More Than Just A Game

SEATTLE- ‘’Coach Chambers wants to get to know us and learn about us to teach us to become a better person,’’ said sophomore baseball player Travis Gardner.  

Will Chambers, an English 10 teacher and junior varsity baseball coach at O’Dea High School, is a person students have looked to for advice and came to for mentoring. He has been recognized and awarded by Northwest Catholic earning the St. John Baptist de la Salle Educator Excellence Award.

A lot of people just go to work, clock in and clock out, not caring much about what they do. But for Chambers, it’s more than just a job and a coaching role, it’s something he actually cares about.  

“I don't try to just pass the time at work and be done with work. I really want to find a purpose. It's a calling that I've had to teach, and I think coaching has helped me improve my teaching and mentoring of young men at O'Dea,” said Chambers. 

As the junior varsity baseball coach Chambers has made the team’s culture more than just baseball. Chambers goes beyond just coaching the players; he teaches players it’s about effort, discipline and doing things the right way. 

“I think it's just that much more important to teach the players to know to not cut corners and that if they want to be the best, it takes a lot of work,” said Chambers. 

Chambers has a career record of 25-9 as a junior varsity coach. His teams have gone through growing pains and struggles but Chambers has been there for them to help persevere through difficulties and make them struggle in a way that will make them grow and benefit them as an individual.  

“I think part of my job as a coach is to help student athletes persevere through struggle and to struggle in a way that helps them ultimately become better players, yes, but also becoming better young men is more importantly what I look at,” said Chambers. 

As a coach, Chambers understands the importance of seeing people more than just what they show on the outside. It’s easy to judge someone on their actions, but there is always more going on inside and Chambers makes sure to fully understand the player. 

"I know some of them are struggling with things outside of class so it’s important to deal with people differently. When I understand them more fully and understand them as a person,” said Chambers.