Vince D’Adamo: Whether as a student-athlete at Napa High, coach at the high school level or being involved in your son's athletic journey what keeps you coming back to athletics every season?
Marcus Franco: It has always, come down to how a sport can be used as a conduit to become a better person, and thus grow closer to Jesus Christ. I firmly believe that. As an athlete, coach, and now father/coach, I love how sports teaches one sacrifice, strong work ethic, commitment, dedication, loyalty, dealing with frustration, teamwork, and humility. When you fail, it makes you ask yourself, "What am I going to do to get better?" There is zero time for victimization, blaming others, or going into a hole. I'm very clear with my athletes, and now Sean, that every sport is used as a conduit for attaining these Godly qualities.
D’Adamo: Even if high school is the pinnacle of a youngster's sports career, how much do you believe they grow as adults as a result of competing in athletics?
Franco: Let's just say that without sports, I believe that there are few other opportunities for an individual to grow in all of the aforementioned areas. Sure, music, the arts, acting, drama, and many other challenging activities exist that allow for wonderful growth, but nothing like sports, I believe, teaches all of the Godly traits I mentioned above.
D’Adamo: Besides the Xs and Os of coaching, how important is it to relate to youngsters as people?
Franco: That is such a challenging and in depth question, because when I was going to practice in 1975 and 1976, at Vintage High School, watching my father coach guys like Craig and Mike Landis, it was all about, "I'm the head coach, and you rise to my expectations." Telling the kids the "Why" as to why we do something was present, of course, because my father and his coaches were such excellent coaches, but it was as prevalent or needed as it has been for about the past eight to ten years. There definitely has been a shift in needing to be a psychologist, father, and even mother to many kids today, on and off the field. It's such a fine balance to find, because to tell you the truth, many kids are just "softer" today. I've seen coach after coach get out, simply because parents are providing emotional refuge at home for the kid, not holding kids accountable for their choices, lack of work ethic, or simply put, lack of stepping up to get the most out of themselves. I also see it with many kids that my son competes against and as a father who believes in being honest with my son, and challenging him, you have to be careful how you speak to your own child, especially in front of other parents. I'm about 70 percent old school, and 30 percent new school. I am constantly explaining to my son why we do things, but I absolutely will not put up with laziness, or excuse making. One of the great things sports also teaches you, I think is that you do your best even when you do not "feel like it."
D’Adamo: Since you are also involved as a teacher, how much of teaching and coaching goes hand-in-hand?
Franco: I think that the best coaches use "Bloom's Taxonomy on Learning" on the field, court, or mat. You convey the knowledge of the skill or technique you want learned. That is the "knowledge" stage. Then you show it and let the kids analyze it. They then perform, or "apply" the skill or the technique consistently, in order to master the skill. Within that process you explain the "why" as to why we do something a particular way, and finally, they teach it to someone else. We then move on to applying these skills in a live, competitive situation, putting kids under intense pressure in practice. I always said, "If you can handle my pressure in practice, then you can handle anything in a game or match." I also would add that it is imperative to convey personal responsibility and personal accountability in one's development, including strong work ethic outside of practice time. Conveying specifically where each player fits into the entire team scheme and particular game. With my Armijo '03 team that lost in the section semis, I constantly reminded the kids where they fit into the team goals. Whether it was speed, power, starting pitching, relief pitching, going oppo (opposite field), or whatever, each kid understood clearly what their role was on the team. That not only allowed them to master those skills and put in extra time outside of practice, but it brought together a well oiled machine, with the sum of it's parts being able to do great things. It helps tremendously, of course, when you have prime parts and flat out talent to bring those parts together.
D’Adamo: How much do you believe your involvement in sports as a student-athlete has shaped you as an adult?
Franco: It was imperative. I was in seventh grade, at Redwood Junior High School, while my father was just beginning his head coaching gig at Napa High. Virtually all Redwood kids went to Vintage. All I ever heard, and has a 73-pound, skinny kid albeit, was that I was only going to play because my father was the head coach. I took that seriously. I would put my bike in the back of my father's truck, get up at 5:30 in the morning, and go lift weights at Napa High. I then would ride my bike to Redwood for school. I remember one day on the way home saying to my dad, "I need to get tougher. I think I want to wrestle." He said, "Go for it. I think that would be good for you." What I value so greatly, now at age 50, is that my father always told me that I will decide what I do with what God gave me. So yes, I worked my ass off, but God delivered his promises. Like the parable of the talents, we all have a responsibility to take what God gives us, and use it to help others. I've been fortunate to be in the classroom for 21 years now, and have coached many teams. Because of those challenges of being small, having to work hard to get stronger, faster, and tougher, and then succeed, I think I've been able to come at students and athletes in a way that is filled with high expectations and no excuses, but also understand those with limited physical blessings, if you will. At 50, it is very clear to me God's plan, and where I fit into it. I love the challenges associated with taking the given blessings of kids, working hard, and then seeing them succeed individually and as a team. It's even more satisfying to see my little seven year-old son, Sean, succeeding on the wrestling mat, football field, and baseball field, also.
D’Adamo: Within your family, who have been the most influential people?
Franco: My father was my best man in my wedding for a reason. His assistant coaches, and of course, my mother, brother, and sister, understand what he did for Napa High. But I was there every day, in the seventies when he was at Vintage, and then in 1979, at Napa High, working his ass off to turn around that program. He would raise 30 grand every year, with his own contacts, friendships, and relationships, in the Lift-a-Thon, to fund the program. I remember the breaking down of that old building in making a weight room, one that still exists today. In '79, he had to kick a lot of kids all about smoking and partying out of the program. Some of those individuals, now adults, thank him for that. I watched him stand strong, with firm integrity, to fight a climate of mediocrity, in order to establish one of high expectations, academic integrity, and team above self. It takes great leadership to accomplish that. What people don't know is that he is an amazing father. I think all three of his kids have given back to society in a fine way, and have used their lives to help others. That is a testament to him, and of course, my mother. My mother is really a large reason why my father was able to do his job, and focus on making a difference in the lives of so many. Coach's wives are absolutely amazing. They never argued. I do remember one argument when my mother wanted more time with my dad, and my dad offered to stop coaching. My mom said, no, and that was never an issue again, so far as I could tell. What is funny is that in 1993 or so, when he was on his break from coaching, and getting home at 3:30 each day, my mom hated it. She wanted him to get back into coaching. I will also add how proud I was and am of my brother, Matt. He won "Athlete of the Year" in 1989, in the city of Napa, and I value that to this day. And I would not be where I am at today with my sister. She was there during some tough times in the 90's, prior to my teaching career getting started.
D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports you would most like to meet.
Franco: That is very easy. His name is Jesus. And I will meet him someday. He is real, and as we get away from him in this society, and people more and more do not like to talk about Him, I love Him. I have nothing today without Him.
