Norford has all the accolades a coach could hope to gain, including sending multiple players to the NFL. Players such as Pago Togafau and Winston Justice with the Philadelphia Eagles; Marcedes Lewis with the Jacksonville Jaguars; Willie McGinest with the Cleveland Browns; Omar Stoutmire with the Washington Redskins; Samie Parker with the Denver Broncos; and Manuel Wright with the New York Giants. With that shopping list of superstars under his direction, Horford would have the right to sing his own praises. It does not work that way at Poly. Coach Norford hands down owns the reputation as one of the most humble men in sports. Never does he throw around the names of prime-time athletes he helped groom. From his home in the heart of East Long Beach to the modest facilities at Long Beach Poly, and the turning down of offers from around the nation, it is amazing to see a man who loves his position of influence in a crucial time of young athlete’s lives.

Honorably, Norford was the first to receive an award from the NFL for High School Coach of the Year in 1996. Thanks to a nomination from Leonard Russell, who was then playing with the San Diego Chargers. Norford graciously accepted and was awarded the trophy over four other head coaches who were nominated. Along with the trophy came a prime-time commercial piece, an all-expenses paid trip to the Super Bowl with amazing seats, and $5,000 cash. In true Norford fashion, the award money went right into the Poly athletic program. Poly works with modest facilities, but as Norford points out, stateof- the-art equipment does not make the athlete, motivation makes the athlete.

There are no secret camps, special plays, classified equipment, or performance-enhancing substances under the direction of Norford, just good old-fashioned teamwork. Norford lovingly refers to his track teams as “the most hugging-est team around.” When a new class comes up, the players are quickly schooled to the ways of the Jackrabbits. There are no superstars on the team. Each person is a valuable asset regardless of wins or losses. Even the most headstrong athletes come to love and embody the Jackrabbit way. Norford feels that too much pride and boastfulness foster destruction, a lesson that is learned right away. family.

Flashback to the ‘50s and ‘60s when “Papa Don” was growing up and it is easy to see how his philosophies and coaching principles were developed. Norford remembers his own neighborhood, just one block from Poly. He grew up watching the Poly track team practice and later attended Poly, participating in its world-renowned sports programs. His father was a humble man who worked two or three jobs to keep the family living well; through his father’s hard work and dedication to his family, the young Don Norford learned what it was to be a man and take care of a family. From his mother he learned compassion, love, and a strong sense of faith.

Dedication, drive, and a great deal of commitment to the team forced Norford to spend hours upon hours looking at tapes of previous games, at the library reading playbooks, attending football clinics, and most importantly listening to seasoned coaches. Coaching his 7-year-old son in the Pop Warner football league is when his legacy began. When his sons moved onto Poly, he followed right along until he found his true calling, educating the young athletes. Norford says, “Believe it or not, but I am more excited when my athletes sign contracts for schools than I am when they win a game or a meet.”

Norford credits much of his knowledge to the role models and mentors he had while growing up, including Gene Washington, who is currently the director of football operations for the NFL; Long Beach 6th District Councilman Dee Andrews; and Willie Brown, former NFL player, USC coach, and now academic advisor. Throughout the years, Norford has taken the advice he has received and combined it with his real world experiences to become a positive role mode for the youth. He knows firsthand that the advice from someone you respect and look up to can bring you through tough times.

Norford’s players come to him for advice on and off the field. Norford’s team of coaches now consists, in a large part, of Long Beach Poly alums who thoroughly respect his principles. Norford cannot say it enough that he has “the best staff in the world.” He has the utmost trust in them to help lead his teams. Norford opens the field up to all of his past athletes to come back and speak with the kids. NFL athletes often return to training camps to mentor and answer questions. Those who have accepted full-ride scholarships tell their prior teammates what it is really like to compete on an elevated level. All this lends to the family spirit that drives the Jackrabbits.

Along with the alums who come back to coach, mentor, or just watch a meet, the families of the athletes are more than welcome at all practices, meets, and games. Norford affectionately recalls that some of the practices look like a picnic or a daycare. He feels that children need that strong sense of family as a foundation. When they are running, they are running together, and they are not only running for themselves, they are running for their family.

Perhaps the most important element that Coach Norford has brought to this professional athlete factory is the spiritual element. The whole team prays together at practice, before and after games, and whenever they need some extra inspiration. To outsiders, it may sound like the team is forced to pray, but the prayers are voluntary and almost all participate. Norford feels that if a player can pray and clear his mind, he can begin to see why certain things happen. The coach himself prays for specifics with the team, and they see the results out on the field or the track. Norford’s position at Poly as a coach is his ministry.

Unfortunately, in 2003 his “angel” and wife of 37 years died. Carol was his “rock” and an unsung hero in the neighborhood. Carol and Don held a high status in the neighborhood for the humility and empathy they bestowed on every person they came into contact with regardless of their background. When Carol died, Don did not know if he had it in him to go on with championship games, coaching, and taking care of his team. Then, that same year, the Jackrabbits made it to the international championships, winning an unheard-of six out of eight events, and taking second in the other two. The stands erupted and started cheering, “USA, USA!” Right there in front of the world, the team stopped their celebrating to pray for their victory. Norford knew then that this was his lifelong calling: “The Lord sent me there that day to have my team and me pray in front of the world.”