Mickey Marley began his second year as head football coach at Trenton Rosenwald Middle School with a 32-20 win over Gibson County Middle School, Tuesday.
NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM & WNWS.COM visited with Mickey to look back at year one, the 2018 season, and a book he wrote during a question and answer session.
Question: How would you describe your first year as head football coach at Rosenwald Middle?
Answer: It was fun, and it was a learning experience for both myself and the players.
Question: In 2017, you had 28 seventh graders. How many return for this season, and what is the most noticeable difference (size, speed, learning quicker) of this year’s team?
Answer: Of course, some moved over to Peabody High School, but we had 27 return. We have a total 43 on our team … good numbers for a small school. The biggest difference this year is, the players are more used to our discipline and structure.
Obviously, they’re bigger and better with a year under their belt.
Question: You have always been a coach who teaches fundamentals. Are your returning players making it a little easier for the 2018 season?
Answer: Discipline, structure and fundamentals are all we physically teach. Also accountability, responsibility and dependability. Team and personal character matter.
Question: You’ve written a book. How would you say it has been received, and is there any one chapter or paragraph that you could say has gotten the most response?
Answer: ‘Game Ready’ 52 Takeaways for Winning’ has been received very well by people from all walks of life. We have had very positive feedback and are very appreciative for that, but I really
couldn’t pick just one chapter, because so many people have responded so positively about different chapters that hit home with them.
Question: Previously, you have mentioned the time you can dedicate to your family – especially grandchildren. Is there a part of Mickey Marley that would like to coach again at a higher level, or have you closed the book on that chapter of your life?
Answer: Well, I guess I closed the book and wrote a book, and this chapter of my life is great. I’m at a great school (Trenton Rosenwald Middle School) coaching young players and it’s fun. We had a lot of offers in Tennessee and surrounding states to be a head football coach.
It all came down to one thing – and that’s family – and watching our grandsons grow up. They’re 11 (years old), nine and five, and we aren’t going to miss watching them grow up. I’ve had my time in college and high school football both as a player and coach and loved every minute of it. Now we’ve been blessed to have this great opportunity to watch our grandsons grow up. Family trumps football every time.
Question: The photograph we’re using for this feature – you, Lisa, your wife and daughter Jordan. Was it by design the photo would be taken with Walter Kilzer’s name in the background?
Answer: How ironic is it, that I’m coaching at a stadium that’s named for the man who gave me my first high school coaching job. If he hadn’t hired me, I probably wouldn’t have come to Jackson. Coach Kilzer was my best man in my wedding, and if I had not met (wife) Lisa, there would be no Jordan.
(PHOTO: Mickey Marley, head football coach at Trenton Rosenwald Middle School, center, is pictured with wife Lisa, left, and their daughter Jordan)
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