20 Who Count: Ike McDonald
By Kendra Simpson
For Isaac “Ike” McDonald, football is more than just a game. He considers his youth football program to be a family and himself as the players “coach for life.”
Growing up, McDonald learned much from his uncle, who he considered to be a great leader and role model. Today, he emulates his uncle’s character and morals by coaching his own youth football program, the Midland Empire Seminoles.
“When I was younger, my uncle used to run the youth football, the Bantam league, so I was always kind of around the football thing …” McDonald said. “It’s just football but we’re just trying to take these boys to try to see something different.”
McDonald sees football as not only a way for kids to learn discipline and respect, but also as a means of keeping them off the street and potentially out of jail.
“I’m just trying to do my part and grabbing them when they’re young and ‘brainwashing’ them,” he said. “I can lead (the players) to some places that they’ve never thought they can get to … it’s either play a sport or be out on the streets or doing something that you’re not supposed to be doing.”
In its first unofficial year, McDonald had 17 players — many who had played for him previously — sign up for the program. After obtaining a staff, board and additional funds, over 100 kids signed up for tryouts, with 63 becoming players under his tutelage.
The team proved to be successful, with eight players selected to play in the United Youth Sport Football All-American Bowl in Las Vegas as well as making the state championship. With the program up and running, McDonald hopes to teach his players to strive for more than what life has offered.
“I always tell all my boys that we not done yet, we just got started,” he said. “You control the narrative to your story, and this is just a chapter…you get what you put into life.”
McDonald can often be found supporting his players on and off the field, attending award ceremonies and supporting families.
“They need that support,” he said. “When I was a kid, coaches were seasonal…but I’m your coach for life.”
