Mr. Voss

I met him when I was 10 years old. I had a crush on his son, Tommy Voss. He was an unusually big man, but had a very sweet heart. I swam in his pool, watched movies at his house, and even kissed his son!! But I didn't really get to know Mr. Voss until he became Coach Voss. He started coaching me my sophomore year in High School. He had always coached guys and this was his first experience with coaching girls. Later he tells me that he knew nothing about women even though he was married and had a daughter of his own. Our first year together was an adjustment, but I loved his coaching style. Stearn, not harsh, competitive, though not over the top. He told us that the only person allowed to yell at us during our games was him. (that included all parents) That meant that my dad had to sit there with his mouth shut during all games! If not, Coach Voss would kindly ask him to leave. He made us run more than any coach I had. But he was smart. He conditioned us so that no matter how tough the game, or how bad the weather, that we would never get tired. He bribed us. He would say, "if you beat San Ramon, I will shave a mohawk" or "if you go undeafeted this season, I will shave half my beard, dye my hair black and dye my beard red." All this from a 45 year old working man. And believe me, we won and he shaved and dyed. (oh how did his wife put up with that?!?!) He took our team out to breakfast every game day. I share all of this because I graduated from High School 16 years ago. I have not seen Mr. Voss for 16 years, and last Friday I met him in Danville California and we had dinner together. How fun to talk about old times and what he meant during my High School years. He motivated me and helped me be more competitive (is that possible?). And like I said, he had the most tender of hearts. He is 60 now, walking a little more slowly and displaying more grays. But he is still the same old Coach Voss that I remember from High School. "Willy!" he used to call me. And when I saw him at dinner he said "Willy, I thought I lost you." Below is a picture of the 2 of us my Senior year. We won the North Coast Sectionals that year. Hence, the half beard, black beard, red haired crazy man standing next to me.