A Look at a Remarkable Coach of Young Athletes

Wade McGee A look at a remarkable coach of young athletes Coach Wade McGee (left) receiving Coeur d’Alene Tribe Chairmans Award of Excellence from Chief Allen.

Wade McGee is one of those rare individuals who enrich the lives of everyone they meet. One of our newest clinicians, he has already proven himself to be a valuable part of the BFS team. This is his story. McGee is a member of the Cherokee tribe and a descendent of Chief Red Bird Smith. He is the son of Jerry McGee and Lela (Parrish) McGee of Oklahoma. Wade McGee’s mother, who is of the Long Hair Clan of the Cherokee Nation. Wade grew up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, maintaining a high GPA and excelling in football, basketball, track and baseball.

In high school he became the leading rusher in the state, was named to the All Shrine Bowl Team and received the Army Reserve Academic Athlete of the Year award. In 1987 he graduated from Delaware High School in Delaware, Oklahoma. McGee attended Haskell Indian Junior College, where he was named AllConference Running Back his freshman year; and by his sophomore year he was ranked first in the nation in rushing and total offense and third in scoring. Wade still holds seven individual offensive records at Haskell. He graduated with honors, earning degrees in liberal arts and natural resources. At Haskell he met his future wife, Debbie Louie-McGee, a Coeur d’Alene tribal member.

Married 14 years, they have three sons: Tucker, 13, Jerry, 11, and Kenny, 9. They also have two nieces who live with them and whom they consider their daughters: Itsy, 17, and Tah-wy-ah, 15. They reside in Worley, Idaho, on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation. All their kids are currently at the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Wellness Center, where McGee works as the sports director. McGee has created a program that has been recognized as the best in the Northwest in Indian country by the Indian Health Service.

McGee created a Junior Tackle program for the rural communities on and around the reservation; and what started with four teams has now grown into eight teams in two divisions, with eight communities involved in the program. McGee also started a Little League program called the Palouse Prairie Little League, which allows kids of ages 5-18 the opportunity to play baseball and softball. He also implemented a USA wrestling program for kids of ages 5-14; and through the dedication of head coach Jackson Louie, the Wrestling program has produced several Idaho state champions. McGee also helped implement a USGA Junior Golf Program.

McGee has worked hard to help athletes achieve the highest levels of athletic performance with the BFS program. Says McGee, “There is no program better in the nation at getting the best out of a kid when it comes to effort, making good choices and becoming a better athlete and human being.” McGee says that while he emphasizes culture and identity with his athletes, the BFS Be an 11 program and its philosophies also work with any culture. McGee recently attended the National Certification for BFS Clinicians, and in August 2008 he was named the National Director of Native Programs for BFS. He plans to spread the BFS word to reservations around the country.

It’s great to have you on our team, Coach McGee! JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 CHART YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS TOP 10 MOTIVATIONAL BOARDS AND DEPTH CHARTS u LARGE 8’ X 3.5’ BOARDS u ADD YOUR SCHOOL or TEAM NAME u CHOOSE YOUR 10 CATEGORIES CUSTOMIZABLE COLORS u Custom boards usually ship in 2 to 4 weeks CUSTOM 325116 4’ X 3.5 ‘ BOARDS u ADD YOUR SCHOOL OR TEAM NAME AND CUSTOMIZE BY POSITION u MOVEABLE NAME TAGS u FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE COLORS u Custom boards usually ship in 2 to 4 weeks LARGE 8’ X 3.5’

BOARDS u HIGH CONTRAST BFS COLORS u TEN PRINCIPLE BFS CATEGORIES u MOVEABLE NAME TAGS u Stock is gray board with blue piping and red titles STOCK 325115 DRY-ERASE NAME TAGS ARE VELCRO BACKED FOR EASY REARRANGING AND UPDATING AS YOUR ATHLETES IMPROVE!

SHARE YOUR TEAM’S SUCCESS INSPIRE ACHIEVEMENT DEDICATED TO HELPING ATHLETES SUCCEED SINCE 1976

From BFS Magazine — January/February 2009. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).