Our Staff in the Community: Joseph Santos

Q: What is your role at Galena High School?

Head JV Boys Basketball Coach.

Q: How long have you been involved with them?
10 years.

Q: How have you balanced working in the front office with you coaching duties?

Balancing work and coaching are challenging. The basketball schedule is from November to February, then the offseason is June to October with some breaks in between. I must be very efficient with my time. On most days I can work a full day since I make sure my practice schedule is late at night. On game days (Tuesday's and Friday's, not counting tournaments) I leave around 1:00pm for road games and 2:00pm for home games. On those days I must be extremely efficient at work to get as much done as possible. It also helps that I have a great Retail Coordinator to help get some of the work done. A typical day during the season is the following: Get to work at 9:30am and work until 5:00pm then make a quick dinner and head out to Galena for a practice from 6:45pm to 9:00pm. Then get home by 10:00pm and get ready to do it all over again.

Q: What is your favorite part about coaching?

Watching the kids grow and get better at basketball and school. My biggest rule is the kids need a 3.0 GPA to play. They are students first and I love watching them graduate and go to college for school and for some continue playing. I also love the strategy and how to put the team in the best position to win.

Q: What have you learned most about yourself or the community being a coach?

I have learned a lot about myself and the community. I have learned how to be more patient and how to talk to people the correct way. Through coaching I have seen a great community and a close community. We are always there for each other. Being a part of the community makes me proud because of how close and helping this community is, like an extended family.

Q: What is your favorite memory from coaching thus far in Northern Nevada? (On the field or off of it)

I have a lot of favorite memories from coaching, I don't think I can choose a favorite. Every year I have a new team and they all create amazing memories. The one I would have to go with was my first year as a head coach. I was the Freshman coach and the team I had was special. I remember that our first tournament we had lost the championship game and it was a blow out. After that game we all made a promise to each other that we would not lose to that team again. In our second tournament we were once again in the championship game against that same team. We won and won the tournament. To see all the hard work, pay off for the kids and to see them truly happy is one of my favorite memories.

Q: What does it mean to you to get involved with the Northern Nevada Community?

It means everything to get involved with the community. I grew up in Reno and went to school here. This community is very important to me. I was raised in this community and I want to continue to give back to it.

Q: Any final thoughts on your experience(s)?

Go Galena Grizzlies Basketbal! #Grizball4lyfe