Julius Hooper – Coach, Classic City Dawgs
AAASP: Tell us a little about yourself… where did you grow up, go to school, college? How long have you been teaching, etc?
Julius Hooper: My name is Julius Hooper. I was born in the Philippines, and moved here in the United States when I was 10 years old. I went to Clarke County high school, graduating in 2000, started coaching at 18–my second semester my senior year, then went in the college and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I was coaching young student athletes –coaching football and track–and stayed coaching for 20+ years. I finally left coaching, missed it, and returned to started a program at Clarke County two years ago, with our AdaptED Sports team, The Classic City Dawgs and we’ve been rolling ever since!
AAASP: When were you first introduced to AdaptED Sports?
JH: I was first introduced to AdaptED Sports two years ago when we started the program in Clarke County and I have a disabled son, so it was an opportunity for me to be able to coach my son with his needs—and it was a passion for me because I got out of sports and I was missing coaching– but really did not have the time to commit to the hours of able-bodied football again, having a family, etc. So when AdaptED Sports opened up for me, it was something that I enjoyed and got to learn a lot about the sports, especially handball and basketball. Football is my forte and our first season two years ago–we made the playoffs, and I was like “OK this is fun and our kids are having funI” and it certainly was not as stressful as coaching able bodied high-school sports and I loved it!
I found a lot of a passion through it because I’m a special ed teacher as well and I just like to see the progression in the development of our student athletes; they finally get to participate in something they enjoy watching–and I love just seeing them participate and having fun, realizing their athletic potential– and they get to show it on the court.
AAASP: Tell us about you off the court—we would love to hear more–your family, your outside activities, your accomplishments, hobbies, etc.!
JH: I have two kids, and I have a disabled son and he’s the only one in Georgia with this particular rare disability–one of 150 in the world called Champ One, so raising him has been challenging, but the progression of his development, especially through AdaptED Sports has helped him progress physically and mentally.
Outside hobbies — we have a little farm. We have pigs. We have chickens, dogs, tons of cats, reptiles– a mini farm, and that’s what we do as a family. We tend to our little mini farm.
AAASP: What did you learn through playing sports? (any takeaway lessons that you will share with athletes?)
JH: You can learn a lot from sports –but, just the pure fun of playing a game and the camaraderie and friendship that comes with it, is special in the program that we started. There’s a sense of belonging with being on the team — that all kids need — and this is a great gateway for our community.
AAASP: Any advice you’d like to share with AAASP athletes?
JH: “Be yourself. Be genuine—people will respond when you’re genuine. Also know that anything is possible, if you work hard, it can be done!”
Harlon Matthews – Coach, GA Storm
AAASP: Tell us a little about yourself… where did you grow up, go to school, college? How long have you been teaching, etc?
Harlon Matthews: So I actually have had a disability since 1982, I was 15 years old–so I went 19 years with nothing available for youth at that time, like there is with AAASP. I went all those years, was an athlete in school prior to catching the cold that paralyzed me, but I couldn’t be an athlete anymore. I was 34 years old when I discovered Wheelchair sports–or when it discovered me actually. went to an all-sports camp and tried multiple sports there, and one of the counselors there came up to me and said “You’re a natural, and if you don’t keep doing this, you’re selling yourself short!” That was amazing to me because it was Randy Snow–one of the most accomplished Wheelchair athletes ever–so I left that camp with such zeal, that I knew exactly what I wanted to do, which is what I do today.
I’ve been with Parks and Recreation, Henry County Parks and Recreation for 19 years, managing the Wheelchair sports program. The good thing is I’m able to offer what I myself couldn’t receive, so we’re catching these kids telling them you can do things, and winning over their parents and convincing them they can do things, and using this little ball (whatever the ball we’re using at the time/depending on the season) to teach life skills like teamwork, getting along with each other, etc., so I’m really excited about that!
My main sport has been tennis. I’ve been in the men’s division. I was number two in the nation for a minute, and now what I do as part of my job with Henry County is we run the Wheelchair Tennis National Championship Tournament, so that’s been going on we started in 2007 (18 years) so sports is always something I’ve been interested in.
I’m excited when I receive different awards for this work—but, you know what, when you see the those kids’ faces light up and they’re all excited-that’s the biggest reward ever, so those are the moments that I look forward to!
AAASP: What sports do you coach?
HM: I coach basketball, handball, and football.
AAASP: What are some of the life lessons you referred to earlier, taught through AdaptED Sports?
HM: Encouraging each other, because we cannot be perfect all the time–so, when someone makes a mistake, that’s a teachable moment to encourage somebody, go over give them five and say “you’ll get it next time.” That this is important because you’re gonna grow up and get a job somewhere you’re not always gonna be buddies with people you’re working with, but you still can be a team.
AAASP: When were you first introduced to AdaptED Sports?
HM: I was first introduced to adapted sports through wheelchair tennis. That was my main sport — that I played. Tennis opened up the sky for me; I have competed on the Wheelchair Tennis Circuit for a while, and then became certified as a tennis instructor. One of the things that I take the most pride in is as someone who uses a wheelchair, is that I was able to coach a women’s team that went on to win the championships for Atlanta Lawn and Tennis Association (ALTA) in their division, so to me, it’s just showing what I call–“Thinking outside the chair.” That is my philosophy now–my legs may be limited, but not the rest of me, and I can coach people with them without disabilities and when they went on to win the city championship in their division, it was so exciting! It’s moments like that, I’m excited for them, but I get a little choked up, as well. I remember, I called my mom and I told her that day–“Thank you, thank you for telling me, when I first got my disability, that we weren’t going to have a “pity party” –and that I could do anything I put my mind to!”