Ten Questions: Woodinville's Wayne Maxwell

3. "What players or teams (offense, defense, special teams) are you expecting big things from this season?
"Our skill players on both sides of the ball. We have some solid skill players back from last season who we expect some big things from this season. Eric Ninomiya (SS/WR), Jordan Todesco (RB/CB), and Matt Brumfield (LB/RB) were all two-way starters as juniors, Ninomiya will be a three year starter. (Woodinville is only a three year high school). Ninomiya plays the game with so much passion and is an outstanding leader on our team. Todesoco is such an electric kid on and off the field. His positive personality is contagious, Brumfield is a very athletic linebacker at nearly 200 pounds. He can cover a lot of ground."

4. "Who, or what, do you see as your main competition next season?"
"In our division it is Bothell. They have a great program and have been in the last two 4A State Championship games. Skyline as well as they are in the other division of our league. I believe they have been the best program in the state at the 3A/4A level with in the last 5 years. Kingco has been very competitive and prepares the teams well when entering the state playoffs."5. "What has been your most defining moment as a head football coach?"
"It probably was in my first year as a head coach. We were picked to finished seventh in the conference and finished third. Our team ended up finishing the season by playing in three games in eight days. We played our last regular season game on a Friday, played a tie breaker game on Tuesday and a playoff game on Saturday. Our team overachieved all season lead by our quarterback. Our QB that season was a kid who no one thought could succeed at much in life. He was a troubled kid who really turned things around in his life. Football was a big part of it and It was so rewarding to see a kid persevere like they way he did. Our QB went from being a kid with no confidence and a label of being a "slacker" and a "troublemaker" To a confident leader who earned the respect of his coaches and classmates. I was very proud of the way this young man turned his life around."

6. "What was the most rewarding event of last season?"
"Our game in the first round of the playoffs where we went down to Vancouver and beat Heritage. Just two weeks before we lost in a self destructing blow out to Skyline. With a confidence blow like that our kids shortly responded by routing a very good Heritage team. Our kids showed a lot of character to be able to come back and perform the way they did."

7. "What is the hardest part of coaching?"
"Managing your time between coaching, teaching, and your family. That's why in other states there are full time coaches who don't teach. Time is the ultimate challenge in the day to run a competitive football program, be a high achieving teacher, and have the ample time to spent with your family."

8. "Who do you consider to be your role model?"
"That would be my wife Lara. I admire her so much. My wife is a teacher and now a stay at home mom. She excels at her passions in life and inspires you to be a better person. I know that I truly am a better person because of her."

9. "What is your favorite hobby outside of sports?"
"Not sure if you call it a hobby but there is no better way for me to spend my time than with my two and a half year old daughter Addison. Addison is a football baby as she was born on a Tuesday in 2005 of the first week of the playoffs. Of course we played five playoff games as we ended up losing in the state championship game. It was all quite a blur! Addison then has become quite a football fan. She yells "Knock 'em Over!" Whenever she sees a football game and signals and yells "Touchdown" when someone scores. She cried just last week when mommy told her that daddy was going to football practice. Not because I was leaving but because she wanted to go to football practice."

10. "Do you have a pre-game routine, and if so, what is it?"
"Nothing too exciting. I like to go home and relax for a little while before our players report. I always drink an Advocare Spark energy drink to help get me focused and if I'm lucky get to eat a few ribs that one our linebacker's dad's cooks up. They are by far the best ribs I have ever had."

Bonus question: "What do you want your players to walk away from your program with?"
"To know that their experience as a Woodinville football player helped make then a better person."