Wingspan: Did you participate in any sports growing up? If you did, when did you start and what made you want to?
Beggs: “I played soccer, basketball, football, and ran cross country growing up. I started playing sports when I was three or four years old and played them throughout high school and into college. I wanted to start playing because my friends did and my dad was in charge of the Youth Leagues for the YMCA at the time. So, I was around sports all the time.”
Wingspan: When you were growing up, did you expect that you would become a coach as an adult?
Beggs: “I did not expect to become a coach when I grew up. I thought I’d be a doctor.”
Wingspan: What motivated you to pursue coaching and coaching your sport specifically?
Beggs: “So, I began coaching when I was 16 years old. My brother’s soccer team didn’t have anyone to volunteer to coach and the kids weren’t going to be able to play because there was no coach. I talked with my dad and the soccer association, and they agreed to let me coach with the supervision of my dad. I instantly fell in love with coaching and knew it was something I would do for the rest of my life in some form or fashion. I wanted to coach soccer because it was my primary sport and something I was good at playing.”
Wingspan: What are your favorite and least favorite parts about being a coach for your specific sport? Why?
Beggs: “My favorite part of being a coach is getting to watch the athletes grow as people and athletes. Helping them work hard and be successful at not just their sport but life as well is very fun to be a part of. The least favorite part can be the not coaching stuff you have to do. Things like paperwork, making sure the schedule is set, and just things that take time away from coaching, however, those things are necessary to get to the enjoyable parts.”
Wingspan: What is something that most people don’t know about coaching in general or coaching your specific sport?
Beggs: “I feel a lot of people don’t know we don’t make the huge money. A lot of people see professional coaches’ salaries or college coaches’ salaries and assume we make a lot of money coaching. Overall, when you see those salaries, they are few and far between. Most coaches out there won’t even make four digits coaching for an entire year.”
Wingspan: If you could coach or participate in another sport besides the one you currently do, what would it be and why?
Beggs: “I think the other sport I’d coach would be cross country. My dad was a cross country and track and field coach, so I grew up around those two sports. I really like the dedication and skill required to participate in those two sports.
Wingspan: What is the most inspiring student athlete moment you have witnessed as a coach?
Beggs: “There’s so many it’s hard to choose from. There’s signing days, players being selected to national team rosters, graduations, weddings, community awards, and so much more. I think the most inspiring moment is when you see your former athletes be successful in life.”
Wingspan: What advice do you have for student athletes?
Beggs: “Keep working hard and be patient. In today’s world everything happens so fast, and you can get things so quickly. I think a lot of people forget that to be good at something takes a lot of time. As you grow there will be periods of rapid development and slow development and everyone does this at their own pace. When you see your teammate have success don’t be discouraged if it hasn’t happened for you. Celebrate their successes because your time will come. Be patient and work hard.”
