The Wall of Fame at Alberni District Secondary School (ADSS) has a new name.
Track and field coach Darren Willis was inducted into the Wall of Fame during the recent Totem 69 basketball tournament at ADSS. Although Willis qualified for the nomination as an athlete, the Wall of Fame committee decided that his coaching career was "significant and impactful," so he was inducted under the coach/builder category instead.
Just before the final basketball game on Saturday evening (Jan. 11), Willis received his Wall of Fame plaque from fellow coach Anna Jack, who is herself a Wall of Fame member. Willis said this was a special moment for him.
"I've coached with Anna for years now," Willis said. "I don't think without her I'd still be doing it."
Willis was a multi-sport athlete throughout his time at ADSS, and was on the soccer team in 1983 that won a provincial championship. He graduated in 1985, then went on to play football at the University of British Columbia, Santa Barbara and Hofstra University. He was also part of the track and field team at Santa Barbara in sprints.
Willis jokes that he never intended to be a coach.
"I just sort of got asked and said 'yes'' to something," he laughed. "So turns out saying 'yes' every once in a while is not a bad thing."
Willis has coached the ADSS Track and Field team since 2002 and coaches the same athletes in community track and field. He also coaches Olympic weightlifting. Throughout his career, he has coached numerous medallists at the Island, provincial and national level. But for Willis, the most rewarding part of his coaching career has been interacting with athletes on a day-to-day basis.
"I think, weirdly, the older I get, the more I enjoy being around that young energy," he laughed. "We've had kids that have gone on to be national champions, kids that have gone to university on scholarship. When you have kids perform at a high level, that's confirmation that you're doing a good job. But I think the most rewarding part is those everyday moments.
"That's where all the work gets done. Competition is just a small part of it."
