Photo by Raymond Link ’20 | Former baseball coaches look on as the baseball team goes through warm ups.
By Luke Odden ’21
THE ROUNDUP
Brophy’s Ignatian identity can be found in Brophy’s athletic department with prayers at the beginning of sports events such as swimming, football and baseball.
Brophy sports teams like the baseball and football team are competing in the highest division of sports in the state. With the competition that comes with this division, coaches still find it important to instill the importance of Brophy’s Ignatian background in their athletes.
Coach Mr. Eric Chalmers ’10 is a Brophy graduate and is the current tennis coach. When asked about the importance of faith in his coaching style he said, “My entire approach to coaching is formed by my values which are grounded in my Ignatian education.”
Mr. Chalmers went on to talk about his team’s performance on the court.
“Our performance on the court and how we treat our opponents both represent our team’s character,” Mr. Chalmers said.
Coach Mr. Matt Hooten is the head coach of the varsity basketball team and teaches AP U.S. History.
“I think our Ignatian identity should be at the center of everything that we do whether it is in the Chapel, on immersion trips, in the classroom or on the athletic field or court,” Mr. Hooten said.
Mr. Hooten talked about how he incorporates Brophy’s identity in his coaching. He said, “We have three expectations for our players: play hard, be selfless and be coachable. I think there are elements of the Grad at Grad at work in each of those pictures.”
Baseball head Coach Mr. Joshua Garcia ’07 also implements Brophy’s identity in his coaching. “I think athletics should help build that man and build that person that they are going to have to be for the rest of their time here,” Mr. Garcia said.
Mr. Garcia believes that in order for one of his guys to lead, they have to think about how they have served the team. Mr. Garcia went on to say, “If you want people to follow you and if you want to lead, what are you doing to serve them first?”
The Brophy identity can be found in the sports at Brophy through the prayers before sporting events and teams praying before they compete.
Mr. Hooten talks about the role he and the community play in the development of his athletes. “As coaches, we are certainly a part of that, but the way that the entire Brophy community shares a common vision for how to develop the young men who pass through our doors is part of what makes it such a special place,” Mr. Hooten said.
