Q and A with James Wood's Walter Barr.
Q and A with James Wood Football Coach Walter Barr
Gameday: Talk about your history in coaching football.
Coach Barr: I have been coaching football at either the high school or college level since 1962. I have coached on the high school level for a total of 16 years at three different schools.(James Wood, Loudoun County and Sherando High School) I was also the Shepherd College Head Football coach from 1970-1985 and I served as Shenandoah's Head Coach for three seasons.
GD: To stay in coaching for the length of time that you have done is remarkable. What keeps you coming back year after year?CB: I really enjoy working with young people. The sport of football is a great teaching tool that can be used to help young kids turn into responsible young adults.
GD: You have an extensive career coaching at the high school and college level. What is the main difference between the two?CB: Obviously the age difference. In high school the athletes are learning the fundamentals of football and they are growing and learning in terms of maturity level as well. At the college level the athletes know that they are there to get an education and concentrate on one sport which is football.
GD: James Wood is rebuilding their football program so that they can become a competitive team and program year in and out. How do you get a program to that point and stay there?
CB: The first thing you must do is put a system in to teach the basic fundamentals of the game of football. Secondly you must teach and prepare the kids how to win both mentally and physically on a day to day basis. Preparation is the key to allowing the kids to be successful.
GD: What two important qualities do you expect your players to possess?
CB: They definitely must put the team before themselves and they must be committed to be the best that they can be physically and mentally.
GD: In my opinion you are a very detail oriented coach who spends a tremendous amount of time and effort teaching your players what you expect from them. Why is the teaching aspect so important to you?
CB: It is imperative that the coaches and players are on the same page of expectations. If you know what is being asked of you it makes performing your role that much easier.
GD: You are a very dedicated coach who puts a lot of time into your coaching duties. How important is it to you to have such a supportive family?
CB: My family means a great deal to me. My wife is the head coach at home, without her I could not make it.
GD: What has the sport of football taught you over your storied coaching career?
CB: It has taught me that hard work, dedication, and commitment are all qualities that will lead you to success on and off the field.
GD: In your 40 plus year coaching career name the best college and high school team that you have faced?CB: At Shepherd College we played a team out of Tennessee named Carson Newman in the playoffs. They were big, physical, mean and good. The high school team would have to be the 1970 Handley football team. We played them to a 22-22 tie. That team really took on the personality of their head coach Ronny Rice. They were true champs in terms of play and character.
GD: Charlie Pierce, Roger Pierce, Pat Mcmanus, Ken Belchick, John Howerton, Gordan Lieb, Chris Parker, and Jimmy Prince are currently or have all been head coaches at high schools across the state of Virginia. They have all stated that you were a major influence in them becoming a coach, how does that make you feel?CB: Wow! That really makes me feel good! It flatters me that they compliment me that way because those were the guys that made me successful as a coach. In my opinion those guys were much more valuable to me than I was to them. That group of guys led by example.
GD: When your storied coaching career is over how do you want to be remembered?
CB: That's tough! I guess I would like my former athletes to know that through all of the intensity and hard work that the most important thing was that I cared about about every athlete and wanted each player to be the best they could be as a player and as a person.
Any athlete that has had the opportunity to be coached by Coach Barr should feel very fortunate. Coach Barr has provided athletes a chance to challenge themselves to be the best that they can possibly be in terms of life and athletics. He has touched the lives of many people through his ability to teach the ways to be a winner in sports and in life. Next time you see Coach Barr, do me a favor. Tuck your shirt in and tell him thanks for making a difference in so many peoples lives.
