As the new school year begins, Liberty High School welcomes many new staff members including Brent Sands, Athletic Director. With an extensive career in coaching and a lifelong passion for promoting high school athletics, Sands is excitedly stepping into his new role. Sands spent 30 years coaching high school football, as well as track and field at Solon High School. The decision to step away from coaching was not easy to make.
“After being at one place for 30 years, I got to the point where I had gotten very comfortable. This was a very big step out of my comfort zone,” Sands remarked. “That [coaching] was a hard thing to step away from, being a coach and losing those connections and relationships.”
Sands believes in the importance of cultivating relationships between coaches and athletes. He reflects on his coaching career, knowing his role in the lives of athletes he coached.
Sands said, “I often joke that I think that I was a pretty good teacher, but I know that I made a much bigger difference in the lives of students through my coaching than I ever did in the classroom.” Sands also emphasizes the role that involvement with high school athletics has on students.
“Our job here is to serve our students, get them ready for life after high school…help them have skills to be successful in whatever it is that they choose to do. I’ve also always found that athletics…seem to be an even better way to teach those life skills.” Athletics have also played a huge part in Sands life, helping him become the person he wanted to be. Playing sports in high school and college contributed to his drive and motivation, and taught him the value of hard work.
“One thing that I do want to have is a strong family feel, like everyone is connected…fostering everybody together and having that incredible Liberty family experience.” Sands is excited for what the future will look like for the Liberty Athletic Department.
“I think we just experience greater learning when we share in that passion and desire and truly want to experience it,” Sands said.
