Why become a CSS Coach?

[Wonger]

               I had an early interested in coaching after growing up playing sports and from the age of about 12 began attending a private baseball academy for additional, specialized instruction. I continued that through high school and played baseball in college until I was sidelined through multiple injuries and even red-shirting a year. I had lots of coaches along that path that pushed and inspired me.

               My first job with a check was working at a similar baseball academy in my home town during high school. I began teaching some of the younger kids’ classes and then took on private coaching through high school and college. I ran the college’s camp the last two years. Even during high school I was interested in teaching and took a course that had me go to elementary (primary) schools to teach Physical Education classes.

               I was always interested in motorcycles, but they were strictly verboten in my family. I spent all my food money for the semester my freshman year of college on a ’76 CB550 Four that was sitting across the street from my apartment.

              16 or so years and a few motorcycles later I decided I wanted to ride on track with a few friends; I was previously clueless to even how to go about getting on a track, so I signed up for Levels 1 and 2 in 2019 at Barber. I was so impressed by the entire operation and constantly sang its praises.  I did some track days in 2019 and 2020, then attended Level 3 and 4 in 2021. I was lucky enough to have Cobie as my consultant for Level 4 (along with Steven and Mark for coaches) and he asked me if I would be interested in coaching, so the that got the ball rolling.

              The opportunity to combine both coaching and motorcycling was extremely exciting. In my third year now, it has been both very challenging and very rewarding. I couldn’t wish for a better group to work with.

[Cobie Fair]

OK, what's "red shirting?"

And good to see on the rest

[Wonger]

Redshirting is when you sit out the entire athletic season due to some issue, without losing one of your four years of eligibility. Mine was a medical redshirt as I tore my hamstring in the third game of my sophmore year. In an eight week regular season, that was it. Followed that up with a rotator cuff issue the next season as I continued to throw with the bad left leg and changed my mechanics just enough to cause the problem. Played that out and then called it quits and went to work before finally going back and finishing my BS in Technical Mgmt 13 years later.