Yazoo City Indians Head Coach Justin Washington stops by #ConversationsLIVE

Yazoo City Indians Head Coach Justin Washington joins host Cyrus Webb on Conversations LIVE radio show to discuss his journey to coaching and what he's bringing to Yazoo City High School and the community this year.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome to Conversations Live. For morethan a decade, we've brought you the
beast in books, entertainment, celebrityinterviews, and current events. When the
movers and shakers of the world havesomething to say to you, they say
it to us first. Here's yourhost, Cyrus Lab. Welcome back everyone

(00:20):
the Conversations Live. I'm your host, Service Webb Glad you walk to join
us once again before a radio audiencetuning in here in Mississippi WYAD ninety four
point one a FM and wyadmine dotcom. Or you all can be with
us also study and their friends ati Heeart Radio on Amazon Music podcast We've
got you all could be with usas well. We always are trying to
remind you of what's possible in yourlife, and no one knows that better

(00:41):
than our next guest. We're excitedto welcome head coach justin Washington to our
program today. He's joining us fromYeather City High School Football. We're going
to talk to him knowingly what hasbeen late for him as a coach,
but also the examples he's been ableto look forward to what's been late for
him now to be able to helpothers as a coach and of course that
you guys know how to stay canwith him as well. Coach, thank
you a lot for the time,but he'll appreciate it. There's there.

(01:03):
Thank you for having me on andbeing able to do this conversation, which
hey man, the pleasures definitely alleyes. So, as I mentioned the
course here or the head coach forthe Other City Indians from the Other City
High School, I want to talkabout this experience for you, coach,
because one thing I noticed and Iwas prepping for this segment with you,
is that, of course you've beenable to kind of share the journey along
with us on the Facebook. Whathas it been like for you to see

(01:25):
the way that that the young peopleyou're working with are really so passionate about
the sport. It's been great.It's been great. Uh. With me
being person that's born and raised herein Yazoo City, UH, it's been
great to see that that that prideis still there. Uh, just just
trying to showcase in a little moreon on a broader scale. It's been

(01:47):
great. The kids that we havehad a great opportunity to have kids coming
out of participate. Uh, they'vebeen showing interest in the work that we
were giving to him and uh,and they've been putting out. So we're
just trying to keep it that wayand continue to build from there. Coach,
have you always known that that leadership, that that was something that you
were meant to do, that youwere a person who was meant to be
able to lead and to help inspireothers. Uh, I wouldn't necessarily always

(02:14):
UM, I've been uh, youknow, dare to do that. Um.
I've always been uh, you know, a pretty smart person, pretty
a different thinker. I've always beenthat. Uh. But but necesarily the
leadership out front role has not necessarilyalways been there. UM. I think
that came along once I got togot to college and I started playing football

(02:38):
myself, and I had a guythere, coach Randy Grass, and that
kind of pointed out the coaching wayfor me and uh and man him had
some conversations and he pointed me inthe direction, and man I took off
from there, and so it's beena journey to us since then. Yeah.
And then I'm glad you mentioned thechorus. I mean, you're playing
football yourself, because I think oneof the things that as I've been hostling

(03:00):
to show over the years that alot of people realize they look at individuals
like you coach and look at thingsthat you've been able to do, look
at others, and they see thatkind of as the destination, I think
for you. And it seems likeyou realize that football was part of the
journey to get to where you wantto go. To talk to us about
that. What is it that ledyou try to want to play football?

(03:21):
Uh? Well, I actually wantprobably started doing it because my friends were
doing it. Um, you know, they were all playing ball. You
know, we've been in the bedyard playing together, having a good time,
and so so they were gonna playfootball. Of course I want to
do the same thing. But butI've never been one that liked to lose.
So once I started playing football,then I started doing the work that

(03:42):
it took to actually become, youknow, a decent player. And then
of course, you know, it'sjust a group from there. So but
it did definitely. Um it's takingme all different places and allowed me to
to meet a variety of people,and that's something that I want to share
or with these guys that I'm coachingdown that don't let football, you know,
use you. You use football,and so I've been able to do

(04:05):
that throughout my life and it's takingme many places, and that experience it
it was a great one. Sowhy not sure that with you know,
with people that I actually have,you know, family on the team and
and uh friends or children and thingslike this. So why not sure that
with those people? Right exactly?You know, I love the fact that

(04:27):
you're able to be an example forthem, coach, maybe even in situations
where they may not have anyone maybeeven in their family they can look to.
I want to talk about who weresome of those that you look to
when you were growing up? Whowere some of those people that are kind
of motivated and inspired you? Okay? Uh yeah. So I was one
of those people that that my dadwas around all the time, and he's

(04:47):
probably my my biggest uh competitor,I would saying, I mean, I'm
to have a running joke that I'malways trying to outdo him because he's always
getting some kind of new accolade.So he was always there as as a
role model. But uh, mycoach has definitely played important role. And
as I got into coaching myself,I remember that. So um, I

(05:09):
would say it started off with uhmy baseball coach, UH coach Gerald Payton.
Uh. He was he was onethat kind of took me in under
his wing and and and decided toyou know, help me even though I
was in the best player at thetime. And he really showed me that,
you know, if you could putin the work that uh, that
you would get better. So hewas probably the first one. Uh.

(05:30):
The a d currently now at UHat the school is UH coach Tony Woodfall
here is another one, uh thatthat that really played a role and and
and my blossman put me right inthe fires a ninth grader, uh,
you know, and it helped meget better in that aspect. And then
uh, I end up moving fromhere as a city. And so when

(05:51):
I got there, coach coach EdwinNorwood and UH coach Carl Say Peterson,
Uh they were they were two peoplealong with my uh my decent according to
football and the other one was oncemy basketball coach. Once again, just
men that looked like me or that. Then we're successful in a field and
a lot of people, you know, said they didn't make a lot of

(06:13):
money, but they showed me thatit was purpose. And so you know,
once I got to college and hadthat conversation with Coach Grass and who
I mentioned earlier. Once I hadthat conversation and it all it all resonates
to and so then we hit theground running on trying to be successful in
this atmosphere right right. You know, you said something real important, Coach,

(06:36):
and it's something I don't think evenI have talked about enough over the
years, because I think sometimes wetake things for granted, but it does
make a difference, right to havesomeone who does look like us doing something
that we want to do or aspireto do, or that encourage us to
do something. Going back to nowwhere you find yourself, is that also
what you see as a privilege thatyou're able to do for you know,

(06:59):
the young men and there the otheryethern City Indians are being able to be
that person for them. Uh,definitely, definitely, definitely. Uh.
I feel like, especially with mecoming back here. Uh, you know,
I've had the opportunities to be thatperson in many different other locations.
Uh, but coming back here whereit all started all again, and being

(07:20):
that you know, that shining example. Uh, It's definitely something that I
don't take for granted. I believethat that I've had, and it's the
impact, uh you know, withbeing a person that's from here, that
looks like them, that was ableto leave prosper and then come back and
give back. Uh So I definitelydon't take that light. And I also

(07:42):
have some friends that are coming alongthat are showing their faces that are also
doing the same thing, showing themthat hey, look we're from here,
we did it, you can doit too. And I think that,
uh, that type of mindset andthat type of giving back is only gonna
help the child up right. Sucha great point and such a great reminder,

(08:03):
I think for all of us.For those who are just tuning in
either on the radio side or online, you're listening to the conversations LIB.
We're speaking to head coach Justin Washingtonfrom Yazoo City High School. Of course
he is coaching the Yasue City Indians. Were talking with him and only course
about what it's been late for himto coach the guys there at Yazoo City
High School, but also just asbeginnings as well, what's been late for

(08:26):
him to be able to see examplesof what's possible and then of course should
be able to show other people what'spossible too. I want to talk a
little bit about challenges though, coach, because I mean, going into any
new place, there's going to bechallenges for sure. What do you think
help you prepare to get here towhere you are? Because you know we
all have heard to seeing new level, new devils. What kind of help
you to be able to take onthis new role? I think just my

(08:52):
start, I haven't always been successful. I would say, oh man,
I end up leaving playing football incollege and and joining the military. Uh
to you know what I'm saying,to to com back there and then uh
coming back and having to get backin school and brad to finish a degree
that you know that normally should havebeen easy for a prison coming out of

(09:16):
high school as myself, who whohad the good grades, who had the
test scores. Uh. So thatthat you know, that struggle right there
and overcoming that and then um,you know, just my coaching start.
I actually started coaching for free.I was a volunteer and so but but
you know when I'm started the caunibars, those that were getting paid and so

(09:39):
just doing there's something to put yourall into it. I think that has
bared me to the bump myself duringmy my coaching career to take up on
some roles that weren't one of thebest scenarios. UM, when I want
to get on a defense according tothe role my friskie to scoring that role
at UH at camer County that andand visit the playoffs for six years,

(10:01):
so you know that, I thinkthat's that definitely prepared me of knowing that,
hey, look you're walking into asituation, UH that isn't traditionally used
to winning in this sport, andnow can you you know, combat that?
And then uh, you know,I took on a kind of different
role the next year campionship, sothe expectation and demand uh was was different

(10:24):
there, but still a challenge aswell. And then my experiences of leaving
the state and going to coaches wearingseeing I's done there and what they were
successful in the resources that they hadand and uh, you know how you
can use those to to prosper Andthen now coming back home to bring it

(10:45):
off to a circle. I thinkall that uh is going to help me
and in my sputure going more soUH we can just you know, stay
on track and use those experiences Ithink will be okay right, and other
people are noticing you as well,Uh, Coach. One of the posts
that I noticed that you made recentlyused the hashtag there I'm going to talk

(11:07):
to you about here, but Inoticed one of your friends, called Folando
in talking about your being there,said I'm sure the young bucks will learn
a lot from you in football andin life. So considering what you just
said, how does that feel toknow that other people on the outside are
looking at you and realizing not onlythe impact you can make, but also
what people can get from you.Oh, man, I think that's great

(11:31):
social Scott Forlando Man. He's actuallyI'm former teammate of mind when I was
at the State, so he playedfootball there with me and asked me,
Man, that makes me feel goodto know that, you know, when
I played there, he was anupperclassman. Oh you know, I read
shirt of my frist year and thenof course my red shirt frishman year.
So I'm a young book compared tohim. He's your years old, I

(11:52):
mean, but too to have them, you know, a fair attention is
enough, and and to have thatto say, I'm I mean really,
uh, you know, spoke volumto me and just making me want to
work harder to know that no matter, you know, I understand seen Scott
nine years probably man, I wouldsay probably five or teen years easily.
Uh, but just to know thatpeople are still keeping up, you know,

(12:16):
keeping tabs on you, watching you, what you're doing, how you're
going about your business, and thenuh, you know, being able to
get that back from them. AndI think a lot of that is social
media too, and you know,as you can tell with the hash SAgs
and with the posts, we're tryingto use social media to kind of spread
you know, spread the proud aroundit and get it back and just kim

(12:37):
not being able to you know,us not having a contract and five teen
years face to face for him stillbeing able to keep up with me and
then send them mentions like that.Uh, Man, I'm saying that made
me feel good. Uh, he'son the owner. I have. Once
I confirmed the job, I hadseveral teammates, several former friends, several

(12:58):
military battles to reach out and youknow, have things to say and man's
all it's all been great. Manhas all been aware receiver. Yeah,
And speaking of social media, shoutout to our station manager, mister Joseph
Thomas Junior. He pointed out tome something that I saw on one of
your hero posts, and that isthe hashtag and used pound of stone.

(13:20):
Talk to us about that and whatit means for you and also what it
means for the for the gather onthe team. So so Pound of Stone
came from a book that I actuallyread and all and I'm the first to
say, man, I'm always stillan idea some winners, people that have
been successful at winning. I amstill in ideals followed and the reason for

(13:43):
reading that book actually came from thebasketball coach and yes, Sit High School,
you know, mister edon Carline.They just wanted the points. They
championship, uh ranked number one inthe state and me, I'm had some
discussions uh forehand and he the hashtagas well, which was chop wood carried
water, uh and so, andI asked him what it meant and he

(14:05):
explained it to me. And sowhen I looked it up, I also
saw that this book Pound of Stonewas a sequel to uh, you know,
to his and I felt like therewas very fitting with me coming in
after the you know, the statechampionship ring uh and and after you know
he's he's used that has said tome to to read that book and understand

(14:26):
what he was trying to get acrostto his player. Uh, he was
successful doing it, um, andit caught fires well. And so,
like I said, I'm always wantedto steal ideas and winners. And when
I read the book, I actuallyactually I listened to the book because I
haven't an audio, but as Ilistened to it, uh, that Pound
of Stone basically, uh, itjust talked about a young man who had

(14:50):
who had had it all, whohad been able to be successful, but
he was now faced over a particularchallenge that that uh that he wasn't used
to not being the best, butin order for him to to become good
and and get better what he wasdoing, he just needed to ship away
a little bit at a time,you know, just cheap, just keep

(15:11):
going, just keep going, uh, you know, not trying to do
it all at once, but butjust finding his purpose and just continue to
you know, to to hit that. And so but once I got done
with that book, it was itwas an immediate resonation to me that look,
this is this is what we needto do. This is how we
need to approach it. This ishow we need to get back on the

(15:31):
track. And uh and man Istarted using it and it is. It
is caught on so far and we'rejust trying to continue to spread that out.
Last thing I'm gonna talking about coachingreminding our audience so they can stay
connected with you is about what wecan do because of course a lot of
us put on you as as thehead coach of the football team. Of

(15:52):
course people are looking to you,um for you know, for guidance,
for leadership. However, the communitydoes have a role. So what do
you want us as a y othercity community, in a in a state,
what do you want us to dothey can help to support you and
what you're trying to do there,Uh with with the football team? Uh,
well what the first thing? AndI think it's always the biggest thing.

(16:14):
It's just resources. Think of resources, and we think of money,
and money is as important as anythingin running a program. But one of
the resources it's time as well.Uh, you know time And saw your
face coming out and supporting these kids, saw us, you know, letting
these kids know that hey, uh, you know you're a football player,
but you're so much more than afootball player. We want you to be

(16:37):
a student athlete, you know.Uh, so coming you know, just
coming around. Hey, those peoplethat have asked success in the community,
we want do we want those peopleto come back, you know, letting
the heap of hand reach out,they can reach out to me. We're
trying to schedule the time for themto talk to the guys, you know,
uh, and just get the faceback into the program and letting these
guys know that, Hey, look, you can't be great. You can't

(17:00):
be great at whatever you decide todo. Uh. You know, if
football doesn't work out, you know, which which we know that everybody doesn't
make it to the league. Butyou know, so you could be great
at whatever you decide to do.So being a student first, having good
character, it's all. It's justas important as being good on the football
field. And so you know,let letting the helping hand in it.

(17:21):
And like I said, finally,uh, the resources. So going forward,
uh with the money, we'll bedoing some fund raisers at some point,
we'll be doing um maybe some cookoutsand things of that nature. And
if we're we're asking the community justto help out with that. You know,
anything, it's better than nothing.So whether you know, whether it's
one dollars or two thousand, whateverit is, anything is better than nothing

(17:47):
to try to get these kids theequipment, you know, the resources they
need in order to compete at ahigh level. We were really appreciate the
years of community to doing that andhelping us out. All right, So
you guys heard it there. That'swhat you can do to be able to
help out when it comes to theteam this season again everyone, head coach
Justin Washington has been our guests,joining us of course from Yeater City High

(18:10):
School football team of Yaes City,Indians, talking with us about his journey,
but he's looking forward to this yearin the chorus our role and out
of this coach, congratulations to youman, glad to have you be a
part of the community again. Howcan our audience stay connected with you?
Oh yes, sir, So wedo have all a Facebook page that you

(18:30):
can all reach out and follow us. On that Facebook page is Yezoo City
h s f B. Then youwould type that in and follow us and
and all and on that page youwill find our Instagram, Twitter and all
that posted as well. Also ifyou want to just reach out and have

(18:52):
all some kind of communication with meon my number I can be reached at.
It's a zero three two three seventwo nine four six M. So
those are the ways thinking. Maybeif you send us a message just either
one of those social media platform Iwill definitely get back to you as run
as you give me a call orwe can have a conversation. And uh,

(19:14):
you know I have opened up postsI'm looking for talking to you know
whoever is trying to be on boardas we try to found the stone and
get better in the program. Allright, we'll coach again. Congratulations here,
thanks a lot for taking out thetime to be with us and looking
forward to having me back on thebroadcast again. Man this sir, thank
you for having miss will ain't gladto do it. And we think your

(19:36):
audience at tuning in to another greatsegment of Conversations Live until next time.
I'm mean your health service web thineis always enjoy your day, enjoy your
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let's go make today amazing. Takecare