I grew up in Washington, DC, in the public housing system. The most positive influences in helping to keep me on the right path were the Police Boys Club and DC Rec Department. Ive always felt it was important to give to young children what was given to me in my youth.
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I STARTED COACHING IN 1971 WHEN I WAS 25. I HAD JUST STARTED WORKING FOR THE MARYLAND DIVISION OF PAROLE AND PROBATION. ONE OF THE AGENTS ASKED ME IF I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN PLAYING ON AN ADULT TOUCH FOOTBALL TEAM. THE TEAM WAS JUST FORMING, AND SINCE I HAD PLAYED HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL, I WAS ASKED TO COACH THE TEAM. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE FIRST PRACTICE THAT I LEARNED COACHING WAS A LOT MORE THAN KNOWING PLAYS. I ENDED UP COACHING THAT TEAM FOR 9 YEARS, WHEN THE TEAM BECAME DEFUNCT BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE PLAYERS. WHAT I DID LEARN FROM THOSE 9 YEARS WAS THAT COACHING ADULTS AND CHILDREN WERE A LOT ALIKE—ONLY WITH CHILDREN YOU DON’T NEED TO WORRY THAT SOME OF YOUR PLAYERS WILL SHOW UP TO THE GAME INTOXICATED.
IN 1974 OR 1975, I ENTERED A MASTER’S DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM AT BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY . I INITIALLY WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY FOR A COURSE WHICH WAS REQUIRED FOR MY JOB AS A PAROLE & PROBATION AGENT THAT DEALT WITH FAMILY CONSTELLATION, DURING THE COURSE, I FELT THE ADLERIAN PSYCHOLOGY WOULD BE PRACTICAL IN MY COUNSELING WITH PAROLEES AND PROBATIONERS. IT WAS THEN THAT I DECIDED TO CONTINUE WITH THE ADLERIAN DEGREE PROGRAM. ADLER-DREIKERS IS A SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY AND DEALS HEAVILY WITH THE FAMILY AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT. I OBTAINED MY M.Ed. FROM THE ADLER-DREIKERS INSTITUTE IN 1977.
IT WAS ALSO IN 1977 I STARTED COACHING YOUTH SPORTS WHEN MY OLDEST SON BECAME A SOCCER PLAYER. THROUGHOUT MY YEARS AS A COACH, I HAVE OFTEN APPLIED WHAT I LEARNED FOR MY M.Ed. TO SITUATIONS WHEN COACHING YOUTH ATHLETICS .
THROUGHOUT, I WAS ABLE TO APPLY WHAT I LEARNED TO COACHING AS WELL AS MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER. FROM 1978 TO 1990, IN ADDITION TO MY FULL-TIME JOB, I WAS A MEMBER OF THE ADJUNCT FACULTY WITH AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THERE, I DEVELOPED AND TAUGHT A COURSE ENTITLED “DRUGS & SOCIETY”. ALSO WHILE WORKING FULL-TIME, FROM 1977 TO 1998, I WAS A CONSULTANT AND COUNSELOR IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS.