LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

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Larry Matthews

Position: Physical Education Teacher / Football Coach
School: Rancho Mirage High School
School District: Palm Springs Unified School District
City, State: Rancho Mirage , CA

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Larry Matthews was nominated by his colleague, Brian McDaniel.

"As the band director to his football team, I have had the great fortune to call L.D. Matthews a colleague and a friend," explains McDaniel. "Coach Matthews has always been an amazing role model for all of our students at Rancho Mirage High School. This year, however, he stepped it up by being a superhero for our marching band."

"Coach Matthews advocated that the band go to every away game, and he ensured transportation so we could do so. One game day, there weren't enough buses for the team and the band due to drivers being out due to COVID-19. As the Band Director, I was told the day of the game that we needed to try to find other transportation, which seemed impossible. Coach Matthews had the team stuff into one bus and gave the band the other bus. He saved the day for 100 band kids by giving them the same opportunity to play under the same Friday Night Lights as his team," said McDaniel.

"Another time, during our playoffs, we were hit with a similar situation. Coach Matthews told the league that we would have to reschedule if there was not enough buses to take the players and the entire band.  We have something special happening at our school that is bringing everyone together. Never in my life have I seen a bond between the football team and its band like we have. At Rancho Mirage High School, we have a motto of 'Owning It.' Coach Matthews owns it, both on and off the field," said McDaniel.

"Thank you, Coach Matthews, for being a LifeChanger at Rancho Mirage High School," said McDaniel.

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Comments (4)

George Mountjoy Posted over a year ago

Congratulations coach Matthews, great work!!! Congratulations also to Dad and Mom.

Lisa Talley Posted over a year ago

My son was blessed to have LD as a coach for football not many years ago. LD believed in him and gave him opportunities as a very young player that other coaches may not have. I saw my son excel in so many ways, not just football, under the leadership of this dedicated coach. I'm not surprised he has stepped up in this way for the band members, but it warms my heart to read about how he has made yet even more impact at RMHS. In a world full of dark, Coach Matthews is a light!!

Michael Cheeseman Posted over a year ago

Coach LD is the Prime example of what a coach should be like. A LEADER!!

Summer Posted over a year ago

I was a band mom during this time. I remember the looks on our band kid's faces as they heard the news that there just wasn't enough busses for them due to driver's being sick. It was a look of both disappointment and acceptance. COVID does that, you know. And then something happened. Word got to us that the football team's head coach, Coach Matthews, had made room on the football team's busses for our band kids. With a jolt of renewed excitement, we scrambled to mobilize our kids and their instruments onto the busses. The fire was back. The kid's eyes danced. It was GO time! After that, the football team and the band were like a working pair. The band would engage the crowd to cheer. The football team would raise their helmets and dance to the band's songs. If you haven't witnessed a Rancho Mirage High School football game, you are missing out! The level of teamwork, commraderie and compassion that is instilled in the kids is nothing I have ever seen before. I am certain they will take this with them into adult life and continue to spread it. Thank you, Coach!