Coach Keith Terry is the head football coach at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Washington. A proud alumnus of the school, Coach Terry has deep roots with the T-Birds, having returned to the program as an assistant coach in 2020 before being promoted to head coach in 2022. With over 15 years of high school coaching experience, Coach Terry has focused on rebuilding the Mount Tahoma football program by setting a high standard, adding alum to the coaching staff, and getting the community involved. He emphasizes creating an environment where young men become "uncommon" in their approach to life and football. His leadership has earned recognition, including being named Seattle Seahawks Coach of the Week in 2025. Under Coach Terry's guidance, the T-Birds ended a long playoff drought in 2023 and advanced to the state quarterfinals in consecutive years (2023 and 2024), marking the first such achievement in over 40 years. In the 2025 season, Mount Tahoma went undefeated in the regular season, won the 3A Puget Sound League title, and made a historic playoff run. They reached the WIAA Class 3A state championship game for the first time since 1980 falling to O'Dea in a close 21-14 contest at Husky Stadium. Despite the loss, the 2025 campaign is widely regarded as a defining moment, and setting the stage for future success.
In this episode of The Coachers Podcast, Coach Terry shares his journey from a young coach to leading a high school program that has seen significant success. He discusses the importance of leadership, setting high standards, and the impact of football as a tool for personal development and molding young men. The conversation also delves into building team culture, fostering community involvement, and the challenges of coaching. Coach Terry emphasizes the need for intentionality in coaching and the importance of being a role model for young athletes. When asked his Why? Coach answered with the response of “Be Life Changing”. This was an inspiring conversation, and it was evident that Coach Terry is in it for all the right reasons! Thank you once again Coach, keep continuing to “Raise The Standard”.
Takeaways:
Football is a tool that opens doors for young men.
Creating a standard is essential for success.
Hold Coaches and Players to same Standard.
Leadership is about motivating both players and staff.
The best ability is availability; keeping players healthy is crucial.
Building a strong community around the program enhances team cohesion.
Vulnerability among players fosters deeper connections.
Why is Football the Greatest Sport?
Intentionality in coaching leads to better outcomes for players.
Every opportunity in coaching is a chance to learn and grow.
Coaching is about helping kids grow beyond the field.
Aim to be Uncommon.
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