Coaches’ march to be emphasizing unity
Trinity Prep athletic director Dave Langdon said coaching high school teams for 31 years in the Orlando area has forged friendships and bonds that are unbreakable.
That sense of brotherhood and unity is what he hopes to emphasize with Saturday’s Coaches for Community walk around Lake Eola.
Langdon invited area coaches and others, including clergy and school administrators, to gather at the Lake Eola Band Shell at 9 a.m. and together make a walk around the lake to remind all that sports can be a medicine for healing in a time when protests are raging across the country after the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.
Thousands of people in more than 60 cities, including Orlando, are protesting racism and police brutality. Orlando demonstrations have mostly been peaceful, but there have been some ugly confrontations between police and crowds.
“I want this to be a moment to show that we are unified and together, a non-political and very peaceful gathering,” Langdon said. “Coaches are some of the most influential and respected people in the lives of their athletes. Our job is serving leadership. That’s what coaches do.”
Langdon has asked that signs be limited to two messages: “Coaches for Community” and “One Family, One Heartbeat”.
He said he informed the Orlando Police Department of the event. Social distancing protocols will be followed due to the coronavirus concerns.
Coaches signed on include former Orlando Predators football standout and high school coach Herkie Walls, who is now a pastor; and current area head football coaches Guerschom Demosthenes of Orlando Christian Prep, Cameron Duke of Edgewater, Leroy Kinard of The First Academy, Rodney Wells of Dr. Phillips, and Elijah Williams of Jones.
Langdon said he has talked about the event with some, including former Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, who would prefer to send stronger messages in calling for change.
“I admire and appreciate the stand he is taking,” Langdon said. “I’m not saying people aren’t going to have strong feelings or shouldn’t have strong feelings. But the difficult conversations we need to have at this time to come up with solutions all come down to relationships.
“I truly believe you’ve got to start out with love and respect for each other. Without that, it is impossible to start those conversations. This is the first phase. It think it’s important that this is an agenda-free event. Let it be a stepping stone.”
Langdon, who is white, is an Orlando native who grew up in a diverse Pine Hills neighborhood. He played football at Robinswood Junior High for a black head coach, the late Ernie Swift, and then at Evans High School under Bill Gierke, who is white.
“I had so much respect for both of those men because they had so much influence on me, and my teammates,” Langdon said. “They both truly cared about every player they coached. I think you can say that about the vast majority of coaches.
“I grew up in a very multicultural neighborhood and I think that did have a really positive impact on me in a lot of ways. You learn how to be sensitive to things other people go through. By having great relationships you can share those things. It opens your ears and your eyes.”
One of the coaches Langdon has talked to extensively about Saturday’s event is Demosthenes, who was one of his players at Cypress Creek and later one of his assistant coaches at Dr. Phillips.
“He’s one of my best friends in the world and we’ve talked about what we are trying to get out of this,” Langdon said. “I told him I want it to be just like you and me. We care about and love each other as human beings. We care about each other’s families. We’re one race. It’s the human race.”