33 years of coaching and this Chico coach still shows up
By Raishaud Pinkney
Click here for updates on this story
CHICO, California (KHSL) — A Chico-area coach has spent more than 3 decades developing young athletes in the community. Action News Now reporter Raishaud Pinkney spoke with Coach Simeon Allison about his 33 seasons on the sidelines.
Allison’s coaching journey began in 1993 with the Chico Vikings, a team that used to look like the NFL Vikings. He got his start in coaching in his hometown of South Lake Tahoe before bringing his passion to the Chico community.
Allison coached with the Chico Jaguars until 2016, then spent one season with the Chico Panthers. He has been with the Pleasant Valley Vikings ever since.
While football brings these players together, Allison says there’s something much bigger he hopes they take away from the experience. He also coached basketball for 22 seasons.
“I try to instill in these kids integrity, faith, values that go long after they leave the field. I really don’t feel that I am a shoe-in every year, people tell me you know they’re going to let you coach but I say, it’s a privilege that I don’t take lightly,” Allison said.
Allison is a teacher in the Gridley Unified School District. He says he was coaching before he became a teacher and the things he learned in sports helped him become a teacher.
Allison is currently coaching the Pleasant Valley 14-and-under program. His coaching journey began with younger athletes in the 10-and-under division before moving up to coach older players.
For Allison, the impact of coaching isn’t measured by wins and losses alone. It’s about what these young men carry with them long after their playing days are over.
Some of the players Allison once coached are now helping develop the next generation of athletes on the Pleasant Valley Vikings varsity team. Those former players say Allison’s impact went beyond teaching them how to play football.
“What Coach Simeon instilled in me is what I try to give to these players every day,” one former player said.
“I remember Coach truly caring about players when he coached and I try to do the same,” another former player said.
33 years later, Allison doesn’t have an end date in mind. He says coaching as long as he is an asset, he’ll keep going.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.