basketball team to its first Virginia 6A Boys Basketball Championship in its proud and successful history, and to say that is maybe under selling the accomplishment. He will not take credit for it. And that may be the true genius in the man. He does not need the credit. He needs to care.

I will say that all coaches care. Maybe not in the right way or about the right thing. But they care. Maybe most care enough to collect the check, peel off the camp money, and all of the while, keep an eye open for the NEXT better option. Doug has this unique thing that happens as the lights get brighter. He lets others shine in it, and he is off to the shadows and dark corners to find an advantage. He is Lehigh in an non Lehigh community. He is well thought, well prepared, and he is love.

Not one player would say that he did not care. He openly cares, often to the point of tears and private tantrums. And public tantrums too. (Yes, he is human, but it is a part of his charm). But his genius is in the fact that everyone knows that he cares the right way, about the right people, for the right reasons. And that, well, is everything good.

In a program full of larger than life personas, stats, legendary eyes, and critical masses, Doug manages to love loudly, proudly, and on time. He stomps and growls to protect his charges, only to crack a brilliant smile when he thinks no one is looking so that they do not see the genius at work. He barks in rhythm to pace required for boundaries and rules, only to whisper instructions forward to move the mission forward. He takes time for his family, his students, and his community, all while obsessing privately over the detail. THAT detail. The one that will come in handy when no one thinks he has anything left in the bag. And then there is the heart. That leadership heart.

His wins on the floor and in the classroom are covered in love, trust, and care. He has talented players, who care. He has amazing parents, who care. He has enthusiastic fans, who care. And he has the family who stand him up straight, dress him up, purpose him forward, and care. They are the reason why he cares. He is covered in it. From his parents, siblings, amazing wife, and his future world dominating kids, he is covered in care. He is covered in LovePrints, and it is apparent that nothing else sticks.

He teaches with love. He coaches with love. He mentors with love. He rallies the community with love. Actually, he has come into a tough crowd community, and won them over. He outlasted the haters. He outworked his doubters. He won over the crowd.  And now they are his. He is love, and loved.

I am proud to say this for him. He is too humble to do so for himself. But I care. He is love, and loved.

A White House visit with My Brother's Keeper

Finally, time to sit down and share more details of my  LovePrints mentor trip to White House and the My Brother's Keeper initiative. I will try and make it short. I have been working with President Obama's initiative My Brothers Keeper for the past two years, spawning LovePrints into action. My Brothers Keeper is about helping young people get on track, stay on track, and have support in doing so. For its 2nd anniversary, some of us were invited to the White House to celebrate the work. There would be a Stakeholders meeting and reception, with speakers from the Presidents cabinet, and several financial supporters of the initiative. Also present were mentees, and select mentors. Some spoke. We all shared. We shared stories of why we do what we do, for whom do we do it, and how we do it. As I have said, I am not sure why I got invited. But I was. Now, lets jump to my why I do this. Apparently, this is big. WHY?.

When asked who we do this for, my mind bounced like a ping pong ball in a tight cube. The name that came to mind was one. It was bright and glowing. It was so BOLD AND BRILLIANT. We asked to all call out the name of the person. For me, it was the person that I thought of the entire time I stood in the security line to be cleared to go in. It was the name that made me cry, because I wish that they could be with me. It made me smile because it would make them smile. It would be the person that this would have meant so much to.

It was mom.

To think that her boy was invited here. That her boy had done something, anything, worthy of being here, with Mayors, Govenors, Cabinet Members, and leaders. When the Secretary of Education asks for your thoughts, you probably should answer. Her boy who grew up just a few miles away from this place, who lived in its shadows, but never felt a part of it. Her boy was dressed up, fired up, and ready to go!

And then it hit me. I was there representing not only my mom, but my grandmother, my wife, daughter, family from one end to the other. I was representing Green Valley, Drew, Jackson, Swanson, and W-L. SMBC, JSR, and VCU. Every company that I ever worked for, and dreamed bigger than. Every friend that said that I was something, and those "friends" that thought that I was not. For every coach I ever had, every player that I ever knew, and every friends mom or dad who used their hands to lift, pull, raise, or elevate me. I was there. And proud. we were a part of the process. We were there to add to. We were there to add on.

I got to speak about each and everything and everyone in my previous two paragraphs. And they listened. They asked about mom, and my family, my old neighborhoods, and my new. I was asked about my old schools and new. They asked about my teacher friends, my teachers past, and what they were and want to be. I got to suggest ways to make the helpers happier and the path easier. I got to share your successes, and more importantly, your love. Hopefully, I spoke on your behalf. On your kids behalf. On our kids behalf.

I do not know why I was asked, other than saying that it was because of all of the people that i mentioned. I needed to share them all to these people, because they needed to know them. And they listened. They really did. And wanted to know more. And they shall. Because they asked.

Thank you mom. Thanks all of you. Thanks all of them. You were all there with me. And I sure would not have been there without you. As a matter of fact, I am sure that you were why I was there. Or anywhere else for that matter. Bravo, I applaud YOU.