PARENT LETTER

Dear Parents,

I would like to take this time to introduce myself to you all. My name is Ivan McLeannan (Coach Macc) and it is an honor being named the Head Football Coach at Kamiak High.  I am excited for the opportunity to continue building this team into a program every one of you will be proud of in the years to come.  Now it is time to get to work building relationships with players, families, staff and the community.  However, before we can do that, I would like to give you some background information about myself and briefly outline my coaching philosophies.

My football journey started in the city of Los Angeles my freshman year at Leuzinger high.  I never played football before and was persuaded by a friend to go to freshman football practice with him.  Little did I know that day would forever change my life. Starting off i wasn't the most talented football player, some would even call me very clumsy back in those days but, I never let it detour me.   I played Freshman, JV (Twice), and Varsity as a high school athlete and those years helped shaped me into the person I am today.

 After High school I went on to play at El Camino Community College where I played for legendary coach John Featherstone (R.I.P coach).  Coach Featherstone had an contagious energy and love for the game.   His energy affected me in the most positive way and, as a coach I take that same approach.  Football is the ultimate team game and we should love playing it.  After Junior College I received a scholarship to play at Washington State University. 

As a kid born and raised in Los Angeles, California I never thought that I would visit let alone live in a place like Pullman, Washington.  Pullman was the most awesome experience in my life.  To play for a coach like Mike Leach who expected us to do your job at the highest level each day.  At WSU we changed the culture from the laughing stock of the PAC-12, to contenders.  By the time I was a senior, I was the Starting Outside Linebacker for the Cougs and, helped us win our first Bowl Game (Sun Bowl) in a decade plus.  My time at Wazzu taught me that adversity will hit you in your life.  Nobody is a stranger to adversity but, when that adversity hits, will you fold or rise above it and continue to push through. 

After my time at Wazzu I signed a Undrafted Free Agent deal with the Atlanta Falcons.  This was a huge accomplishment for me. When I first started playing football I never expected to be a professional football player.  I just played the game because I loved it and it took me to its highest pentacle.  I was too stargazed to realize the opportunity I had in front of me and ultimately was cut at the end of the pre-season.  This was by far one of the lowest moments in my life.  This adversity however shaped me into the man I am today.  After getting cut I signed with the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL.  Playing in Canada was a great experience for me.  I learned about different cultures and experienced the great game of CFL football.  After Montreal I played for the B.C Lions. where I got to play for legendary coach Wally Bueno.  Coach Wally was a fierce competitor as a coach.  He wanted to win and as a player if you didn't meet his expectations he would cut you fast.  His competitive spirit rubbed off on me and allowed me to flourish in my role on the team.  After that season I was going to sign with the Oakland Raiders but, due to contract issues I was unable to.  When I realized I wasn't signing back into the NFL, I decided to go play for the defending Grey-Cup Champions, the Calgary Stampeders.  Playing for Calgary was great.  That program was run with the utmost professionalism and wanted to win.  I earned the starting spot at Defensive End, a goal that I was pursuing since I started out my professional career.  My season was going good until an unfortunate injury derailed my season.  During the fourth game of the season I tore my ACL, MCL, and Meniscus. This was an absolutely devastating point in my life because I felt that my career and dreams were over.  Once again Adversity had hit.   

During this time I realized what my true purpose in life was.  As a paraeducator and a football performance trainer I realized that my true purpose was not to play football but to inspire the youth through education and football.  I decided to go back to school to get my Masters in Teaching and also, wanted to coach football.  My father figures growing up were my coaches.  My dad went to jail early in my life so he was not around during crucial moments in my life.  My football coaches helped shape me into a man and helped me realize what my true purpose and passions are.  During the spring of 2021 I took my first official job as the Defensive Line coach at Meadowdale High School. This was such a great experience coaching there.  I met some young men who impacted my life and challenged me to be the best coach I can possibly be for them.  At the end of the season I was fortunate enough to have 4 Defensive Linemen receive All Wesco Honors.   This feeling was something quite different than what I have experienced in the game of football.  Now, instead of trying to become the All League player, I was helping shape the young men to become them and that feeling was way more rewarding to me.  After Meadowdale,  I accepted a Teaching/Coaching position at Kamiak High School.  Coaching and teaching at Kamiak was truly a pleasure.  I gained great mentors on the staff that helped me take my  game up a notch.  Now playing in the 4A Wesco division our competition was a lot tougher and it was my job to make sure my Defensive Line was ready for the challenge.  I was also granted the role of Special Teams Coordinator as well.  As a team we experienced a lot of success this past football season.  We posted a 7-2 record, losing to only the #2 teams in the state (Lake Stevens) and in our first round playoff game vs Skyview High.  I ended up with 4 Defensive Linemen again receiving ALL Wesco 4A honors.  I also had my Punt Returner earn 2nd team ALL-Wesco 4A returner honors.  My role grew each week with this team and the impact I made in those guys' lives I hope they take with them moving forward in their journeys.  Now I have the best job in the world being the Kamiak High School football coach.  This school is truly special to me because this is where my journey began.  Kamiak is a great school and our players will have great support on and off the field.  

My Philosophies for the program are...

BE THE MOST EXCITED TO PLAY- Football is a game and ultimately should be treated as such.  We want our student athletes to cherish the opportunity they have to play this great game called football.  Every snap is an opportunity to compete and do something we love to do. 

RESPECT EVERYONE, FEAR NO ONE- Our program respects the process that both ourselves and our opponent endure to be able to compete on game days.  We will never overlook or disrespect our opponent because they are our athletic peers.  With that said, we will also never FEAR an opponent either. We will always treat this game with the proper RESPECT it deserves.  In return, we will play hard with no FEAR because this game is something we love and shouldn't be afraid to do. 

PLAY THE NEXT PLAY-  In life just like on the field your child will be faced with adversity.  And through that adversity they will have to make a decision.  Either they will fold from the adverse moments in their lives, stand up and rise above it.  Using that motto "Play The Next Play", we will encourage our student athletes to keep pushing forward in those adverse moments in life.  It is ok to be sad. mad, and frustrated when things do not go your way but, we have to have the mental fortitude to keep pushing and Play The Next Play!  

These will be our core covenants; agreement between each other on how we expect our Athletes to act and carry themselves.  These are the character traits that our program will foster throughout my tenure here.  We will build a successful football team with men of character and substance on and off the field.  A meeting will be coming soon for us all to get going.

Sincerely,

Ivan McLeannan