Jerry Tivey Reaches Milestone With 100th Career Win

Chaffey College Softball head coach Jerry Tivey reached a milestone with his 100th win at the helm of Chaffey Softball. Entering his 38th season of coaching, with 17 seasons as a basketball coach at Cajon High School, Tivey shares his thoughts on what his program focuses on: preparing student-athletes for success beyond the field.

Question: Congratulations on your 100th win. Besides the milestone, what is the most important thing you carry when you coach these young ladies?
Answer: The wins are the results of the effort that the ladies put in. Our approach centers on the future adult lives of our student-athletes, which include their professional aspirations, personal growth, and community contributions. We then work backwards, focusing on what identity each of them wants to become. The core values we teach consists of their effort, commitment, and resilience. Our primary mission is to empower them to choose who they can become.

Question: Often serving as a secondary father figure to some, outside of what you tell them on the field, what do you tell them to do off the field.
Answer: See number 1! I always tell them to make choices that are consistent with their chosen identity. 

I remind them that if they are being viewed in a particular light by someone, there is likely a reason for that perception. If you don't like the perception, change it.

Are there any games, or season, that you will always remember.
Answer: Each of the first three years, the title-clinching games have been significant and quite often one-run affairs. The 12-inning come from behind five times to beat San Bernardino Valley College two-years ago was a huge game. Winning the third game against Mt. San Jacinto College last year (3-1) to clinch the title. Of course, over the course of 35 years of softball coaching, there are definitely a couple of dozen Top-Ten moments!

Question: You win some and you lose some, do losses hurt just as much as it did when you first got started?
Answer: I was originally asked to help coach basketball at Eisenhower High School. I immediately fell in love with coaching. From there, I took on softball as an additional duty at Cajon High School. After seventeen seasons of basketball, I decided to focus and continued coaching softball. 

I tell the girls that I've forgotten a lot of the wins but I can probably do a play-by-play of nearly every loss! They sting but I've also become more comfortable with the big picture (of their futures) and know that a single loss is not going to change the trajectory of their lives as long as it doesn't change the values that they have chosen.

What's the toughest thing about coaching and what is the most enjoyable for you?
Answer: Convincing young people to stick with something even when it isn't going their way. That has become more difficult as we see parents who have fought battles for their kids instead of letting them learn that resilience. If an athlete knows how to persevere, they will likely stick with it even if playing time or big successes are not obvious or quick - they will recognize the value in their effort as it affects/portrays their own character. The ones who haven't learned that by the time they get to college struggle in the classroom and struggle on the field (and we often see those struggles outside of their campus life as well).

What has been the biggest change in the game that you have seen, is it for good or worse?
Answer: On the field, the biggest change has been the addition of power to the game. It's always been there but never as prevalent as it is now. More home runs, high scores, even with great pitching. I think it's good for the game, though, as it adds another dimension to strategy. You have a lot more teams eschewing the bunt (not willing to give up an out in favor of a possible big hit).

I told the girls that this many wins (750+) just mean that I've been really fortunate to have great assistants and lots of top-tier athletes play for me but also that I've just been around a long time!