We recently connected with Caesar Morales and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Caesar, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I found my purpose in coaching high school track and field when I was 28 years old. Something I never thought I would ever enjoy or become of my life, after being around the sport for so long. I grew up as a kid who loved sports. I played any and everything when I was young, but around the age of 7 or 8 I gravitated toward running. I was always the fastest kid in my class, fastest kid at my elementary school, and so on. I fell in love with track and field in middle school, when the father of a friend of mine introduced me to AAU summer track. My parents had divorced when I was young, so I was being raised by a single mother. I had fatherly influences through my uncles – but my friend’s father took me under his wing and gave me the opportunity to showcase a talent that nobody else really cared about. He knew of my situation and helped pay to join my first AAU club team in Orlando. It was at this time I met a coach by the name of Ike Charlton Sr. He had one of the bigger track programs in the city at the time and allowed me to run at some great meets. I was nervous, as I was the only hispanic on a predominately black team. However, I came from the same background and dynamics as the other children. AAU track was not cheap, and my mother didn’t have money to throw around while raising 2 kids on a single income. I think Coach Ike recognized all of these things, and helped to make me feel comfortable and involved. He included me on great relay teams, allowed me to travel out of town with the team, and roomed with older mature kids he knew would take care of me and show me the right way – and most importantly never charged me a dime to run in his program. I felt like he just wanted me to succeed. Over time I built relationships with teammates and eventually made life long friendships that allowed me to grow.
I eventually blossomed as a track and field athlete, and the next step for me was to compete at the high school level. This is where I was fortunate enough to have met Coach John Hemmer. He was a decorated coach at Oak Ridge High School in Orlando, whose teams had dominated Florida for 2+ decades. He had been an Olympic Coach in 92’ and coached some of the best High School athletes ever. He was a legend in our community, and from an early age I knew I wanted to run for him someday – and I got my chance. Over time he taught me the in’s and outs of the sport and introduced me to an event that changed my life – the hurdles. It came from me goofing around at practice one day – betting another teammate that “I could do that”. When coach wasn’t looking (so I thought) I jumped over one of the hurdles fairly well. To my surprise – Coach Hemmer saw it and yelled at me. However, it was not to scold me – it was to ask me to do it again. So, I did – I jumped another hurdle “well” – and the rest was history. He took me under his wing, and I ended up becoming an All-State track and field athlete during my high school years. Along the way Coach Hemmer preached to always do things the right way. Follow the rules, maintain discipline, and stay focused on your academics. He preached the meaning of Student-Athlete – that the :student” part came first. He became a father figure to me at the age of 14, and till this day (turning 40) I speak with him every day via phone, text or email. His coaching and life lessons allowed me the opportunity to go to college and earn and track and field scholarship.
In college, I was lucky enough to be coached by 2 individuals that would eventually push me toward my purpose. I ran for Coach Raymond Brewer – currently the hurdle coach at Appalachian State University & Kip Janvrin – the head coach at the University of Central Missouri. Both coaches had a major impact on me as an athlete. Coach Brewer taught me the technical skills as an athlete/sprinter/hurdler. He preached great work ethic, and he demanded that we bought in to every practice. He made us become accountable for our actions as athletes on and off the track. He would say “You only get out of it, what you put in”. Coach Kip showed me how to be a great teammate and coach. I saw how he built relationships with his athletes and took chances on athletes that other colleges would pass on – like myself. He always encouraged me to understand what exactly we were doing every day at practice and why. He showed me how reinforcement of such things would show up in my results. Most importantly he taught me how to win. I was able to blossom in his program and saw firsthand how he built champions. I was fortunate enough to be a part of 2 Conference championship teams under his direction. Coach Kip taught me to win on the track and win in life. It was never about the accolades with him. He just wanted his athletes to grow to be successful people.
All these individuals and encounters in my life led me to become a high school coach myself in 2010. In my 13 years, I have been fortunate enough to have worked with some great kids. I have coached many all-state athletes, as well as State and National Champions. Most importantly, I have been able to send many kids to college on track and field scholarships. This is what has made me the most proud as a coach. Giving kids a chance to continue competing in track and field, but more importantly – a chance at a college degree. I enjoy teaching my athletes about the sport and encouraging them to become better people. I coach kids from all over the city of Kansas City Missouri for free. I have been blessed to have people in my life who took chances on me as a kid and young adult, which led me to become successful in life. I want to do the same for my athletes. Coaching has been a way to pay homage to those who paved the way for me, and to a sport that has taken me further than I ever imagined possible. My ultimate purpose is to give back to the youth.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I was born and raised in Orlando, FL – growing up in the Oak Ridge area on the south side of the city. I grew up in Puerto Rican household, but a neighborhood that was multicultural – made up of Spanish, Haitian, Jamaicans, Bahamians and many others. I was able to experience different cultures at an early age – which I felt help instill confidence in myself as becoming comfortable with interacting with any and everyone. I graduated from with a degree in Computer Information Systems, and have been in the Healthcare IT field for 17 years. I currently live in Kansas City Missouri and I am happily married with 2 kids, and 3 dogs.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I have found that there is no single correct way to coach an athlete. Nevertheless, there are some traits that are common to all great coaches, no matter how they are applied. I have found success utilizing these skills. I try and share these qualities with all my athletes as I feel they can use these in any aspect of their life moving forward in any profession.
MOTIVATIONAL SKILLS
A successful coach is a motivator with a positive attitude and enthusiasm for the sport and the athletes. A coach who can motivate is able to generate the desire to excel in their athletes. When motivating any of my kids, I stress trying to reach performance goals, not outcome goals. I want them to have fun and enjoy what we are doing.
COMMUNICATION
An effective coach communicates well and exudes credibility, competence, respect, and authority. I try to explain ideas clearly. I set/define goals for each athlete, give them direct feedback, and reinforce key items being taught. Acknowledging success is also essential for effective communication. Language is a key part of coaching and keeping everything simple and easily understood can be vital.
COMMITMENT/PASSION
The best coaches are in the profession because they love it. I am strongly committed to the sport of track and field. I try to show my commitment every day and look out for the best interest of the athletes. Coaching track and field is an around-the-clock, year around job. To be a top coach in this sport you must live and breathe the art of track and field.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
I wouldn’t call a kid a “client” in my specific situation – However, I will say that I look for specific skills in young athletes when trying to determine if we are a great fit for each other.
Coachable Athlete
Listens & follows directions. Takes practice seriously and is always willing to learn/get better.
Fearless
Highly aggressive, Tough mindset, Not scared to fail at times.
Competitiveness
Many athletes are talented, but the ones that truly distinguish themselves are the ones that have that fire inside to compete. As a competitive coach, I like athletes with the same goal as me – WINNING
Contact Info:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ceasealeo23
