From staff reports
Former football coach Bob Valesente recently served as a guest speaker at a John Paul II (JPII) Catholic School Leadership session in Okatie, where he focused on the importance of faith, family, friends, and football.
Valesente, who coached defensive backs for the Green Bay Packers during their dominant era in the 1990s, including their Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots in 1996, has had a longstanding connection with JPII dating back to the school’s earliest fundraising efforts.
Valesente is a native of Seneca Falls, N.Y., and played college ball for Ithaca College before spending more than 35 years as a coach. Some of the teams on his resume include the Kansas University Jayhawks, Cornell University, the Baltimore Colts, the Maryland Terrapins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, as well as amateur and professional teams in Europe. Valesente and his wife, Joan, have lived in the Lowcountry for more than 25 years.
JPII Assistant Principal Bobby Collar introduced his longtime friend, telling students that he could not think of a better representative to speak on the core value of leadership. Valesente spoke of the importance of his Catholic faith while growing up and told the students how grateful he was, and still is, for that foundation.
“Being born into a Catholic family was a true blessing,” he said. “My parents and Joan’s were great teachers who made sure you got the job done. I got off to a great start as a young man. We had St. Joseph nuns at my school and their commitment carried me further into my love of sports and faith.”
He emphasized the importance of recognizing leadership qualities in others and he acknowledged the challenges of leadership, mentioning that individuals may find themselves in leadership roles unexpectedly. Valesente shared that Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz, once said that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth because of his hard-working parents, who instilled in him discipline, character, and honesty.
“I encourage you to work hard because if you don’t, you will fall into destruction,” Valesente said. “Take personal responsibility. It is your choice. It’s not an easy life. It seems we have lost a little bit of our moral focus sometimes in holding ourselves accountable for our actions and choices. Everyone has problems but it’s how you handle them. Remember, 75% of people don’t care you have problems and 25% are glad you do.”
Valesente continued that even at his seasoned age of 83, he remains dedicated to putting in the work. “As a college coach once told me, ‘Once you stop learning, you’re either dead or done.’ Continuous learning is crucial.”
He reminded the students how blessed and fortunate they are to have a JPII education.
“To be able to talk about God and your faith, to care and live for each other, and still be educated, is so critical. This Super Bowl ring is great,” he said while lifting his right hand. “But I have been married for 61 years, and this ring is better,” he finished while lifting his other.
