Randy Ford "Reach Out for Advice"

Randy Ford • Western Michigan University Head Baseball Coach • Western Michigan University, '79

I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this website.  It is refreshing to see a website that gathers and disperses positive information to young people.

Recently I have been speaking to church youth groups about ROLE MODELS.  Role models serve as a part of our maturation process into adulthood and the kind of person we become.

The kind of person that we become hinges on several factors.  This is not an exhaustive list but these four factors I do believe are very important:

1.      Family values

2.      Spiritual values

3.      Role Models

4.      Life Situations/Circumstances we experience

Choosing a role model not only helps mold us into what we become but it also impacts the people we influence.  There are several facts I believe to be true about role models and they are the following:

1.      Everyone has at least one role model

2.      Everyone is a role model

3.      Role models will be either good or bad

4.      We choose our role models

5.      We choose to be a good or bad role model

It is probably true that most role models in an individual’s life maintain a close relationship and regular contact.  However, I have one role model that has influenced my life in which a close relationship and personal contact has not taken place.

When I entered college as a student, and became a member of the college baseball team I received a handout of Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success.  This handout has had a huge impact in my life and I am very happy to say it has withstood the test of time.  At the time I was not consciously thinking about who would be my role models or even thinking about how this would affect me.  All I knew at the time is that I wanted to do the right thing and be a good person.  This pyramid helped me organize many important areas of life.  Little did I know I had just chosen a great role model.

After 22 years of coaching baseball and teaching classes it has been my desire to be a positive influence on others.  Role models do help you in the maturation process.  Choose wisely!!

Sincerely,

Randy Ford
Head Baseball Coach
Western Michigan University