Barry Alvarez knows a thing or two about what it takes to win. Alvarez started out as a high school coach before he became the head coach at the University of Wisconsin. Now Barry is the athletic director at the same university. Before college, Alvarez led the 1978 Mason City, Iowa, high school football team to a state championship. He applied the things he learned at Mason City to each of his following positions in football. Now he is teaming up with U.S. Cellular to find another outstanding high school coach.
At U.S. Cellular, they know how important it is to have a strong connection in the “Middle of Anywhere.” That’s why they have built our network to work where others don’t, and that’s also why they are proud to honor these local coaches through our Most Valuable Coach program. The Top 50 coaches and Final 15 coaches will be featured and voted for at TheMostValuableCoach.com and the top two will be honored at the Under Armour All-America Game live on ESPN, plus earn $5,000 for their schools.
I had the great opportunity to chat with Barry about the work he is doing with U.S. Cellular, football, and fatherhood.
Art Eddy: You are working with U.S. Cellular for their Most Valuable Coach program. Can you talk to me about the work you are doing with them?
Barry Alvarez: U.S. Cellular came to me and asked me if I would partner with them in promoting the Most Valuable High School Coach. Having been a high school coach and working my way through the ranks and my high school coach had such an influence on me and in the community; I was thrilled. To help promote high school athletics and recognizing the high school coaches. If you go to TheMostValuableCoach.com it will explain the program and how players or people in the community can nominate a high school coach. We will cut it down to fifty, then fifteen, then down to two and then select a National Coach of the Year.
AE: We can see how coaches can lead their team on the field or court, but how do coaches lead their players outside of sports? What are some things you did when you were a coach?
BA: One of the things that I am most proud of and is most rewarding is when you have players come back. Whatever job they have; it may be a stockbroker on Wall Street or someone that started their own business and they come back and tell you that the principles that you taught them in football and the things that they learned from the game are things that they implement in their daily jobs. That is the rewarding part in coaching. Those are the things that are most important to me. When I had the chance to get involved in this program I didn’t hesitate.
AE: You made a lot of Wisconsin Badger fans proud with the work you did as the head football coach for the college. Now you are the athletic director for the school. What was that transition like for you from going to head coach to athletic director?
BA: The similarities are that you are a decision maker. The athletic director position has more layers. There are more layers in the job. Things that are in your purview. Things that you are responsible for. As a coach you are more of a dictator. As an athletic director you are more of a consensus taker as you make your decisions, but there is an urgency in making decisions as a coach.
As I tell other athletic directors there is nothing like the stress and the grind of coaching. You have a lot of things that you are concerned with as an athletic director, but you don’t have the stress that you do when you are a coach.
AE: Switching to fatherhood now, what were some of the first few thoughts that popped into your mind when you found out that you were going to be a dad?
BA: Just thinking about how you are going to handle the responsibility of some young person coming into 
AE: What are some of the core values you looked to instill in your kids as they were growing up?
BA: That’s one thing in coaching that is difficult. We are gone so much. When I was home I wanted to make sure I spent time with my kids. They understood that we are all about honesty. They understood hard work. I tried to get them involved in athletics so that they learned how to work with others and how to be good teammates and leaders. I raised my family and my children much like I raised a team. You have certain standards and certain things that you believe in and you hold them accountable for those things.
AE: What advice do you have for new dads?
BA: I would say give your child direction and also give them flexibility. Never take their spirit away. Don’t be a helicopter parent. Let them grow up and be decision makers. Let them grow.
Life of Dad Quick Five
AE: What is your favorite family movie you guys like to watch together?
BA: I can’t think of any, but I’m sure there was a number of them. We are movie people. We enjoy movies.
AE: Do you guys have a favorite song that you all like to sing and dance to as a family?
BA: I have to admit I didn’t sing to them. My wife didn’t sing to them either because we can’t sing. (Both laugh.)
AE: Describe the perfect family vacation.
BA: Go someplace where it is warm. You have sunshine and beaches and things to do for the kids.
AE: Who was your favorite college team when you were a kid?
BA: Pitt.
AE: What is the best word to describe the atmosphere at Camp Randall Stadium?
BA: Electric.
For more information on the great program that Barry Alvarez is working on with U.S. Cellular go to TheMostValuableCoach.com.