It truly takes a special individual to be a coach.

At one point in my life, I was interested in pursuing a career in coaching. However, my path changed once I witnessed how much time coaches actually put into their jobs.

Being a high school football coach requires tremendous sacrifice.

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Many coaches serve as educators, father figures and most importantly, positive influences for young men who come from various walks of life.

Coaches go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure their teams are prepared for Friday nights, with countless hours of film study and schematics instruction to simulate real-time game situations. They might be in the spotlight for two hours every Friday night, but their job requires around-the-clock effort.

They constantly speak with college coaches to get their players recruited, to ease the financial burden of college tuition for families. They also serve as disciplinarians so young men become model citizens.

High school football coaches are counselors, chauffeurs, meal providers, confidants, fundraisers, advocates. The list goes on.

More important than the roles they play are the life lessons they teach, to build high-character young people.

None of that's in a typical football coach job description.

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Coaches often don’t get the credit they deserve, perhaps because the payout doesn’t come until years later. Arduous winter conditioning may seem pointless to a player now, but when life throws a curveball their way as an adult, they’ll have the mental capacity and endurance to handle real-life trials. And they can thank their high school football coach.

The benefits to having a good high school football coach transcend the football team. A winning team can unite a community, bring fans to the stadium and generate revenue (and opportunities) for other areas of the school.

Working tireless hours nearly 12 months a year while positively impacting young men, their families and schools communities, a good high school football coach is worth every penny.

Work hard. Be great.

Ashton Henderson was a four-year letterman at defensive back for Michigan State University as well as an honors student and co-author with former teammate Travis Key of “Beyond The Gridiron: How to successfully transition into collegiate football,” a detailed account of what it takes to be a Division I college football player and successful in life. To learn more about their mission and purchase your copy today, visit: www.beyondthegridironllc.com

To continue your growth as a high school football coach, visit the USA Football Coach Performance Center.

This is an updated version of a blog that originally published March 1, 2017.