A Selfless Coach, Lives Changed

Shelley Pearson • Sep 28, 2021

You may have heard the story of a young man who was walking along the beach and noticed that hundreds of starfish had washed up on the shore and were quickly drying out. Further down the shore, he witnessed an older man bending over again and again, picking up a single starfish each time, and throwing it back into the sea. The young man told him his actions were pointless because he could never save all the starfish. But the older man bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. He told the young man, “But I made a difference for that one.”

So what’s the connection between starfish and athletes? In both cases, a man comes into their lives and sacrifices incredible time and energy to show them they are valuable and worth saving. Like the man in the story, Coach Todd Wallert has touched hundreds of lives over his 28-year teaching and coaching career at North High School in St. Paul because he is always looking for where God is at work. Four young men share how Coach Wallert has impacted them.

“I look to him for wisdom more than anyone else.”

Tyler Moore has a rare genetic condition where the two sides of his brain struggle to communicate with each other. He has been managing sports teams at North High since 2008 when he was in eighth grade (Read his story here). Throughout high school, whenever Ty didn’t have anywhere else to be, he hung out in Mr. Wallert’s phy. ed. classroom where the two built a relationship that has lasted well over a decade. Ty recently told Coach Wallert how much he has meant to him, and it moved Coach Wallert to tears. Ty said, “He is a very big mentor of mine. He’s been there for me and is looking out for me.”

Ty got involved in FCA his freshman year with Coach Wallert as the huddle coach. Ty has learned to lean into his walk with the Lord and surround himself with others who love Jesus under Wallert’s leadership. Today, Ty says, “Jesus means the whole world to me.”

Read Ty's Story

“You can tell he cares so much about everybody.”

Adam Hausken is a 2013 graduate of North who ran track coach under Coach Wallert. Adam was always impressed with how Wallert created a culture where every kid mattered, regardless of how fast or slow they were. Adam said, “He made everyone feel like they matter. There were hundreds of kids, and he kept up with every kid in some way.” Adam was a strong athlete who is still on the leaderboard in several events at North, but he recognized that though the team has won numerous conference championships and sent dozens of athletes to State, Coach Wallert didn’t focus on those results. Instead, he wanted the athletes to be good people.

Wallert was a successful athlete himself (1981 national long jump champion and current long-jump record holder at Hamline University) who has also had a successful coaching career. That impresses Adam. He says, “He’s a strong guy with a strong faith in God. It’s hard to be both sometimes. Coach Wallert could have done so many things in his life that would have made him more money, but he didn’t do it because he finds purpose in what he does.”

“If he hadn’t kicked me off the team, I wouldn’t have figured it out.”

Coach Wallert kicked Akeem Sirleaf off the track team his freshman year because of some academic and behavior challenges. Akeem says, “He kicked me off because I was being a goofball. He told me I had a choice and could either take running seriously or not. He saw the potential in me and gave me the option. From that point on, I’ve been focused.” Akeem went on to win State his last three years of high school and has goals to run in the next two Summer Olympics, something that likely wouldn’t have happened without the wisdom of a coach who was willing to take a risk.

Akeem immigrated to the United States from Liberia with his mom when he was only five years old, and he didn’t have a strong male influence in his life. As he got more involved in FCA, he grew in both his relationship with Christ and with Wallert. Akeem remembers the one time he made Coach Wallert cry: “It was at State my senior year and it was the last year I was ever going to compete as a North High Polar. We had grown such a strong relationship, and he really took the role as a father figure to me. It was like seeing his son work his way up and win state three times in a row.” Akeem wishes Coach Wallert a happy Father’s Day ever year.

“The pure gratitude he has for Christ’s forgiveness.”

Ben Teigland came to North his sophomore year and quickly grew close to Coach Wallert. Ben says, “Coach Wallert's greatest impact on me is the pure gratitude he has for Christ's forgiveness. I grew up in the church and was always reminded of His forgiveness and the gratitude we ought to have for it, but Coach Wallert was one of the few people I've met who you can see it lived out, which is more powerful than any words a pastor can say.”

Ben has also learned how to live consistently in his own life by watching Wallert. He says, “Coach Wallert is the prime example of what it means to be the same guy every day. He is a very caring individual who just wants to see the kids reach their potential, while also understanding the struggles they face.”

The Potential Impact of FCA

Coach Todd Wallert is a constant reflection of Christ’s selfless love to the athletes under his care. His consistency, humility, and genuine care for his athletes has left a mark on countless young people over the last three decades.

Going back to the starfish story, imagine for a moment that there were twenty people picking up starfish. Imagine if there were 100. How many lives would be saved with many more people working toward the common goal of saving the starfish?

Coach Wallert has influenced countless young athletes like Ty, Adam, Akeem, and Ben. Imagine if there were an FCA-empowered coach like Coach Wallert on every high school campus in Minnesota. Imagine the difference that could be made in the lives of athletes throughout the state with a committed Christ-follower coaching, teaching, and mentoring them.

Imagine.

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