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THE VECTOR
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moreaucatholic.org
COACHING PROVIDES TEACHABLE MOMENTS FOR ATHLETES New head football coach Rob Gatrell sees football as a tool to teach life lessons.
“E
very situation and every emotion imaginable you experience in the game of football, and the adversity, the highs and lows,” Coach Rob Gatrell said. “Football really is an emotional rollercoaster and you never know what the result is going to be, but all are teachable moments.”
coaching as an assistant football coach at Menlo College and Santa Rosa Junior College, and head coach at Windsor High School, where his team went 14-0 and won the Division II North Coast Section title. For the past six years, he has been Moreau’s assistant coach under Andrew Cotter.
As a high school, collegiate and professional athlete, Gatrell experienced those emotions. He also credits the guidance of coaches with shaping the person he is today.
“If you consistently work hard at practice, understand the fundamentals, trust your teammates and communicate, then you will be successful as a team,” Gatrell said. “Take care of the little things and the big picture will take care of itself.”
“People who were my mentors had a big influence on my life,” he said. “Those role models and father figures motivated me and helped me to be a better player, coach and person. I decided that when my playing career was over, I wanted to have the same influence and impact on student athletes.” After graduating from Liberty High School, Gatrell was recruited to play football at Fresno State. In 2000, he signed with the New England Patriots, later playing with the San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams. He played football in Europe and later with the San Jose SaberCats, winning the 2004 arena football championship. He took the lessons learned on the field back to
This big picture means that his athletes compete both on the field and in the classroom and follow the Holy Cross pillars — “respect one another and put the team before the individual.” As student athletes, “they have made a choice to be both student and athlete and the demands and expectations are higher,” he said. “They all will be held accountable to find that balance and not sacrifice one for the other.” As to the coming season, Gatrell said he has a great group of returning players and younger JV players, and “is excited to watch this team grow and come together — the sky is the limit!”