Educator Spotlight: ACA’s Coach Roberts

Heather Ainsley
ECB Publishing, Inc.

For Aucilla Christian Academy (ACA) Assistant Principal Colby Roberts, his responsibility to the students of ACA extends beyond the distinct reach of his administrative duties. In addition to his work as the assistant principal, Roberts also works as Head Varsity Football Coach and Head Weightlifting Coach, a position he has held for 12 years.
After graduating from ACA in 2006, Roberts says he planned to go into a career in law enforcement, but during his college years, a local coach at Aucilla reached out to him and asked if he would be interested in helping out as an assistant coach when he returned home from college.
“I got hooked,” says Roberts. “After that, I went back to college and changed my major.”
As a student at Florida State University (FSU), he had served as an assistant coach in the weight room and with the football team for two years. He also worked as an offensive line coach for two years at Robert F. Munroe K-12 before accepting a role at Aucilla.
Roberts graduated from Florida State University (FSU), then went on to earn his master's degree from Southeastern University before accepting a position as Assistant Principal and head coach over the varsity football team. Roberts says that a large part of what drives him to coach is the opportunity to be a mentor to the students, and that the comradery that comes with being part of a team reminds him of when he used to play.
“I've played football my whole life,” says Roberts. “Being a part of a team again as a coach is the closest thing to playing again that you can get.”
While his coaching role began with the school's football team, three years ago the school began a weightlifting program, and now Roberts serves as head coach over both.
“With weightlifting, we were looking for a way to motivate kids to use our weight room. We have a very nice facility, and we wanted to find a way to encourage the students without having to chase them to use it. Competition keeps kids motivated.”
Currently the weight room is utilized by students from a variety of backgrounds, not just weightlifting or football. And while the weightlifting team is only three years old, it has seen exceptional growth.
“In our first year, there were 13 students on the weightlifting team,” recalls Roberts. “This year, there are 28, and we placed 5-in-1 (which is a record). We got first place in this year's tournament.”
To Roberts, being a good coach means having quality of character, and being able to be a good strategist while being able to relate and connect to the kids.
“You need to have good communication as their motivator,” says Roberts. “You also need to have organizational skills. And it doesn't hurt to be thick-skinned. You are signing up to be criticized, win or lose. In a small town community, there are a lot of eyes watching you those Friday nights.”
Indeed, the pressure is high for coach and students alike when it comes to competitions and game-day performances. Coach Roberts says that when all is said and done in a sport's season, he hopes everyone can keep perspective and keep in mind that nobody is perfect and it's just a game at the end of the day.
One of the best parts of being a coach for Roberts is seeing the students reach their goals after putting in a lot of hard work throughout the season. He enjoys watching as they develop leadership skills, build lasting relationships with their peers and grow, both as a team and as individuals, spiritually and physically, throughout the year. While it can be a challenge, seeing steady improvement in his students makes everything worth it. Roberts believes that sports are not just about learning to play a specific game, but can be instrumental in developing character in young athletes. Participation in sports can teach young individuals how to work for something, how to climb a ladder, and how to become a cohesive member of a team.
As a coach, Roberts has a unique approach; he doesn't talk to his students about goals.
“We don't talk goals,” says Roberts. “Of course, we want to win – and that's a goal, but my philosophy is to stop talking about goals. I try to tie everything back to Colossians 3:23, which says do what you do for God. Basically, don't cut corners. Work hard, pay attention.”
The verse in scripture goes, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”
“As a coach, you try to always give 100 percent,” adds Roberts. “You try to push the kids, and you expect 100 percent in return. My ultimate goal is to impact these kids for Christ, to prepare them for life, to teach them how to work hard, have a good attitude, and to put others before themselves.”
Coach Roberts is highly dedicated to seeing each and every student in his team reach their full potential, both physically and spiritually. Thank you for all that you do! Go Warriors!