PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) - A physical education teacher at northeast Portland’s Russell Elementary School has been named Oregon’s Jr. NBA/WNBA Scholastic Coach of the Year.
March madness has tipped off in PE class for grade schoolers at Russell Elementary.
“I believe that is of very high merit. It’s of a high caliber. Especially working with the littles,” said Jimmy Boland, Jr. “Dude, teaching fundamentals at a young age for these learners is pretty pivotal. It’s pretty critical and crucial.”
Boland knows growth takes nurturing.
“I had a really good coach who inspired me to say, ‘You know what, Jimmy? If you can get someone of lower ability or somebody just starting out, or a beginner, developing and developed? That’s the difference right there,’” he said.
The 32-year-old married father of three is in year two of running the basketball program for the Russell Rockets of the Parkrose School District, from which he came.
“To me, where you’re from, it matters a lot where you’re from,” Boland said.
Sprouting joy, kindness and friendly competition in his community.
“Pouring in to where you come from, it builds a really great, authentic origin story,” he said. “I am here to be legendary, and I know that about myself and not only do I know that about myself, I want the children and the people who I reach to believe they are legendary as well.”
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Coach Boland is also a full-time college student in his junior year at Warner Pacific University to chase down a bachelors degree in education.
“I’ve been implementing little by little things in my PE class here to just elevate that education,” Boland said.
Just a week ago, Boland was celebrated at center court before his beloved Trail Blazers hosted the New York Knicks as Oregon’s recipient of the Jr. NBA/WNBA Scholastic Coach of the Year, and is now up for the national youth coaching honor.
“I got my Russell sweatshirt on today. I was flashing it during the announcement. I know my Russell community definitely supports me a lot,” he said. “Those that were there and who could come at short notice like that, were able to come, they vouched for me, I felt the support and all the love, and it was amazing.”
An amazing self-conviction while making sure his students feel comfortable to do the same.
“People have power to be a legend in their own skin. When you don’t give up, you win,” Boland said.
Believing in something better by instilling limitless possibilities and opportunities to succeed.
“I know that here in this district, you have got to grow your own garden. I’ve been at the top being a head coach at the high school and then, so to speak, I’ve been working with preschoolers like you’ve seen today,” he said. “I relate it a lot to Tupac’s verse, he has a song, or really it’s poetry, growing up out of the concrete. The rose that grows from the concrete, and you know, Portland, the City of Roses, I’m one of those roses.”
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