Digging Ditches (for Coach Bartel)

The purpose of this message is to both honor and encourage Coach Don Bartel, the defensive coordinator of our former high school football team (but so much more).

Through dedicated, articulate passion, Bartel embodied strength in humility, impact over popularity, and (most importantly) the art of “ditch-digging.”

I share three stories about Coach Bartel to exhibit the greatest lessons he taught me both on the football field and in the classroom.

Thank you, coach, for showing me during my formative years that our positions, titles, and incomes only limit our impact if we allow them to. I'm grateful.