EP#24-How Coach Ruiz Rebuilt A High School Powerhouse By Prioritizing Strength, Structure, And Student Success

Ever wonder how a high school program finds its backbone and keeps it through decades of change? We invited Coach Ramon Ruiz of La Quinta High School to share the unglamorous truth behind sustainable success: January commitments, classroom standards, and a culture that refuses shortcuts. From his start in Sacramento to shaping the Blackhawks into a consistent playoff team, Coach Ruiz lays out a clear plan—get stronger, stay disciplined, protect the football, and let the results stack up.

We dig into the real work that most people don’t see: daily lifts, accountability, and the steady climb from 0–10 frustration to competing with regional powers. Coach Ruiz salutes mentors like Ron Alford and Walt Kriner who taught him how to implement systems, not just draw them up, and how to run practices that translate to Friday nights. He explains why balance is a myth, why the classroom keeps rosters intact, and how a program becomes transfer-proof by offering structure, belonging, and honest standards. You’ll hear why he schedules for growth, not optics, and how the CIF algorithm era shapes nonleague games, rivalries with Imperial Valley teams, and even choices about zero week.

Parents and coaches will appreciate his thoughtful take on holding back eighth graders, the importance of aligning family decisions with eligibility rules, and the bigger mission of shaping boys into men. Aspiring coaches get practical guidance: become a teacher if you can, be a sponge in staff rooms, serve the kids first, and let humility fuel your learning. It’s a conversation about culture, not clichés—how weight rooms build confidence, how GPA goals build stability, and how process builds the kind of team that shows up in November.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:24

Welcome back, everybody, to Desert Valley Blitz. This is a Coach's Corner edition, and we're real excited today, right, Coach Josh? We got a real special guest coming in here, Coach Ramon Ruiz, head coach of La Quinta Blackhawk football. Thanks for coming in, Coach.

SPEAKER_00 0:41

I appreciate you guys having me. It's a real pleasure to be here. I enjoy watching you guys. And the fact that you're uh that you're promoting high school athletics, high school football is huge, isn't it? That's important.

SPEAKER_03 0:51

So tell us, Coach, how how did you get involved in coaching? Take us back.

SPEAKER_01 0:55

So it goes way back to the beginning here. Way back to get involved with football. I think we want to hear that that love story. Where's that love story start?

Early Years And First Coaching Jobs

SPEAKER_00 1:02

I've basically been on a football field since fifth grade, you know, every August, every August since fifth grade, and uh except for one season where that I took off uh while I was getting my degree, but uh but I grew up in Sacramento. Uh you know, I I had the opportunity to to attend some some Catholic schools, and there were football programs there and and and we did some good things. And you know, I came and played at College of the Desert. When I got done, uh I I stuck around and right away I started coaching at Coachella Valley High School. So I started there in '95. Wow. Okay. Yeah, 95 on the freshman staff. Uh uh coach Ron Alford. Uh he was around for a long time. He he hired me. He had become the head coach, and uh uh I did that for two years, and I basically was at CV to uh from 95 all the way uh to 20 2010, was a head coach there on my last uh my last four years there. Uh then uh I did two years at Deser Mirage High School. Uh and then I I I went in 2013 to La Quinta High School where I was the head freshman coach for two years. Uh Coach Armstrong hired me. I remember when you were doing the freshman then. Yeah, we we we yeah you were on the you were on the varsity. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, so I was the freshman coach. My son decided to go to school there, and and Coach uh uh Armstrong was gracious enough to give me a job. You know, he he he was he was on the other side of the sideline when I was at C V.

SPEAKER_03 2:18

How was that though?

Becoming A Head Coach And Tenure

SPEAKER_00 2:19

You know what? He we always gave him a game. He always ended up, they had more dogs than us, yeah. Yeah, yeah. And and uh, but but I think we competed well. We we made the playoffs that last year, which was was was uh was a big thing at C V. You know, we were always battling, uh, you know, at that time we didn't have the same dudes. Uh, you know, they got more dudes now, and but uh we did some good things. He brought you on, so and he brought me, yeah, he brought me on and uh did two years and helped on the varsity here and there upstairs. And you know, I became the athletic director at La Quinta. Uh I did that for a stint, and uh, you know, I've been the head coach. Now this was my fourth season. So I was doing the math with my wife the other night, and we were talking about like how long have I been doing this? And uh uh she said it was we well, we came up, it was uh it's it's gonna be my 30th year coaching high school football. I took one year off because I I was working on my on my degree. Yeah, I had to drive to San Bernardino, so I didn't get a chance. I didn't get a chance to coach that year, but uh it's been it's it's it doesn't seem like that long.

SPEAKER_03 3:16

I was just gonna ask you, does it feel like 30?

SPEAKER_00 3:19

No, no. But it's been a blast.

Why Football And The Teacher’s Mindset

SPEAKER_01 3:22

But you're a lifer, man. 30 years. I mean, you know, you're not that old of a guy, man, to be 30 years coaching, man. I started young. Started young. That's that's crazy. 30 years, but um, so what about football? Like, why you could have coached probably anything. You're a you're a teacher, you're you have an education background. What drew you to football, the game of football? Why why'd you choose that profession to kind of go into and coach?

Rebuilding La Quinta’s Identity

SPEAKER_00 3:43

I like how you frame that question because ultimately it's teaching. You know, that's what we're doing. We're teachers, and uh, and uh, you know, I I I I was uh lucky enough to have some some some great coaches, you know. I always say, aside from my my father, my grandfather, most influential men in my life for my coaches, aside from them. And uh, you know, there's some some good dudes that that came along the way that that that I said, you know, I'm gonna pay it back. You know, plus when you're a competitor and you like and you're competitive, and and the the closest thing to being on the field and actually playing is coaching. So that that it's just it's just it's a love for the game, a love for the process, a love for the for the for the for the opportunity to bring a bunch of group of guys together and and all for one cause. And it's it's just it's a it's it's so much fun. I I just I I couldn't see myself doing anything else.

SPEAKER_01 4:33

Um speaking to the mid uh 2010s when you took over at La Quinta, um, you know, I don't want to bring you back to that time, but La Quinta was a traditional powerhouse at that time that may have kind of lost its way there a couple years before you took over. And I think you you deserve a lot of credit in kind of turning that thing around and getting back to La Quinta roots. What were some of the things that you kind of attribute that turnaround to? I mean, because it was pretty there's a couple years where La Quinta didn't look like La Quinta, and I think you were the uh the guy that came in and kind of changed that.

SPEAKER_00 5:03

My focus has always been, you know, the weight room. That right there to me, that's where you win football games. Uh, you know, I I think you're giving me too much credit, you know, when when when because it's really the kids buying into the fact that we win football games starting in January. And it's not through X's and O's, it's through the weight room, getting stronger, getting bigger, getting faster. If we hit the weight room, we got a chance. We're gonna compete. And that's that that's what we preach to our kids. You if you bring a good attitude and and and and you give effort and you do A, B, C, and D, things will take care of themselves. You know, sometimes we fall short, but it's close, but that's life. Yeah, you know, that's life, you know. But we set that goal. You know, right now, we talked about that the other day. You know, we're already in the weight room. You know, I'm blessed to be at a place where they understand the importance of those things and and they give us the opportunity to have our kids in the weight room. And and uh, you know, that's what we're taking care of. You know, we're not worried about X's and O's that'll take care of themselves. If we get bigger, faster, stronger, the X's and O's will take care of themselves.

SPEAKER_01 6:07

It really does start in the weight room. Absolutely. And I think that's an old Armstrong tradition, too, right? Wasn't that one thing that he was kind of harped on?

SPEAKER_00 6:14

He he did he did do that, which falls in line with what I did because you know, when I was a head coach at CB High School, that was that was the number one issue we started. I mean, you know, I I I I've been at the bottom of the totem pole. We were 0-10 that first year as a head coach. Yeah, and I, you know, I wanted to crawl underneath the rock and just not come out ever again. But that's where we just say, hey, we got to take care of it, and we got in the weight room and we got bigger, we got faster, we got stronger, and we were able to compete. Were we always able to beat the schools like Palm Desert and Lakita at that point in time? No, but we we we gave them a good run and and we showed that we uh we you know we we belonged on that field with them, even though we fell short at times, but it it it it starts there.

Classroom Standards And GPA Focus

SPEAKER_03 6:55

Yeah. What was there anything you did differently that when you when you broke when you come into a uh a program that's kind of struggling?

SPEAKER_00 7:01

Was there anything you kind of emphasized or um so so you know we we again going back to the way when and shout out to Coach Gleason. Gleason Brian Gleason does a tremendous job. I I truly believe we got the best strength and conditioning coach in the valley. And and I've heard from other guys when our kids go and work out with other organizations around the valley, you know, these they they always talk about how our kids are prepared. So uh, you know, as far as uh, you know, organization-wise, you know, we just we we when I showed up, you know, I I believed it was important for us to to be physical, right? Which falls in line with the weight room, uh uh and and protect the football. Okay, and and grind things out at times, yeah, and be able be able to to to to keep the ball away from the other team. I always felt that was important. So so at first we we really focus on running the football. Uh, I think we've come a long way where we're still working towards getting better at at the throwing game and we become more efficient. I mean, we threw for 1400 yards this last year. That's awesome. Uh, you know, everybody always thinks of us, oh, look, he threw, you know, we're we're we're we're we're gonna do what it takes to be successful on the football field. Yeah, you know, I don't I don't I don't like to hear to say, you know, we're 50-50. That we're we're gonna do what it takes to to stack the box, yeah. We're gonna put it in. Yes, and and and uh, you know, we've gotten better at that, you know. Uh the other piece of the puzzle that that we focused on was in the classroom, you know, uh emphasizing the fact that these kids are stealing athletes, their students first, athletes second, and I think we've come a long way. Our GPAs have have have rocketed, you know, have skyrocketed in that to me. That that's important.

SPEAKER_03 8:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:36

Yeah, the educational piece is something that people don't really think about. But coming from an old Indio coach, I'll tell you that's a very important thing because you get a good group of freshmen, they come in, they're you have a good team, good season, and then though half that team's not eligible coming back that sophomore year. So that's a big piece that that you gotta kind of keep an eye on as a head coach and running the program.

Mentors Who Shaped The Philosophy

SPEAKER_00 8:56

It's an important piece of the puzzle again for student athletes, and some guys you gotta hold hands. Yeah, you know, you gotta hold hands and you gotta be more on them about that. Other guys, it comes natural, and you know, all we're doing is we're emphasizing and we're we're supporting the things that I'm sure their parents are telling them at home. Yeah, right. You know, do your homework, do the things you gotta do to be a good individual, good person. So, so that that that that's uh a little bit uh from my end as far as philosophy.

SPEAKER_01 9:21

Right. You said you you're a 30-year veteran of this game, man. So there had to be some people along the way in those years that kind of influenced you and kind of mentored you. I know we all have guys that kind of took us on the wing. Is there anybody that kind of stands out to you'd like to speak to to kind of that influenced your philosophy going forward?

SPEAKER_00 9:39

Yeah, so you know, several guys. You know, I was lucky enough that I started back uh at CV where uh you know Ron Alfred gave my first chance, my first shot, and and you know, uh I really learned a lot from him. Um the other individual that that really truly taught me how to how to implement an offense, how I was a young coach, and I just sat there and absorbed, and it's a name that may maybe some of you are familiar with, but Walt Kriner, you know, rest in peace. Walt Kriner was a longtime uh uh coach uh uh at Coachella Valley High School. Um he ended up leaving, he coached in the college ranks, he was the head coach at Snow College, was a national junior college uh uh uh champion. Uh they they won back, you know, we're going way back. Yeah, no, no. And then he came back, he was at Arizona Western, and then he came back to C V. I was I was a young assistant coach at C V in the late 90s. Yeah when Walt Kreiner came back. And uh man, just seeing him the way he did things, that's where I learned how to run an offense, how to implement it, how to, you know, A, B, C, D, you know, how to do things in practice. And I really I didn't say much. Yeah, you know, I didn't say much. I just sat and absorbed, and uh uh uh you know I learned a lot from him, you know. Look him up. Yeah, technically he is a legend, and he's always he had he had several brothers that uh that uh coached in the uh in college ranks. One of his brothers coached at the World Uh League of American Football, Boise State head coach, athletic. I mean, it's it's a big family in the Coachella area. I mean, they're all a lot of them passed away.

SPEAKER_03 11:08

And he had that he had a system down that just made sense.

SPEAKER_00 11:11

It just just and it wasn't so much about the system as about how to implement the system. Yeah, you know, and that's that's where I learned a lot, you know. Uh and I learned a lot under, you know, I I coached on under a lot of head coaches, you know, and I learned a little bit from here, from there, and and and there, and you just kind of mess your yeah, yeah, and you and you and you you kind of do things your way, and you know, is it right all the time? No, you're always learning, and but you get to find out, you get to kind of find out if your way is gonna work or not, you know. Yeah, so so it's always a work in progress. Yeah. The minute I show up and say, I got it down, I'm done. Yeah, yeah, fire me.

SPEAKER_03 11:47

100%, man. It's it's it's a big job. It's what we talk about all the time, man. And we always like, you know, would you take do a head coaching job? Would you do a head coaching job? It's a big job. I mean, you got parents.

SPEAKER_01 11:58

Full-time full-time gig on top of your full-time gig, right? I mean, it's it's I mean, it's it's fun.

SPEAKER_00 12:04

It's a labor of love, though, right? I mean, we're not doing it for the money. Yeah, we're not doing it for the money. We're you know, as a matter of fact, we're we're a bunch of idiots. Yeah, that's what my wife used.

SPEAKER_01 12:14

That's what my wife used to tell me.

SPEAKER_00 12:15

For lack of a better term, getting that paycheck. I mean, we're we're working for five dollars an hour if that, if that. But again, it goes back to that's not why we're doing it in the end. You know, and that's what people sometimes don't don't understand that, but it's okay.

Transfers, Culture, And Retention

SPEAKER_01 12:29

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SPEAKER_00 13:23

Well, I I don't give very many transfers. So I mean, you know, I I I'm not getting, you know, maybe other guys are, but you know, as far as as far as you know, we're we're we're gonna coach up whoever shows up at our front door, whoever the good Lord puts at our front door, we're gonna coach them hard, we're gonna love them hard, we're gonna, we're we're gonna we're gonna you know, we're we're gonna give them all the the tools necessary to be successful on the field in the classroom. Uh but you know, I can I can't control those things, you know. And a lot of like I hear a lot of coaches sometimes say, you know what, kids are different now. They there is a difference, but when it's all said and done, in my opinion, kids still want to be a part of something. You know, they still they still want to be a part of something. They they they they want structure, they really do. Absolutely. They they they they crave it, even in and and it's up to us, you know, to to as coaches, we got to create that structure within our program, you know, and and you know, kids are gonna mess up, you know, and and you know, I I don't like to write kids off uh, you know, because I feel like everybody deserves a chance, you know. Uh so I I'm very big on on working with kids because that's our job as adults, yeah to get those kids back on the right track. But but you know, I I I don't I'm not faced with that challenge of kids transferring much. And if they do decide to transfer, hey man, good luck to you. I'm not gonna be angry at anyone if they feel like this is not their place, and I'd rather not have them, to be honest with you. But uh I don't I don't I don't see it as a as something really that I've dealt with too much, you know, uh lately. Next man up mentality. Yeah, I mean that's it's gotta we can't I can't dwell on guys that don't want to be a part of this, you know. And in the end, if they don't want to be a part of this, then then that's that's fine. I'm okay with it.

SPEAKER_01 15:06

I'm not gonna be mad at you. That kind of speaks to the stability of your program, though, right? I mean, you you got the reason you don't have trend like a transfer problem and people coming in and out of the program is because you guys are a stable I was talking about. And that speaks to the leadership of the program.

CIF Algorithms And Scheduling

SPEAKER_00 15:20

Sometimes you hear, oh yeah, someone's gonna try. I don't, I don't, I don't say anything or whatever. If they do, yeah, I tell my coaches they go, they go. You know, in the end, you know, but if they stay, those that stay, they're gonna be, you know, they're gonna be successful. They're we're you know, ultimately our goals are always the same, you know. We're always looking to to win a league championship, to go to CIF, make, make a uh, you know, make a run and be CIF champs, you know, yeah, have have a winning record. You know, we have all those goals, you know, but we're more focused on the process. What it is that we're gonna do to get to that level, because there I'm sure everybody has the same goals, right? You know, I'm not the only coach saying those things. So it's about what are we gonna do that's gonna allow us to put us in a position to be successful and to to reach our goals.

SPEAKER_01 16:03

Right. And speaking of you know, goals, you know, you guys are uh CIF championship caliber program. I mean, Armstrong kind of set that set that that bar pretty high. Um, the changes in the CIF that you've seen, and and we've all kind of seen it cover in the playoffs of how you know we used to just play, you know, teams in the Eastern, Eastern CIF, you know, we'd go up to the high desk. Yeah, we'd go play the Barstoves and the Victor Valleys. And now, I mean, the algorithm is basically we're all beholden to that algorithm of, you know, hey, where are we gonna where are we gonna be slotted in there? Is that affecting the way that you're scheduling? Is that affecting like the way you kind of look at the preseason? I mean, I that that that has to kind of does it. It's always changing. It's always changing, but there's there seems to be like a new philosophy coming out of the scheduling thing now because people want to try and slot their slot their position. So has that affected you, your the way you're looking at things?

SPEAKER_00 16:55

So so you know, as as far as we always have a tough time finding people to schedule. That's always uh especially now with the heat advisory index and all that stuff. Uh people don't want to come play in the desert. So what we're starting to see, and I think you're gonna see more of this, is more of the Cochallo Valley teams playing teams in the Imperial Valley. Yeah, because they're having a tough time getting San Diego Desert. That's the cool thing. So they're they're they're you're gonna see more of that. So it's really hard if I were to want to try to you know situate myself in the position. In the end, you know, it's a computer doing all this. I have no, I ain't smart enough to figure it out. Yeah, because so so I you know what? We're just we're gonna schedule who we can get. Because the team could be really good the year before, and the next year you're playing on their true, it's high school football. One thing I don't like, and I'll be honest with you, is I don't like to see the you know, one in nine teams, two and eight, three. That to me is weird.

SPEAKER_01 17:47

I honestly get in and get in and make a run, and because they're playing in the lowest division runs, that doesn't make any sense to me either.

Rivalries With Imperial Valley Teams

SPEAKER_00 17:54

I don't I don't agree with that completely, but it's out of my control. I mean, it is what it is. I'm sure they're trying to work on something to fix that, but in the end, I mean we're we're gonna do what we can to make it to the playoffs. We've made the playoffs the last four years, and we were we had a little bit of a drought. Uh, but uh, you know, I I can't control those things. But uh we're just gonna go out and give 100% and the cars will fall where they may. And you know, I'm I'm kind of a little different than most most schools because I don't I don't like to play a zero week. You know, and you know, I'm I'm again I go back to that that idea. We're gonna let the cars fall where they may. Yeah. Would it would it have been good to have a week off this this this this year?

SPEAKER_02 18:34

This year.

SPEAKER_00 18:34

Probably. Maybe. Yeah. But you know, again, I don't have we don't we don't we don't we don't know. I just like to let's go one through ten. You know, sometimes I hear pros and cons about that that week off.

SPEAKER_03 18:46

Yeah, we talked about a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 18:47

Yeah, they they they they take a week off, you know. Maybe I'm wrong on my philosophy, but but uh uh you know it's just to me it's I'd rather have an extra week off. It's hot as heck to be out there in July, the end of July. You know, let's wait till August. Keep the momentum going once it's over. Yeah, yeah. So I mean, you know, again, very few schools, everybody's doing a zero week. It's real hard for us to find a a scrimmage. Uh, you know, I may have to change that, we'll see. But at this point, that that's where we're at. Beast of scrimmage yucca, and then now they're playing, yeah. Zero week. Because they were having a tough time finding it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:21

As an old DVL guy, though, I'm liking the old Imperial Valley's uh rival. That's where we play Brawley getting cracking again, man. Because when I was I'm old enough to remember when they were in the DVL. Like I was like, Me too. I remember I was coaching. Yeah, we're playing Palo Verde, we're playing Calexico, Brawley was always tough. Central's tough. Tough kids down there, tough kids. Yeah, man. So I'm I'm I'm excited that those rivalries are starting to pop back up.

SPEAKER_00 19:43

There's some good physical football, and I think it gets you ready for the playoffs. Yeah, they are physical, and we played central this last season. They were good, huh? They're they were tough, and you know, it was a close game. You see a level of physicality that I don't see over here. Go run over the hill. You don't see it over there. I mean really they were if you had a chance to see the game, yeah. There's some physical teams, and this is not central, but uh, but again, we have the same, same, uh, same type of climate. I think you're gonna start seeing more desert kids.

Holding Back Eighth Graders Debate

SPEAKER_01 20:13

Yeah, yeah. I love that. I love that. Bring that back, man. Yeah, because uh as an old DVL guy, man, I love that, man. I do too. That was always a tough game going down to the border and play Calexico on a Friday night. You know, yeah, you know, it was it was those crowds are routed. It's a tough place to play, man. They're throwing stuff at you. It was it was a good time. So bring it back, man. Bring it back. So tired of payroll headaches? iPay Solutions is your local payroll and HR partner right here in the Coachella Valley. From direct deposits to compliance, we handle the details so you can focus on growing your business. iPay Solutions, local, reliable, and built for your success.

SPEAKER_02 20:48

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SPEAKER_01 21:07

Another hot topic, uh, at least in my realm, because I have a kid this age. There's a lot of parents now that are holding back their kids. Have you heard of this? They're holding back in eighth grade to kind of to kind of get, I don't, you know, to me it seems counterproductive, but I want to hear like your thought as a as a head coach, but holding back kids in that eighth grade year to so they get another year to get ready to go to high school. So they're older. Just older, yes. And and so are you I'm sure you're starting to see some of that. And what's what do you kind of think about?

SPEAKER_00 21:33

That's been going on for a while. That's been going on for a while. Uh I I I to me, I mean, ultimately it's a family decision. I'm gonna be honest with you. I did that with my son. Okay. You know, I s my my son was held back for a year and and and you know, I I think it helped him tremendously. Uh, you know, he he when you're older and when you're you know, i it it makes it it it can make a difference. There's some kids that don't need that. Yeah, you know, I think it's something where you gotta examine and look at your Your situation and and if it if it works for you, you know, and and and the big thing is your kids gotta be on board with it. Yeah, yeah. Socially there's some things that go along with that too, right? I mean I I wasn't gonna do it if he was okay, wasn't okay with it. Yeah. Cause then if nothing, if things don't go right, then then I'm gonna get blame. Yeah, you said you were okay with it. Exactly. Yeah, but uh uh, you know, ultimately it's a family decision, you know, but uh but it's been going on for a while. It's been going on in Texas, other states forever.

SPEAKER_01 22:32

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_00 22:33

It's it's just you're starting to see a little bit more of it around here. And yeah, I mean, I I don't see anything wrong with it. As long as you make sure your kid isn't isn't past the age they have to be their senior year, you know, you better do the math correctly. Right. But uh yeah, because there is an age limit, right?

SPEAKER_01 22:48

So yeah, yeah, you can't time that out wrong, right?

SPEAKER_00 22:50

If you're not gonna be around, yeah, you gotta make sure you look at the at the CIF and start kindergarten with your tin. Yeah, I haven't been an AD for a while, and and I mean I'd have to go back and look at it, but but there's a there's a there's there's you know, you just gotta make sure they're not a certain by a certain timer so you know.

SPEAKER_01 23:05

You don't want to get midway through the season and be ineligible because you're too old, right? Oh, season's over. Sorry, this is your last game. So definitely check that out, parents, if you're if you're thinking about doing that. That's definitely something you gotta take a look at. Um, but yeah, that's this is a lot of good knowledge here on the Valley Blitz today, man.

SPEAKER_03 23:22

All you young coaches.

Advice For Aspiring Coaches

SPEAKER_01 23:23

Yeah, everybody, everybody needs to take take uh the word and words of advice. Um coach, we're kind of running up against time here though, but we always like to ask our coaches uh, what would you kind of what advice would you give to a maybe an up and comer, an assistant, maybe a kid getting out of school that wants to get into this profession of of football coaching? What would what would you what would your advice to be to that person?

SPEAKER_00 23:46

So, you know, num number one, you know, if this is something you really want to do, you got to become a teacher. You know, that that's that's that that's you know, if you're looking to be serious about it, you got to get into education. Not that you can't do it, but just that's you know that's that's you know, I love I'm I was a U.S. history teacher for 14 years, a history teacher for 14 years, and I loved history, but I really wanted a coach. You know, that that that was they they just went together. So uh, you know, make sure you get uh you get the education piece taken care of. Uh uh, you know, when you work under under you know under different coaches, whoever it is, absorb, just absorb, be a sponge. Yeah, you know, just to you know sit back and you know when I was a young coach, I wouldn't say a word. Four or five years I just sat in that meeting room and I just absorbed. I only spoke when I was spoken to. You know, I'm not saying be complete, like I just, you know, be a sponge, just absorb, ask questions, uh, you know, and and and and and you know, look to be not not just and it's not and and understand that it's not just about wins, you know. Yes, they are important, but you're out there to make these uh these young boys into men, into good men, good individuals. You know, ultimately it that that's gotta be that's gotta come from your heart. Where you're there to make them better, better men, better, better brothers, better sons, better husbands one day, you know, and and and if if you come from there, good things are gonna happen, you know. Just make sure your heart's in the right place and you're willing to learn and and uh and and you'll be okay and and take care of the the classroom type stuff. If become a teacher, get an education, and then uh the sky's the limit. It's it's getting real tough to get teachers to coach nowadays. You know, so uh you know, there's a real need, and there's a real need for good coaches, good men to to mentor these these these these young kids. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 25:39

Yeah, a lot of good, a lot of good words of advice. Education, man, just like anything. Start now. Don't wait, don't wait. Don't wait, get it done. That's it, man. Get in that classroom, get that, get that credential going because it's a big part of it. If you want to be a lifelonger, like Coach Ruiz here. Well, thank Coach Ruiz, thanks for coming in, man. Thanks, Coach. We've been waiting to have you in here. I know you're uh you got a big impact schedule, but uh we're gonna have to have you back when the season starts to come around so we can preview 2026 what the Blackhawks are looking like. I'm sure you're gonna have another successful season. Tradition says you guys are gonna be right there. Um, and we're looking forward to kind of talking to you about that.

SPEAKER_00 26:14

We got a ways to go, but I appreciate you guys. Thank you. Thank you very much for having me. Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_01 26:20

Yeah. Well, if you guys know the routine, man, if you found some value in today's conversation, like, subscribe, and follow. And we'll see you next time on Desert Valley Blitz. See ya.