Coach Steps Down After 35 Years

After 12 years, Harold Strauss, 55, is stepping down from his duties as football coach and athletic director in the Colton Joint Unified School District due to health reasons. Strauss has lived in Colton his entire life aside from the few years that he lived in the northwest and now resides in the house that he grew up in. Strauss loved athletics as a child. During his time at Bloomington High School, he’s played some baseball, football and wrestling. Strauss thinks becoming a teacher and coach has been one of the best decisions he has made. “It’s been a great career. I had great mentors in high school that meant a lot in my life. To enjoy doing what I enjoy the most, and to work with student athletes in their lives [is great]. I thought if someone could make a difference in my life, then maybe I could do the same thing.” My high school wrestling coach, Rick Dischinger and one of my football coaches, Carl Beech were one of my biggest mentors. They made a difference. Strauss has been coaching football for 35 years, an equivalent to his whole career. Out of all the sports, football was always the constant for the retiree. Strauss sees coaching as an opportunity. He believes it provides a platform to work with kids in an environment other than a classroom. "There’s camaraderie and dedication and it’s a great field to open doors on and help kids become better people and explore new things in life. As a coach, you can push them and talk to them about college. When you practice, you spend a lot of time together." When coaching a football team, the biggest thing is the diversity of the students with their various backgrounds; the first thing to teach them is how to come together as a team, put aside differences and work together. "In life, these children will have to fit into society and they can’t do that until they put aside some of their own bias. They also get the opportunity to set goals and work on how to reach those goals." For instance, Strauss mentions the idea of college. "When looking at colleges, you think about where you want to be in 10 years. That’s one of our big things, you can decide where you want to go to college and you can decide where you want to go to school, instead of being dictated by someone else, and where they have the opportunity to go. Academics is the avenue to do that and community service and teaching them how to network for themselves. In all his years of coaching, Strauss has coached 76 varsity teams; 71 of which went to the playoffs. Strauss has had the privilege of watching many of his students become professionals and teachers. He shares that it is rewarding to watch kids achieve their goals and to help them turn their lives around. "As a teacher, it’s most rewarding to see what they do in their life, to see their kids and to see them coach. It’s a rewarding opportunity and the coaching network is great." Strauss sees his students as family. “They’re in their mid 40s now and it’s amazing to see what they've accomplished.” Strauss’s family shares that they are happy with his choice to step down and that their first priority is his health. Strauss shares that he does a lot of speaking on football, life, and coaching saying, "It’s an opportunity to see me get well 100%." Strauss underwent hip replacement surgery a couple of years ago but even with back and hip problems, Strauss couldn’t stay away from the game. Pushing himself was especially hard for his back this past year. Having undergone surgery again to replace his other hip, the main goal is just to get healthy again. Strauss has 4 children: 3 girls and 1 boy. One of his daughters teaches at Colton Middle School while another teaches at Escondido. His third daughter is the athletics director at Grand Terrace High School. His son is a military Sergeant headed for Ranger School. Strauss has a total of 8 grandchildren. During his time off, Strauss wants to continue teaching and to help however he can. "Trying to be able to teach and to stay teaching, that’s my main job, and to go from there and to help however I can. "I've had great years at the District and it’s been a lot of fun and I'm going to find out which way I can become involved again.” Strauss shares, “People have given me so much over the years, and it’s just fun, it’s been a great run, and hopefully I’ll be back.”