Story Written By: Zach Segars @ CHSAANow.com
AURORA, Colo. — This past week, head coach Jerimi Calip and Mesa Ridge defeated 4A powerhouse Palmer Ridge, 31-28, to earn the No. 4 spot in CHSAA's Seeding and Selection Index.
Mesa Ridge's excellent start to the season and the massive victory over Palmer Ridge helped Calip earn the honor of being named this week's Denver Broncos Tackle Football Coach of the Week.
Jerimi Calip
Overall Record at Mesa Ridge: 25-15
Overall Record as a Head Coach: 59-40
Previous Coaching Positions: Mitchell head coach (2020), Palmer offensive coordinator (2019), Vista Ridge head coach (2014-2018)
Why do you coach high school sports?
I think it's a great opportunity to give back that we need to take advantage of, and, hopefully, to use youth football as a vehicle to teach young men lessons about life.
Why do you coach the way you coach?
I'm super passionate about coaching. I have a family filled with coaches who I've always looked up to and admired. And then, the game of football has also just given me so much, so watching these young men and helping them try to accomplish their goals is something that brings me a lot of joy.
How would your players describe your coaching style?
I think they would say that I try really to have a natural relationship with all of the players on the team. I think they'd think of me as a player's coach, because I want these young men to enjoy this experience. In high school football, you only get four years to compete with your brothers, and that's special, and you don't get that time back.
Why do you think football is important?
I think football is one of those rare sports where it's truly a team sport. There are a lot of team sports where you can have one or two dominant players that carry the team, but in football, you need an entire team performing well to be successful. Football is also one of the few sports where you can get hit in the mouth and you have to make a decision about whether to get back up or stay down.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time coaching at Mesa Ridge?
Honestly, every day is a blessing. Every day I get to walk out and feel God give me the opportunity to give back to my community and a bunch of young men every time we step out onto the field together. You just never know what's going to happen or who's going to do something special during a game, but I know it will be special, and I love that. So, I can't pinpoint one particular moment, but anytime I take the field with these young men, it's one of the best days ever.
What is a lesson you try to teach your athletes?
I've always just told my players, 'You can't control things coming down the road, but you can control what's in front of you right now. So every practice, every game, every team meeting, just try to get 1% better.' That's it. If you can try to do that, more often than not, you're going to get better, and over enough time, you'll get a lot better.
What are you most proud of this season?
This is my fourth year at Mesa Ridge, so the players that are now in my senior class were the same players in my first freshman class here. Watching this group become the young men that they are today, not just as players on the field, but as men off the field, is just so overwhelming to me.
What is your goal for the rest of this season?
It's a typical coach answer, but our goal is simply to go 1-0 every week. If we can keep doing that in the really competitive league we play in, we should be able to capture Mesa Ridge's first league title ever.
