“ PACK MENTALITY”
WOLVES UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF NEW TOP DOG
By Alex Havardansky
Much like the Greenville Lions, the Wolfe City Wolves head into the season with a new man at the helm – Ricky Rodriguez.
Rodriguez brings vast knowledge from a variety of programs in his lengthy coaching career. He most recent on-field job was at Schulenburg High School where he was an assistant coach and prior to that was the defensive coordinator for a five-time state championship program at Newton High School.
Rodriguez also gained experience as in administrator during his time at Omaha Paul Pewitt High School where he was assistant athletic director before making the jump to Wolfe City as the full-time head athletic director.
Overall, Rodriguez said his adjustment to the community has been a smooth one and he’ s been impressed with how quickly the players at Wolfe City High School have taken to his vision.
“ It’ s been great,” Rodriguez said.“ Wolfe City has an extremely empowering and supportive community. From the day I got here, all the kids showed up at the board meeting. The buy-in has been great. Their willingness to be a sponge and soak it all in has been great.”
Rodriguez was a late high for the district at the end of May but that hasn’ t stopped him or the team from hitting the ground running and shaping a new culture.
From Day 1, Rodriguez said he has been working to install his four“ core pillars” that he believes will ultimately lead the team to success.
The first of those pillars is pride.
Rodriguez said he wants everyone in the program to be proud of their program and to also walk away proud of who they are as student-athletes on and off the field and wants to instill the mindset in each of the kids that their own individual impacts shape the greater collective picture of Wolfe City sports.
The next two pillars work handin-hand – attitude and commitment.
Rodriguez has been setting a standard during the offseason that
every day each player comes in on time and ready to work. For the new coach, attitude means having the appropriate“ body language” in regard to every aspect of being a member of the team and also the willingness to be coached.
Rodriguez believes every coach’ s job is to make their athletes better than they would be without their coaching so even if that means tough coaching or need for improvements, players understand the coaching staff is trying to get the best out of them and they respond with enthusiasm and a drive to be better.
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