Man of integrity

J's World, by Jeremiah Bartz

Wasilla High School athletic director Doug Bean had the best possible description of Nathan Ford-- a man of the highest integrity.

After nine seasons at the helm of the Warrior football squad, Ford has resigned.

I have known Ford since 1991 and had the opportunity to play for him early in his career, before he joined the Wasilla High coaching staff.

I played for Ford for a pair of seasons while he was an assistant coach for Palmer High School.

And since my return to the Valley sports scene two years ago, I have had the opportunity to work with and around Ford during the prep football season.

Whether I had a question or concern as a player, or just needed a post-game quote as a reporter for the Frontiersman, I could always depend on Ford for at least one thing-- honesty.

Those who know Ford will all agree, there are several attributes that make him a success at what he does best-- coaching and teaching.

He is hardworking and demanding, and his character rubs off on his athletes.

While some are in the game simply for the sake of wins and losses, Ford has an added incentive.

He believes that football builds character. He aims to produce citizens in addition to all-conference selections.

"His main goal in life is to produce better human beings," Bean said.

I don't think I have ever run more than the two years that I played for Ford.

Ford's early days at Palmer High School are almost like folklore now, thanks to former players, such as myself, with tales of countless windsprints and laps, up and down the hill behind the Palmer High practice field.

Though I heard that he had eased, later in the years, Ford always had a passionate fire that willed a player to succeed. He has the ability to get the best out of a person.

In nine years, Ford has built a program at Wasilla High. Though this season was disappointing with a 1-7 record, the Warriors still had the largest prep football team in the Valley. The team sported full J.V. and C-team squads, something that was non-existent in Wasilla 10 years ago. With about 100 players still in the Warrior football program, Ford has left the cupboard far from bare. It is the test of Ford's successor, to take what he and longtime assistant coach Dan Michael have done, and continue the tradition they have built. Prep football is cyclic and the Warriors will undoubtebly be in the playoff hunt again in the near future.

Though Ford and the Warriors had 1-7 during his first and last seasons, Wasilla is far from going full-circle.

Ford built a quality football program and had a positive effect on hundreds of young football players, including myself.

Jeremiah Bartz is the sports editor for the Frontiersman