Editor’s Note: A few months ago, Janalisa Soltis wrote this letter in response to an article printed in their area about “proven” football coaches based primarily on winning records.

A good coach is not measured by who he knows but what he knows. A good coach stands diligently and devotedly on a field, soaked by rain and scowled by the crowd if the ball is not in his players’ hands.

A good coach is not to be measured by how many points his players have made, but the time and dedication he has given to them, the skills he has imparted upon them - despite numerous injuries, attitude problems and declining grades of his players.

A good coach walks out on the field and realigns his players, knowing their abilities may not measure up to the task, but hoping against hope that their will and determination will override that ability.

A good coach never gives up, despite any animosity he feels within his ranks or from his community. He looks within himself and knows that his God-given qualities and abilities are being tested, but he continues to step foot inside the locker room each week, knowing he can make a difference.

Have you sat and talked to these men, prayed and cried for these men, seen their faces and stood behind them every waking minute? Have you watched them take teams that are dwindling down because of situations out of their control and seeing them make the best of it each week?

Have you watched all the films repeatedly, gone over the plays, come up with new ideas, spent every weekend from August to October without your family, cleaned the uniforms and gotten prepared for the next week?

When you have walked their walk, and talked their talk, and known what happens “outside of the public eye,” then you have credible cause to list the names of good coaches in a community newspaper.

Until then, consider listening to their stories and feeling their anguish when all the odds are stacked against them. Share their blood, sweat and tears on and off the field. When that is accomplished, then educate the community on what a good coach really is.

Janalisa Soltis is the wife of Sonny Soltis, offensive football coordinator at Navasota High School, Navasota, Texas