"I know that's there," he says. Mendez taught himself the game of football by playing Madden on a PlayStation, using his chin and collarbone to push the buttons. "You don't need to apologize," Mendez says. Its classrooms are a melting pot. As they head inside, Mendez looks back at me over McAvoy's shoulder. I know what you're saying. How does he sleep? But this time, he has no idea the belt around his waist isn't buckled. "Great job, Coach. Coach Mendez. And how does he deal with such a challenging life? "I can guarantee you there is someone with no arms and legs living in the mountains somewhere with a whole different story who isn't as active as we are. He says if he had arms and legs he has no idea how his life would be different. But I learned that I can be a leader. Embrace it. He tells the story of his father putting him on the stairs when he was 9 years old, demanding that he climb to the top. Practice starts in a few days. An assistant coach holds a whiteboard a few inches in front of Mendez. That man was Mike Cable. "I love you, bro. It's all good." We are all special. By Tuesday afternoon, he's back at Prospect for practice, apologizing to his players for Monday's absence. He knew his offense, he knows his x's and o's and he brings an energy to the team, the players and the rest of the coaching staff. But those who stayed learned about their new coach. It's just me. The coach nods and says "thank you." "But I don't think about this the same way everybody else does. I think he needs them just as much." For now, I start with a topic far simpler: football. "When someone is born this way, this is their world," says Dr. Benjamin Mandac, Mendez's pediatric physical therapist who now is the head of that department at Kaiser Permanente in the Bay Area. Holding court, triggering laughs and helping people realize for a few minutes that a man in a wheelchair without arms and legs is just like anyone else. "I just try to shut it down as quickly as possible." I'm proud of you. Elk Grove High School. Those who do survive often end up with significant intellectual disabilities. But it isn't that simple. Most days Mendez has chronic neck, back and shoulder pain. On this night, on the same field where this journey began, Mendez gathers his team one last time. Work Environment Part-time work is common for coaches and scouts. I've been a 2 year starter on the varsity football team. . A 10-story building hitting the ground. When he's away from home, he's careful about what he eats and drinks, often keeping it to no more than an iced coffee. Mendez makes a trip to a nearby shopping center for coffee. A young boy holds open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot. And just like that, the man who so often projects like everything is fine rips off his facade. I pick up a fork, stab it into the roll, drag it through a puddle of soy sauce and put it in his mouth. By his senior year, he worked his way up to quarterbacks coach. What do you want people to say about this team? "It didn't take long for me to figure out that alcohol is not the answer." After a few minutes of conversation, Cable believed he had his man. But on this late July night, 30-year-old high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste for sushi. Kicking Instruction by NFL Kickers and top collegiates NATIONAL KICKING SERVICE FOOTBALL KICKING, PUNTING, AND LONG SNAPPING CAMPS Recommended by NFL Players & Coaches Since 1988, one of football's most respected authorities on Special Teams Skills Groundbreaking Biomechanics Training Program Summer camps are authentic pro-style overnight camps. As he was not able to play football, Mendez taught himself the game by playing Madden football video games. Combing hair. We make it to his home. It isn't the first time Rob has fallen out of his chair. The two coaches connected. Holding court, triggering laughs and helping people realize for a few minutes that a man in a wheelchair without arms and legs is just like anyone else. If you plan to attend the game with a prospect and want to sit with him, please be sure to have the prospect list you as a gusest as opposed to submitting . And because of Rob's lack of limbs, his father says he retains 30 percent more heat than someone who has arms and legs. More SC Featured WVSN instantly reached out to the 2025 class [] WVSN instantly reached out to the 2025 class prospect to find out more about his talks with WVU offensive line coach Matt Moore and his current mindset about his future. He learned to press the buttons with his chin and collarbone. Where do I put my hands? "It sounds so ridiculous, but it's true," he says. He has lived his entire life without arms and legs. That night he can't sleep. She says she couldn't look at her son for the first couple of weeks. ", Physically, Mendez is unlike any other high school football coach in the U.S. Mentally and emotionally, he's no different. Mendez didnt allow his differences to limit him, though, and developed a passion for coaching by learning the game of football by playing Madden video games. And that includes getting on the officials when something doesn't go his way. When his players ask what happened, he tells them he got into a fight with the pavement. Prospect's lone highlight came on defense when, just before halftime, the Panthers stonewalled Sobrato on four straight plays from the goal line to keep the game scoreless. and Head Coaches) Prospect High School 801 W. Kensington Rd. Because he weighs 50 pounds, alcohol affects him faster than people who weigh much more. "Rob? When the final buzzer sounds, the players and coaches line up at the 50 to shake hands. I love it. Mendez screams. I mention that one of the themes I'm thinking about for his story is this idea of a beautiful mind. WITH LESS THAN two minutes remaining in the game, Prospect trails 3-0 facing a fourth-and-14 just inside Sobrato territory. Some newborns survive only a few hours or days. "I just wanted to coach football." "Yes!" Mendez acknowledges that his presence has had a positive impact on people. If I'm sitting there and don't smile or say hello, I just feel like that's rude." He needs to use the bathroom. Three blocks in, a blue pickup driving in the other direction recognizes the wheelchair. "So I try to stay positive. He asks his quarterback for a hug. Thats how I feel in my chair. "I'm not afraid to be myself," he tells me later. Mendez shakes his head. Can you lift me out of my chair?" It actually came well before Mendez started coaching football. But here, he's in his element. And Mendez had the title he had achingly sought: head coach. "But even before he could talk, I said, 'Somewhere, somebody is going to open a door for this kid and he's going to shine. IT WASN'T UNTIL an ultrasound in the eighth month of her pregnancy that Rob's mother, Josie, found out her son was not growing limbs. Prospect Football History Previous Seasons All-Time Roster 2022-23 ( 183 players) Head Coach: Morales, Joseph ( Fr.) A few minutes later, he asks if I can follow him home. But he's always there for the kids. In most cases of tetra-amelia, death occurs before birth. "I think it always will." I love that. Being personally invited for a visit indicates clear interest from a coach. he yells. It's now a full-on escort -- a motorized wheelchair flanked by two cars with their hazards flashing. I make mistakes. "I kept thinking, 'How can this guy possibly coach?'" It's a testament to his ability to be comfortable in any surrounding and put strangers at ease. Rob leans forward in his chair to reach his cell phone. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. Last April, the varsity coach at Prospect was looking for someone to help change the culture of the Prospect program when he came across Mendez's rsum. He's had people who hear his story and then approach him in tears. It wasn't like there was a store to buy clothes or toys for children with no arms and legs. He has lived his entire life without arms and legs. Ozzy Garcia Donna High School football player attending a prospect camp at Southwestern University in Georgetown Texas get's a high-five from coach.. I'm proud of everyone. Martindale has been the Prospect boys' athletic director since 2005, and has been teaching at the school for 20 years. In less than a minute he introduces himself, then me and strikes up a conversation. Rob's parents tried to integrate him as early as they could, putting him in preschool at 18 months. Alvernaz hired Mendez to be on his staff, but then followed Mendez to Prospect to be his number two. Rob's parents tried to integrate him as early as they could, putting him in preschool at 18 months. "Thank you," he says to me after his first sip. And there's the reality of what he feels, but rarely reveals. MENDEZ'S WHEELCHAIR NEVER sits still, but the way it pinballs back and forth between the hashmarks on the Prospect practice field says the coach is not happy. Doctors prepared her and her husband for the worst. "By the time I was a senior in high school I was wearing a headset with the coaches and listening to them," he said. He says thank you. The World Series is on television. This life it just isn't always easy." I know what you're saying. "You have to believe," he says. In the morning, he will coach the biggest game of his young career. "But we really have to sell that we are going that way. I love you, man," Lopez says. The coach nods and says "thank you.". "And the muscles in your neck are not supposed to be used that often. As the clock approaches 11 p.m., he looks at his empty glass and asks for another drink. On convenience alone, it would have been the perfect place for him to coach forever. The Illinois High School Football Coaches' Association announced their list of all-state players Wednesday. was something that was very much for me to always stick with and I hope people take away from it in a positive way where they are comfortable to motivate themselves to do whatever they want in life.". Tolliver, Malachi i, e Easter, Noah ( So.) ONE WEEK LATER, Prospect finishes its season 8-2 with a 19-13 victory over Yerba Buena. "There's no way," he says. But Mendez doesn't care about that. They have to buy the fake. Wayne DrehsDrehs is a senior writer for ESPN. Livingston told me Mendez's presence is living proof of what humans are capable of. And just like that, the man who so often projects like everything is fine rips off his facade. This standout in-state offensive lineman is staying in touch with Clemson's O-line coach. Now the entire Prospect program circles around Mendez at midfield. Mendez operates his cellphone, attached to a stand on his wheelchair, with his nose and lips. He learned how to draw and write using his mouth. "It's just me." But seven? "I appreciate you," Mendez says. "I just think that me showing people that I can accomplish my goals, which actually still is not really completely fulfilled yet. Prospect Reels produces high quality sports highlight videos so you can market your athletic skills to college coaches, recruiters, and others who can help you get recruited. You guys fought your butts off. This can cost you more than just money. The next day he spends almost entirely in bed, unable to open his eyes. It's a move he makes countless times a day. When coaches ask you to go on an official visit, paid for by the school's program, they're using their budget to show off their school and create an impressive experience for you as a recruit. And because of Rob's lack of limbs, his father says he retains 30 percent more heat than someone who has arms and legs. I'm not beautiful at all. "Thank you," he says to me after his first sip. "This was confirmation that you know what, I'm doing OK," he says. High school coaches are notoriously hard to contact. This is one of the worst falls. He says if he had arms and legs he has no idea how his life would be different. Without his wheelchair working properly, he can't raise its height to sit next to me at the bar. "I use my neck like my arm," Mendez says. But later he acknowledges he hated having to ask for help. by Elk Grove. But on this late July night, 30-year-old high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste for sushi. "I love you, bro. On warmer days, he can get bed sores from sitting in the same position too long. He talked about building a family. "I'm sorry," he says. Prospect High School. This time it's flawless. And he calls the exact same play he did on the previous down, flipping it to the other side of the field: Rex nine left, 180 smash. He scoffs. It just makes me mad. "Anything in the world that is worth doing, he's done it with his mind," Bob says. Aleksic, Danilo ( Fr.) "They don't have the grief of losing a limb because they never had it. "It first actually came from a friend challenging me at an 8th grade dance," Mendez said. But seven? Soon, it will be a nation-wide phenomenon when Rob Mendez accepts the 2019 Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYS on July 10. Prospect High School JV Football Coach Rob Mendez was born with a rare disorder that left him with no arms or legs. Afterward, Bob says doctors and nurses would walk by and stare. Mendez is hungry. "I don't think I could do that to those kids," he says. A few days before Rob was born, doctors walked his father, Robert Mendez Sr., through the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. With the help of adaptive technology, he went skiing. I am currently a senior at Texas Community High School and I will be attending college in the fall semester of 2009. A young boy holds open the door as Mendez approaches his favorite spot. Prospect stifled Evanston on two late fourth quarter drives, and senior Gavin Flanagan booted the game-winning field goal as Prospect survived with a 17-14 Homecoming win to improve to 3-0 on. Those who do survive often end up with significant intellectual disabilities. "When an able-body person says that they can't do something, his greatest message is, 'who says I can't?' "You know how Ironman gets in his suit and he just starts flying everywhere? "Let's get to the bottom of it. Quote of the . "I'm so proud of you. He doesn't listen to the doctors like he should. How does he go to the bathroom? Preston Gannaway for ESPN he says. "I was drinking to forget. The coach. We are all special. Sobrato is located across the street from his parents' home in Morgan Hill. We'll get to that. Mendez took over as the coach for Prospect Highs JV team, and led his players to an incredible 8-2 season. How safe is your neighborhood? The quarterback removes the cap from a blue dry erase pen and puts it in Mendez's mouth. I panic. Helped Blackman to a 10-3 record and an appearance in the third round of the Class 6A playoffs . Keep your heads up. Coach Mendez. 7324680: 08/31/22: 03:30 PM: Match: Elk Grove High School. I definitely want to be a varsity head coach, if not, advanced in the college career or the NFL. The team jogs over and surrounds him. A few days before Rob was born, doctors walked his father, Robert Mendez Sr., through the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. "Let's get to the bottom of it. One thing the boy clearly didn't lack: confidence. There's a lot on his mind. Afterward, Bob says doctors and nurses would walk by and stare. How do you move a fully grown adult with no arms and legs? It gives me hope for the world. He put the name into Google. Most everyone recognizes him and says hello. "I got it. It's a move he makes countless times a day. And how does he deal with such a challenging life? I said, 'oh yeah? We're going to fake it this way and then waggle out," he says. ", Mendez struggles to deal with back and neck pain from spending all day in his chair. It gives me this sense of independence., Sign up for the For The Win newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Prepped for head coach Victor Winters at Gadsden County High School in Havana, Flarated a three-star prospecta first-team all-state and a first-team All-Big Bend selection for the Jaguars after grading out over 90 percentinvited to participate in the NUC All-American Game in 2022had interest from several programs, including Florida Atlantic, Maryland, South Florida, Wake Forest . I haven't graduated college yet. Football coach without arms or legs inspires teamBorn without arms or legs, Rob Mendez was never able to play football, but that didn't stop him from pursuing his passion for the game as a coach.ESPN Blood runs everywhere. He was recently appointed as the President of the California Coaches Association. IN HIS 30 years, Mendez can't recall a single dream in which he has had arms or legs. "They would whisper," he says. I think he needs them just as much. I agree it's a small percentage. Physically, Mendez is unlike any other high school football coach in the U.S. Mentally and emotionally, he's no different. . And swimming. His team is a mix of freshmen and sophomores, some with a bit of experience, most with little to none. The school sits on the western edge of Silicon Valley, just 5 miles from Apple's campus. In his chair, he is constantly shifting, twisting and adjusting his posture. I might take two steps forward and then one step back. "The Super Bowl of JV football," he says. 9 overall prospect in the country. "How in the world am I supposed to handle that?" The two coaches connected. I mention that it seems as if anything that reminds him of his physical challenges bugs him. "Get over here!" And 26 percent of the school's students are economically disadvantaged. Clay, Brock Powell, Bryant ( Fr.) Shaving. Some newborns survive only a few hours or days. "It's only natural to never give up," Mendez said. And swimming. He asks his quarterback for a hug. What do you want out of this year? "I'm not afraid to be myself," he tells me later. Prospect High School, or Prospect, is a public four-year high school in Mount Prospect, Illinois, . Mendez calls his last timeout. How does he eat? In the morning, he will coach the biggest game of his young career. Bob hears the sound from a few feet away. His torso pushes against his belt. Push the limits. 2. Later, she would cover Rob in blankets when they went in public. Preston Gannaway for ESPN. For the next 12 years, he worked as an assistant coach at five high schools, waiting for someone to believe in him as a head coach. Nor did he and Josie have any idea how to take care of this baby. I'd completely forgotten that Mendez can't feed himself. Michael Furlong CTE Teacher, AVID Elective Teacher. I just want to prove them wrong." "He may not look like a coach, but he definitely acts like one," one of his players said. "The Sobrato loss still bothers me," he says in February. It wasn't like there was a store to buy clothes or toys for children with no arms and legs. Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated currently ranks Manning as the No. But later he acknowledges he hated having to ask for help. (2007-10), and Wake Forest Demon Decons (2010-14); currently an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies. After a few minutes of conversation, Cable believed he had his man. "You know how it is.". Three other players start chitchatting between reps. Mendez loses it. You're different. That's how I feel in my chair," he says. "I kept thinking, 'How can this guy possibly coach?'". Mendez says it started with the Madden video game. IT'S THE BIGGEST weekend of the year in Gilroy, California, with more than 100,000 people visiting for the annual garlic festival. That's not me," Mendez says. Rob leans forward in his chair to reach his cell phone. But it isn't that simple. 2. Embrace it. How does he coach football? No way." His head drops. Luis Lopez, the JV coach who worked with Mendez at the school, hugs Mendez. This is the first opportunity for college coaches and high school football players to interact directly with each other on the football field. There have been opportunities over the years to pursue prosthetic limbs, but he has turned them all down. But on this late July night, 30-year-old high school football coach Rob Mendez has a taste for sushi. How did someone who has never thrown a ball, caught a pass or tackled anyone become a head coach? Mendez was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare congenital disorder that prevents the formation of limbs during embryonic development. Melissa Feucht English Department Chair. The day is designed by college coaches in order to get the most out of everyone's time. The battery on his wheelchair is dead, and he wants to charge it at school overnight. ", Mendez leans forward in his chair. "As he approached, I didn't know how he could be a football coach. ", Born without arms or legs, Rob Mendez was never able to play football, but that didn't stop him from pursuing his passion for the game as a coach.ESPN. I'm lazy. Please check your email for a confirmation. Bob eventually turned to alcohol. Last April, the varsity coach at Prospect was looking for someone to help change the culture of the Prospect program when he came across Mendez's rsum. THREE MONTHS AFTER we first met, Mendez and I are in another bar, this time in downtown Campbell. Mendez orders a water. "I'm not going to let that happen. They tell Rob he can't coach for at least four weeks. The sound from a prospect high school football coaches feet away coach the biggest game of his challenges. Coaches ) Prospect high school football coach Rob Mendez accepts the 2019 Jimmy V Perseverance at! Step back emotionally, he worked his way up to quarterbacks coach Tuesday,. Congenital disorder that left him with no arms and legs he has lived entire. 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