Slowing Things Down with Coach Deem

March 26, 2012

Coaching Track & Field has given me opportunities that I never imagined I would have. I always wanted to make an impact on people’s lives, especially young people so I feel that I have achieved that. It’s given me the ability to travel and to see the world, to meet all the different people I’ve been able to meet while coaching.

I didn’t think I would be where I am today. I envisioned my life as being a high school teacher/coach, you know, managing a pool in the summertime. I never imagined being where I am today.

If not coaching track and field, I would be a veterinarian.

Grooming young men and women keeps me young. I really enjoy young people; they’re a lot of fun. It’s good to be able to provide an opportunity for them, whether it’s being a part of a team or giving them a scholarship. They have a great experience at the University of Miami, whether they stay in the south Florida area or go back home, it’s a positive experience.

I’m a Hurricane because I was provided an opportunity 22 years ago that no one else was going to provide at that time, and I’m still a Hurricane today because I feel that I still haven’t achieved everything that could be achieved here.

Favorite place to visit is Switzerland or the Bahamas.

I was raised to treat people the way you would want to be treated.

London 2012 was at first overwhelming, I couldn’t believe it came true [coaching the Olympic team], but now the closer it gets the more excited I am.

If I were a color, I would be orange.

I really wish I knew how to speak French and Spanish.

My secret talent is water skiing.

Best meal has to be macaroni and cheese.

My superstition used to be with clothes. If I wore something and we had a bad track meet I wouldn’t wear it again, but now I guess it’s just doing things the same way.

The U is my life. My family.

Lesson Learned in coaching is that you can’t really personalize things. I didn’t have brothers and sisters growing up so I didn’t understand at first the fight and not talking for a week, but then everything goes back to normal. When I first started coaching it was really hard not to take things personally.

Best track memory is winning the Big East Outdoor Championship for the first time. We were so close the year before after years of building our program. We got to those championships and a bunch of fluke performances from other teams impacted our shot at a title, so to finally win the next year was one of my most memorable experiences.

I admire hard work and loyalty.

Competition is where you can control the effort, even when you can’t control what other competitors are doing or how you feel that day. You can always give 100 percent.

One thing that everyone should know about Miami Track & Field is we’re going to work hard to be the best we can be. We’re going to make it more about being a family than a business, but we’re still going to work hard to be the best we can be.