While Arizona high school fall Thursday and Friday nights have become an important cornerstone in our state for decades, the focus for a handful of schools will always be faith over football.
“Zone Read” asked seven Catholic school head coaches how the Catholic faith influences their coaching philosophy and the values they instill in their players, beyond just the wins and losses.
Jason Jewell – Brophy College Prep: “So, a big one here at Brophy is, ‘Men for Others,’ and serving people on the margins, too. It’s not just about yourself but serving other people. That’s really what Brophy is about and, I guess I realized, after I got hired here, I’m kind of about it, too, but really pushing that into our kids.
FAITH, FAMILY, AND FOOTBALL.
LESS GO BROPHY!
ALLGLORYTOGOD..@BrophyAthletics @StampedeBroncos
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“Our kids are fantastic about it. All of our seniors are ‘big brothers’ to a freshman. They have their ‘little brother’ that they show around campus and help them as much as they can. It’s really, really cool to see.”
Jose Lucero – Saint Mary’s Catholic: “It is a huge point of emphasis for us. Our Catholic identity at Saint Mary’s is woven into everything we do. One of our things that’s sort of our branding this year is building a band of brothers within our program. We talk about what that looks like.
“For the kids, we emphasize three things: making good, fast decisions, willing technique and willing virtue, and being all in. We give them specific examples of what that looks like on the field, but more importantly, off the field. Make a good, fast decision off the field that is choosing virtue over vice. It’s about building up the guy next to you and hold yourself accountable.
“Off the field it’s about, when that difficult choice comes up, that you have the will power to choose the virtuous route that we’ve been taught by our faith.
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“It’s about being all in. Being a part of our Catholic community that we have on campus. We attend Mass together as a team. Understanding it’s not just something we do, it’s something we’re fortunate to do to be a part of a Catholic community. Everything that we talk about off the field is building up these young men and help them become the people they need to be.”
John Padilla – Pope John Paul II: “For us…it’s very Catholic. We have weekly Mass. We have the chapel at the center of the school. We do confession. For me, I just incorporated those ideas.
“We have a team Mass. We also do a team Rosery once a week that’s player-led, and then most importantly, just teaching from a Catholic perspective, how do we honor God with the gifts he’s given us? We give them everything we have.
“I always tell the kids, ‘If you have two inches of talent, that’s what He wants from us, those two inches. He doesn’t want the one with two [inches], giving one.’ I try to emphasize that. Teaching virtue.
“We want to put others first. If you’re going to be the leader, you have to serve. Our theme this year is honor. Playing with honor. We do things the right way, at the right time, with the right mindset.”
George Prelock – Notre Dame Prep: “For us, we have three pillars, it’s reverence, respect and responsibility at our school. That translates onto the playing field, too.
“Obviously, before every practice, we pray. After every practice, we pray. We pray before games; we pray after games. You don’t ask for things, but you ask for the power to endure and to have the strength to overcome any adversity that comes your way.
“To understand that you’re playing for the guy next to you. You’re playing for your brother. Even on the field, you are a representation of Christ.”
Pat Ryden – Salpointe Catholic: “I think at our school faith, community and service are huge for us. We were at Mass on Friday. We do chapel before every single day. We take our kids to our on-campus chapel, and we pray together.
“I wanted to make sure, when I took over, that we had more opportunities for our kids to build religion into our program because I think that’s important, obviously to our school, and a lot of our kids.
“Not all of our kids are Catholic, but it’s been a really important part of our program.”
Andrew Yates – Bourgade Catholic: “As a follower of Christ, I try to be Christ-like. Obviously, we’re not going to be perfect. None of us can be Christ, but it’s my approach to the kids, and not just my favorite guys, right? I don’t have favorites just because that is something that the kids see.
“I’m truly invested in every single one of these athletes, every single one of these kids, not just on the football field, but as players.
“How are we treating each other? Are we examples around campus? There is a lot of responsibly being a football player and even more as a football player at a Catholic school. There are high expectations.
Bourgade Catholic Golden Eagles W 36-0 and the game was called at half time!
These boys and this community deserves this success!
PRAISE GOD ALWAYS!
— Coach Andrew Yates (@CoachADYates) August 30, 2025
“We’re more than just praying before games, praying after practices. It’s really challenging these kids: ‘Who are you as a person?’
“I tell all my guys – ‘How others treat you has nothing to do with how you treat them.’ Jesus said, ‘Turn the other cheek,’ and we do that. We live by that.”
Pete Wahlheim – Seton Catholic Prep: “My Christian faith is the core and foundation of my coaching philosophy.
“As coaches, we all strive to be transformational in the lives of young people. However, my faith in Jesus Christ has me approaching the game of football as nothing but a pathway for young people to know and grow in Christ.
“Football, like life, is very difficult at times, and our faith is the one thing that will always sustain us. I believe our country needs more faith-filled young men hardened and disciplined for the job He has called them to do down the road. The game of football is designed to do just that.
“I am beyond blessed to have been given the opportunity to be around awesome young men, coaching a game I love, in a Christ centered environment at Seton Catholic. I fall short often, but it is my hope that I honor Him in how I do it.
“Winning games is always the goal, but not the priority.”
The post Zone Read: Faith Before Football first appeared on Sports360AZ.
