Deseret News | Where the coach wants players gone

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Brad Rock: Where the coach wants players gone

Go West Ridge, Thanks Rock | 12:09 a.m. July 15, 2009

Thanks Mr. Rock for sharing this story with us. I appreciate reading about coaches who make it about integrity, even when it is a championship game. Best wishes to West Ridge. Where is this school located?

Well Digger's Toe | 8:16 a.m. July 15, 2009

Great example where wins and losses take a back seat to values. Refreshing to hear schools like West Ridge exist. Quite a feat to be competitive with new teams each year - says a lot about the players and coaches. Nice to see an organization teaching youth through athletics rather purely for recreation or diversion. Well done Fighting Eagles!!

Ted Phillips | 9:52 a.m. July 15, 2009

Only a writer with your talent and perspective could make this article about adversity fly. What a great read. What a great story. Thanks for bringing a warm fuzzy story about adversity and integrity in sports to our attention.

Comments continue below

basketball fan | 10:38 a.m. July 15, 2009

Great article.
it is also interesting to note that West Ridge also has a new basketball coach, Coach Bruce, after a 41 year stint at Dugway High School. Bruce, who is known as one of the strongest disciplinarians and no nonsence coaches in the state will guide the Eagles. Good luck coach, I hope the boys will learn from you and respond well as they did at Dugway.

Bear Laker | 2:18 p.m. July 15, 2009

Great Story. Even Greater are the people it is about, both the coaches and the kids. I wish them all that they need to succeed. I hope those that play against them or watch them will cheer them on and not ridicule. We all have our shortcommings and need encouragement. Go Eagles! We're behind you.

Just a Fan | 2:27 p.m. July 15, 2009

Good for you Eagles and thanks Mr. Rock. So good tear see a sports story that is not about cheating, money and selfishness. Good luck to West RIdge with the future seasons and good luck to the kids in life!

Real Supporters | 3:38 p.m. July 15, 2009

Way to go Keefer!!! You are a more devoted coach than most and you have every right to be proud. I have seen this program up close and personal and the adults who work with these students are very committed and supportive than other program. Coach Keefer is as intense and wants to win as much as any program and yet he is also there to put his arm around the kid or kick him in his pants when necessary. The program stuggles financially and I only wish I had a fortune I could support them with. If anyone has the means to assist, this is a quality act. Kudos to the Eagles.

Proud Dad | 4:38 p.m. July 15, 2009

I take my hat off to Jamie! As the father of one of the players that Jamie has coached, I express my gratitude to him as well as the great overall program that West Ridge provides. I, like Real Supporters, wish I had a truck load of money to donate to West Ridge. In the 12 months that my son was in the program, he grew immeasurably spititually, academically, and athletically. Thanks West Ridge and Go Eagles!

Coach Keefer... great guy! | 7:36 p.m. July 15, 2009

Thanks Rock for really bringing this great program to light! I have seen these coaches in action. Coach Keefer really is all of the things that you described. He will push these kids to succeed on and off the field. I takes someone like him to make this program work. The are lucky to have found him and I hope they are able to keep him around for a long time. With him they are destined to make a competitive program out of this baseball team.

Kane | 9:40 p.m. July 15, 2009

As one of coach Keefer's players as well as one of the boys that he took home every day for months and months, I can attest to the spirit and help that he infuses into all of his players. He really is a real kids first, and sports second kind of guy. I played at other schools, and i think that a coach that puts the integrity of the boys before winning ball games is a breath of fresh air. Go Coach Keefer. Love Ya!

Ben | 10:18 p.m. July 15, 2009

As a kid who played baseball,basketball and soccer for westridge and having Jaimie as my coach for baseball and basketball I can say that he wants to win just as much as anyone else but he understands that helping the kids grow as people is more important than winning championships. I'm really glad that this article was written and I think that Jaimie is an amazing coach and eventually the Eagles will win a state championship. GO EAGLES! Thanks Jaimie

Past boy | 12:00 p.m. July 20, 2009

I was a part of the WR team that forfeited because of kids breaking team rules. We were supposed to take state, we were on a roll, we just won Waterford to take the region title. Coach Dave Ballard was the coach at the time. It was the hardest thing for him to call and tell the high school association that we had to forfeit because we didn't have enough players. I learned a very valuable lesson from him about integrity, something I will remember the rest of my life. Coach Ballard coached there about 5 or 6 years and was an amazing coach who cared about us and what kind of person we'd become more that about winning a state title. I was glad to read the article and hope that the tradition lives on.

Past boy | 7:43 a.m. July 21, 2009

I forgot to mention coach Wayne Brock also, he has been a great mentor also. We knew they cared about us. Loved all of Wayne's stories!

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