I am writing in response to the alleged recruiting violations by Camas head football coach Jon Eagle. Having taught and coached with Coach Eagle for 17 years, I would like to share a story that not many are aware of. Coach Eagle is considered one of the elite coaches in the Northwest. Close friends also know that he is a devoted father and husband, as well as a person of high character and integrity.
It is those qualities that stood out to me most in early December 2013. Camas had just lost the state football championship, 28-27, after leading by 13 points late in the game. At the shocking conclusion, Camas players collapsed heartbroken on the field. Assistant coaches (including me) wandered on the field in a daze. As I looked up, I saw Coach Eagle at midfield congratulating the winning coach and then consoling his wounded warriors on the field. Somehow, he was able to gather all players and coaches for one last time. I’ll never understand how.
Legendary coach John Wooden had a saying quite appropriate to describe Coach Eagle that day. “Winning shows some of your character. How you lose, shows all of it.”
In all my years involved in football, I have never witnessed a more clear example of character and integrity.
