COACH LUKE GOODE
ELKS EMBRACE PROCESS OF IMPROVEMENT
BY JUWAN LEE
A team ’ s success is mostly measured by its season record and overall number of victories . Judging the 2020 Elkhart Elks season by that standard would tell you it wasn ’ t an easy year for head coach Luke Goode ’ s team at all .
Five consecutive losses to begin the season were followed by two forfeits due to a two-week quarantine . The Elks lost their following two games after their two week hiatus before beating Huntington in their district finale , 16-14 .
COVID-19 , injuries and adjusting to a brand new regime under Goode are just a few factors their final 1-9 record may not fully reveal . However , though difficult , the 2020 season wasn ’ t entirely filled with negatives . “ It ’ s adversity . It ’ s a process ,” Goode said . “ We all want the process to be fast . You try to give the kids hope for the future . It was a reason for it . We ’ ll find out what that is later and it ’ ll make the wins a lot more satisfying when we get there .”
Success alone does not make a team great until it is paired with effective coaching . Effective coaching runs deeper than wins and losses , it also includes reaching athletes on an individual level .
In fact , that was the biggest impact coach Goode felt the pandemic had on his program .
“ We had to struggle through the relationship part of [ taking over a new program ],” Goode said . “ You hadn ’ t gotten to see your kids . No one had gotten to do anything together for six months . When you do get together they don ’ t know you and you don ’ t know them . We got to build those connections this offseason .”
The Elks have 12 varsity lettermen from 2020 ’ s team returning , so there is a core in place that battled through that
“ IT ’ S ADVERSITY . IT ’ S A PROCESS . WE ALL WANT THE PROCESS TO BE FAST . BUT IT ’ LL MAKE THE WINS A LOT MORE SATISFYING WHEN WE GET THERE . ” - Coach Luke Goode
adversity with Goode . Some of those key guys include Conner Walker , Cale Starr , Tyler and Taylor Strafford .
Admittedly , it ’ s not always easy vocalizing the future direction of the program when you ’ re navigating a losing season . It ’ s why their week 10 win over Huntington carries weight as they prepare for their season opener against Buffalo .
It was a moment Goode not only used to define their season , but a teaching lesson for his players in life .
“ You ’ re always going to have tough times , but will those tough times define us ?” Goode said . “ It ’ s like Andy Dufreshne when he finally broke out . When you finally get through the tough stuff good things happen to those who remained consistent . You ’ re going to look back at those times and realize it made you better .”
Not only did the coaches see the character of the players , but those athletes saw a coaching staff who wouldn ’ t quit on them . The Elks are projected to finish at the bottom of District 9-3A DI , but that isn ’ t unfamiliar territory for Goode .
He remembers his time as a player for Lone Oak High School when a new coach led them to a 9-1 record and district title after preseason polls told a similar tale for them .
“ Always celebrate something you want to see again ,” Goode said about a quote he took from his mentor . “ The mindset about what you want to accomplish is what matters . We celebrate these athletes for taking the challenge of meeting our expectations . We ’ re grateful and proud to have these kids .”
22- END ZONE - 2021
ELKHART ELKS