Charles Adams III - Head Coach, Minneapolis North High School

Patrick and Dave sit down with Charles Adams III and discuss his career. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:25

Welcome to Behind the Game, presented by KLM Family Brands, makers of the best licorice on the planet, Wiley Wallaby, Sweet Chaos Popcorn, and Nutri-Source Pet Foods. I'm Patrick Klinger, president of Agile Marketing Partners, alongside me, a man who spent his entire life proving you don't have to be fast, strong, or coordinated to make an impact. Big boat. Just gonna use the old brain up here.

SPEAKER_04 0:49

Yeah, yeah, well, Patrick to make up for the other shortcomings.

SPEAKER_03 0:53

Yep. Indeed. Hey Dave, thank you. We've got a guest today that I've wanted on this show for as long as I can remember. Somebody I've gotten to know a little bit over the years, and I'm absolutely thrilled that he's decided to join us today.

SPEAKER_04 1:10

Yeah, it is uh great to have you here today. Uh so for everybody watching, today's guest is somebody who really embodies leadership in Minneapolis. Charles Adams 3, the third is the head football coach at North Community High School, Minneapolis North, director of security for the Minnesota Twins, uh, and former Minneapolis police officer. If you've spent time in Minneapolis or seen the Showtime documentary Boys in Blue, which you should if you haven't, uh, you know Charles is a steady, respected voice in the community that's faced some real challenges. Uh so Charles, welcome. Thanks for being here.

SPEAKER_00 1:48

Thanks for having me. Thanks for having me. Glad to be here.

SPEAKER_04 1:50

You've won worn a lot of hats over the years, um, police officer, football coach, mentor, um, and now head of security for the twins. So if people ask you what you do, uh, how do you describe yourself?

SPEAKER_00 2:04

Oh yeah, you know, I always uh it's always been uh in my head the the stay busy, to stay out of trouble. Uh so definitely busy. Uh I will say, you know, it no matter where you go, it's gonna it's always gonna be coach. It's always gonna be coach. Um, you know, people, as you know, uh call me OA, you know, short for Officer Adams, but it's always coaching. I think it's always gonna be um the figure of coach. And then at what aspect am I coaching? Whether it's uh, you know, I'm policing and I'm and I'm mentoring, that's coaching. And then if I'm if I'm working with baseball players or in the MLB and helping them write, that's coaching too. So um I think you know, if if if you go to a dictionary and it's my name, you know, the coach is where it's gonna stick. That'd be a great title to have.

SPEAKER_03 2:54

Charles, take us back to the beginning. You grew up in North Minneapolis. Tell us a little bit about that experience and how that shaped you today.

SPEAKER_00 3:02

Well, um, you know, I'm I'm I'm a part of that crew called the NFL crew, and that's Northside for Life. And um it's uh it's just it's it's in me, you know, my mother, my father, my uncles, grandparents, we all are in Northside Minneapolis. So um, you know, being in that community, working and coaching is just is just the only thing that I know. So, you know, just from the beginning, you know, everything, uh things were a lot different, you know, obviously in the in the 80s and 90s growing up in in North Minneapolis. But I think that's what drives me so much with these kids is because I can see, I see the value, and I'm a product of it. So it's easier for me to kind of um be where I'm got. But I, you know, I it's it's a place I I grew up and I love and and I'll continue to serve it.

SPEAKER_04 3:54

So you spent much of your life serving the community that you grew up in and serving Minneapolis in general in different ways. Um where did that desire to to lead and to serve and give back, where did that come from?

SPEAKER_00 4:09

Really, just from my my father. Um, from my from my father, just uh him being involved in the police department and then uh police activities league, and then kind of seeing that mentorship and just the relationships that he established within the community, um, and then hearing the stories and stuff like that. So um it I just thought that, you know, kind of following his lead of how important it was to be a uh a positive influence in the neighborhood. Um and I was always worried about growing up because you know, my granddaddy would always say like he he would act like he knew everybody. And um, and I I didn't know, you know, then if that was something for him to try to tell me to be, you know, be scared of, but when he passed away a few years ago, he knew everybody. So um just kind of just you know, for my grand grandfather, my uncle, my father being pillars in the community, kind of just following their lead.

SPEAKER_03 5:03

You were a Minneapolis police officer during certainly one of the most difficult times in the city's history, right? When you think back to those days following the the murder of George Floyd, what what comes to mind? What do you what do you recall about that experience?

SPEAKER_00 5:20

You know, it was uh trauma. It's trauma. And and really the biggest thing with that experience was um, you know, during that time it it was it was trauma for the whole city. And and I kind of felt like, you know, not to choose sides, but it was like caught in the middle. It was like, well, the trauma is it has been brought on from, you know, issues with the police department, incident with the police department. But then again, you know, the the community is trying to protect themselves, but also trying to, you know, try to be heard. So um it was really difficult for me, just you know, being a police officer and being in the front lines. I mean, when I mean front lines, in the front lines of, you know, the unrest. And then just not um really just first time in my law enforcement career, really not knowing what would happen that day, you know. The the biggest thing was making sure we got home. But that that was like one night there where I'm like, you know, I I don't know if you know if I'll make it home safe tonight because of trauma and because of what's going on.

SPEAKER_03 6:28

And because you were a black police officer, did you face um any extra pressure in a sense?

SPEAKER_00 6:36

Um, some way, yeah, somewhat I did. Um really just uh when when it came to that point and being out there on the front lines and you know in front of people that are you know easily on arrest, uh you weren't black. You weren't black, you you were blue, you were blue. So um that was really a hard part for me to understand because I've always been black. But now it's you know the perception of now, well, to us, you're you're you're in that blue uniform.

SPEAKER_04 7:07

So at that moment, as you were going through all that, you weren't, as you mentioned, you weren't just a police officer, you're also a coach, a mentor, uh trusted figure in the community, particularly to uh young kids and and impressionable kids. How did you strike a balance between all of that while you're also trying to keep the peace?

SPEAKER_00 7:30

And yeah, so you know, in that particular moment you know, during the riots and people um uh in that city, you know, it was weird that one of my main focuses was to make sure that the kids that I was coaching stayed away from what was going on. And I and I, you know, to this day, I just I was so worried about everybody else, opposed to like my own safety. And it, you know, and that it was just my nature. But, you know, just you know, making sure that I showed the leadership in that, like, hey, it's it's really, really crazy out here right now. I don't want you guys out here, and I don't want to be out here worrying about you guys being out here. Um, and I think a lot of my kids at that time they kind of understood because they were like, you know, you know, they were checking in on each other, and then coach said to stay in and and and and make sure that we're safe because you know if he's out there helping to protect us, we don't want him worrying about what we're doing.

SPEAKER_03 8:28

Yeah, that's great. So looking back now, Charles, would did you learn any lessons from from that experience? And what did what did you take from that about policing, about leadership, about building trust?

SPEAKER_00 8:43

Well, um the biggest thing that I learned out is obviously, you know, uh the opinions uh per community and and and the voices that people have been trying to um to use that not necessarily are heard. Um and my biggest thing was uh I I did a I spent a lot of time trying to convince people um uh not all like everything in the police department is is is one incident. And but it's kind of it was kind of hard to kind of have those kind of conversations because I mean look look what we're going up against. And my biggest thing was not only did people uh have issues with how things were in the police department, but it was, you know, if you identify what the issue is, well, what are you gonna do to actively try to fix it? And I think that's where um, you know, I I was kind of I wanted to to be more encouraging in that way of trying to make sure that we can help uh fix what's bad. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:51

And if I can follow up on that just for a moment, you you left the police department relatively soon after that, right? Yeah. Did the what happened, that experience, was that part of the reason you decided to leave?

SPEAKER_00 10:03

No, um, no, and and honestly, uh I I think one of the what the weighing factors uh were uh I just when it came to the Minnesota twins, I was just I was given an opportunity that was just kind of hard to kind of look down. And it was just a coincidence and unfortunate. But I well, what I tell everybody um all the time is that um if if I was still a SRO and still had an opportunity to work in the schools, um, I wouldn't even consider working for the twins. And and and that's no secret. Uh it was just at that moment that that wasn't an option. That's not what was happening. And, you know, I was working patrol, so you know, the twins kind of they caught me in a in a position where I'm like, hey, you know, why not take, you know, I'll take it. So it wasn't, you know, I I know a lot of officers had left the department for, you know, conditions and post-traumatic stress. Um, not saying that I didn't have trauma, but I I just wasn't a part of uh uh the officers that I left on those terms.

SPEAKER_04 11:08

Well, it's a topic uh probably don't like to relive all that much, and and the city doesn't. Um but you can talk about it for a long time. But let's uh let's turn to something a little more fun. Uh let's talk football. Uh so you've had tremendous success at North High, but your impact to the team and the the kids on the team and and those around them goes well beyond wins and losses. So what's at the core of your coaching philosophy?

SPEAKER_00 11:41

Um so the so I would say uh definitely what's at the core of my philosophy is just um uh being um reliable and and responsible, but showing and and holding you accountable. And I think uh the biggest thing when when mentoring and coaching young men and women is that uh being able to be vulnerable to them and telling them how much how important they are to you. And I think once you once you get that, once you break that, you know, that relationship and let them know how important they are, they're willing to trust you a little bit more. And I think uh just if you go X's and O's, you know, obviously, you know, people are successful running the ball, people are passing the ball. I've always looked at it like uh, you know, just attending to the to the specialties of what I have because it can it can change each year. So I'm not a wing tee guy, you know, like I gotta, this is what we run, you know. We can we can run at 70 or 30 or we can pass at 70-30, but it it just depends on which athlete we have each year. So that's kind of how I look. But the biggest thing is I want these kids to understand that I I had their backs, and I'm gonna do whatever I can to make sure they're successful, successful and helpful.

SPEAKER_03 13:00

You know, you you you've been tremendously successful as a football coach. Um but I I I would guess that really the the greatest satisfaction does come from inspiring, motivating the young kids, the young men, yes, yes, and getting them on the right path.

SPEAKER_00 13:16

Yes, yes, yes, yes. Absolutely. And you they're only gonna you have to lead official. So if uh if you each year have low expectations, you know, the kids are gonna have the same low expectations you have. You know, everybody asks me each year, what are your expectations? I and I always tell them state championship. And they're like, why? Because I'm like, we win it until we don't. I mean, you gotta have that expectation because you know, sometimes they can say you're crazy, but in the same sense, when you win it, then they you ain't crazy. You you you were confident that you can get there.

unknown 13:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 13:56

So the football, you and the football program became the focus of the Showtime documentary, Boys in Blue, which as I mentioned, I'll plug it again uh so you don't have to necessarily, but it it anybody that hasn't watched it should. Right. Um how did that opportunity first even come about?

SPEAKER_00 14:17

Uh well, um, so it it it it came about. I had got um, so we had did a um uh HBO Real Sports with Brian Gumble. We had did um a shoot with them, and we, you know, some of the officers that were in Boys and Blue and on the culture staff, and we had met with them. Um but that had that had um started from a New York uh New York Times article that was done. Um so it kind of it kind of all piggybacked on that. And really the weird thing about it was um I got an email from a producer, and he was like, hey, can you jump on a uh a Zoom with us? And when I get on the Zoom, it's Peter Berg. And I'm like, what? And and really it was by accident, not not them getting a hold of me, but me responding because the person in the Zoom meeting, his name was was similar to one of my teammates that I played with. So I thought it was him. But then when I get on there, it's Peter Berg's face, and I'm like, wait, what is this? So then Peter Berg comes and spent um the season before he came to our last game and um film just with us for the one game, and he was like, Yeah, man, we got we gotta do something. And then it was it just it went off from there.

SPEAKER_04 15:39

Must have been a great feeling.

SPEAKER_00 15:40

Oh, yeah, it was it was pretty fun because it was it was it was uncut, you know. They just rode us and we they had fun, and it was only for one day, and and you know, all our coaches were on the sidelines, and and Peter Burber's like, yeah, we gotta make this a big thing, man.

SPEAKER_03 15:55

So all those cameras following you around, and as you said, it's it's it's uncut, it's unfiltered. Yeah, you're in the locker room, you sidelines. Yeah. Um, did that change? I mean, how did how did you and the players adjust to that environment? And having watching, you know, somebody watch and listen to everything that you did.

SPEAKER_00 16:15

So it was a lot of filming. Um, it was they were allowed in my house as some of the scenes show, um, but it was only certain areas because my wife was not going for, you know, just so really mainly when they when they shot us at my house, it was really just in our living room. And then, you know, if we went to my dad's house, it was at the same, you know, just like living areas. But um, you know how people say, like, at as a certain point, like you kind of just forget the cameras are there? Like, you know, they're there. Like, so um, I will say that the biggest, the funniest thing is that you forget that you are mic'd up. So you, I mean, you're talking like normal and whatever, but uh the it was really organic as far as they they never was like, hey, do this instead. It never was like that. And I and that's what I appreciated it because I wanted it to feel you know like real and people not think that it was just rehearsed. So that was the best thing about it. And and I I would say a frustrating thing was not everybody was on board when we went to other places, so a lot of stuff was cut or was not being able to be filmed because you know, other schools or other districts, they're like, no, we don't we don't want that here. And that that was a bummer because we missed a lot of stuff. Um, so a lot of people denied access to those cameras to follow us.

SPEAKER_04 17:41

Uh the cameras were around for a lot of the I'll say fun football things, but also for some pretty personal emotional moments. Um how did how did you handle that or with your players or team or others uh when you know there's some things going on that you might not have first wanted people in filming you, right?

SPEAKER_00 18:08

But uh I think the kids adapted to it real well. Um, and I think that was a whole part of the experience being able to catch genuine feelings and emotions, uh, and and and not kind, you know, not dialing things down and kind of just being our true selves. So I think it was it was important, and I'm glad that they were able to capture, you know, just like their the true selves of uh, you know, of how the program is, these kids, and you know, the good and the bad. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 18:37

And while the filming was taking place, we had a horrible crime, yeah, a tremendous tragedy, Deshaun Hill's murder, um, which was captured. Um, you know, that you the aftermath of that was captured in Boys in Blue. I mean, that must have been just an incredibly difficult time for you. Yeah, the players, the families.

SPEAKER_00 19:00

Yeah, yeah. Um one of the one of the hardest things I've had to deal with. Uh and really just kind of feeling at that time like not blaming me, but like, am I am I doing enough? You know, and and which is not fair, you know, not fair. The only person that can be blamed for this tragedy and for that was the person that did it. But just kind of thinking, well, you know, second guessing myself of, well, can I really keep these kids safe? And is it safe to be here? So I I think that was really, really tough. But just to kind of see what his family went through and um really just how our kids responded and what they went through of, you know, losing one of their friends. Um I I was really, I really, really, really prayed for that strength of the to be strong for those kids and the community. And it was tough. And um, you know, we still, you know, still deal with it every day, but um it will, it's it has by far been the toughest thing I've ever done as as a as a leader of of anything.

SPEAKER_04 20:09

All that you're talking about certainly did come through, I think, for us watching the uh documentary. So when it was all said and done, maybe then and now, um what really hits you from the documentary, or maybe even more, what what do you feel about it now when you see it? And how about you know the players and others that were in it? How what's it meant to them?

SPEAKER_00 20:31

Uh it's it's been you know, it's it's it's been great for people that are involved in it. Uh, you know, I've been in places and people have recognized me from there. Um I've and and it's it's it's it's been a good um a good thing for people to see what the value of our community and how we come together. And I I just think that it, you know, obviously was fortunate to have this opportunity, and and I wish that, you know, it could have went um, it could have been differently, but I'm glad it was able to shed a positive light. And and you know, the kids still talk about it. I mean, I it ain't too many places I go to, and they were like, boys in blue, boys in blue. You know, like, yeah, that's me. Um, and and it's it's it's good, you know, because you know, family across the country can see it and and and stuff like that. And uh I I truly value the the um the opportunity for it. So it's a it was a great thing to be a part of, right?

SPEAKER_03 21:31

Which is brilliant. I I absolutely loved it. Um you also wrote uh a memoir, Twin Cities, My Life as a Black Cop and a Championship coach. Yes. I have great admiration for anybody who writes a book. I can barely write an email sometimes. So uh what made you decide it was time to tell your story?

SPEAKER_00 21:50

Well, uh it it kind of, you know, all of it was kind of the same. It came together, you know. Like I was working on it during Boys and Blue. So um when Boys in blue was was being i was working on it and uh you know somebody approached me said hey you need to tell your story and and and and you gotta put you gotta put it so people can read it and um that process was a lot uh easier um than what i thought it would be uh you know obviously uh it it it's a lot of work but it was it was easier and it really it was just you know me sitting down having like a a big interview and talking and then kind of going over things so it but I really really proud to see that um you know come to come to life and then you see your name on a book and and that can last forever so it it was just uh it just um yeah I'm really proud of it and I I you should be I I I I catch myself actually you know just you know a few weeks ago I was I was sitting in um I was sitting at the stadium and and I was literally listening to it on audiobook because I was like I seen something on the news I'm like I think I talked about that then I went back and listened to it and I was like I sure did yeah yeah that's pretty uh pretty cool we should have had uh author in the uh list at the beginning when we were talking about all your roles um so as as we kind of wind down time here uh today you're a director of security for the Minnesota twins yes yes um everybody I think always thinks it'd be great to be in pro sports and to be doing all that stuff but my guess is maybe it's not all it's not all fun and games watching the twins but um what is what does the job actually entail on a on a given day or a game day or what's it really like so it's it's really um it's funny because a lot of people get mixed up of you know uh a lot of folks think that I I retired as a police officer to be uh event security at the twin stadium so my job details of director of team security so I do travel with the team and um there is uh um uh a huge a huge travel requirement so sure we're here a week going a week but really um look at it as uh dignitary protection for the for the um MLB players and and then obviously being able to get have an opportunity to establish relationships with the players and their families because a lot of times players and their families are are traveling with them so I provide that security you know at the hotel um and then you know at these sites and so so for the last six seasons that's that's been my responsibility and I enjoy it because um you establish a lot of relationships and then you know a lot of the guys know I'm a football guy so they know I love football so um I will say come September when we're still playing baseball is really really tough for me to lock in on the on the on the baseball diamond when the Vikings are playing right there.

SPEAKER_03 25:01

So they know they know I'm no good when it comes September I'm there but I'm you know charging tomorrow you know honestly listen I was the vice president of marketing for the Minnesota twins and I can tell you there were a lot of people in the press box on you know on those Sunday afternoons in September who should have been watching what was happening on the field and they're watching the TVs too.

SPEAKER_00 25:21

Yeah yes so they they they give me they give me that leeway um so uh but you know I enjoyed it's it it established relationships uh it's a great organization um poll ads are a great family and and I'm the reason why they're there and I just you know I try to I each each each day and each season I try to build relationships with young men because a lot of them are my kids' age and um and help them not you know I'm not trying to tell them how to swing the bat or anything like that but a safe a safe fixture in their coach you're a coach too yeah coach that one you said it's there all the time Charles you you mentored countless young people over the years what one lesson do you hope that they take with them from all the time that you've spent with them oh one lesson uh that's a great question um one thing that I tell a lot of kids I always tell them um never worry about something you can't control I said the the right thing's gonna happen to you you but you control which what you want to do so if if they don't if they don't take anything from what I've tried to teach them you know with accountability and coaching coaching boys to young men just um stay on your path of how you want to do things but never worry yourself about things that you can't control it just only control the controllables of what you can do you've made such a a huge impact when and this is probably a hard one to answer but when all is said and done what kind of legacy do you see that you hope you that you leave for your players your community people that have have crossed your path consistency consistency of being a person that you can rely on so reliable and consistency are the main things that if uh if anybody could bank on me and the legacy that I leave is that I was consistent in being able to be a positive figure for you and what would you like people to know about the kids in North Minneapolis and about that community. Yes outstanding outstanding uh definitely overlooked but um an outstanding group of people in this community because I'm a product of it so I can speak for it um I can I I can we say bleed blue we say bleed blue and I'm a product of that of that community and we have some wonderful people um in the community that have left the community and are coming to the community so it's just a a great thing to be prideful and be a part of yeah yeah you excited about the uh team this year absolutely I'm I'm excited every every year because I always I always had that one thing like man how's it gonna be and then I go out there and we go out to workouts or something like that and I see I see this kid and got longer and he done got bigger and I'm like oh yeah let's go so I always find something to be excited about so I'm definitely excited uh young group but you know we got some veteran guys coming back that were great last year so I'm excited to see how they do so it's always fun well I'm so excited that you were with us today thanks for having me I know it's been I know it's been a a time coming but I am so thankful to be here and thank uh I appreciate you staying on me to get here but I'm glad to be here it's a privilege true Dave always great to be alongside you Patrick as well thanks Charles yeah it's been been great glad we we got Charles I'm gonna try to get out to again this year I have please please please please please come in it's it the atmosphere is incredible it's just something that you got to see Friday Night Lights is incredible.

SPEAKER_01 29:16

Fantastic watch Boys in Blue and pick up uh Charles's book um I'm sure you can find it online fantastic great thank all of you for watching Behind the Game presented by Kale and Family Brands Behind the Game is produced by Alan and Sharon Miller directed by Mary Dalton live audio mixed by Sharon Miller technical and post production services provided by Egan Television. This program was recorded at Egan High School the views and opinions expressed on this program are solely those of the producers andor the persons appearing on the program and do not reflect the views and opinions of ETV or those of District 196 schools