The Redmonds of Agoura High School

Three talented members of the same family have been an integral part of ’s athletic program for the better part of a decade. And each member has received awards and accolades to prove their worth to the community.

Chance Redmond, a physical education teacher and head varsity softball coach, has been part of the Charger family for the past eight years. He has dedicated the majority of his time focused on improving his students’ health and coordination and making their high school experience as memorable as he possibly can. When school ends, Redmond said he uses the remainder of his afternoons polishing and improving the skills of his softball players.

Redmond has been coaching softball at the high school for six years and has also coached football for eight. "I am a big believer in teaching and promoting the factors of the game that also overlap into everyday life,” he said. For example, we stress effort, attitude and accountability in the softball program is. These values are factors over which the player have complete control. They determine what type of effort they will put in, what their attitude is like and if they are being accountable to both the team and themselves, he said.

“Positive reinforcement is a much better motivator and teaching model then being negative,” he said. “Everyone likes to hear they did a good job when they do something well. I feel it is important to develop a bond with each player. Every player is different and every player is motivated differently."

Redmond's accolades while at Agoura, include bringing his team to the CIF playoffs in 2008 for only the second time in the school’s history since joining the Marmonte League and being named a member of the Marmonte Coaching staff of the year.

Brock Redmond, younger brother of Chance, has been coach of the Girls Varsity Volleyball at the high school for the past four years and has coached for a total of 11 years. He spent two years in Europe coaching the high performance volleyball team and said he lives by the philosophy of "practicing the way you want to play." Redmond uses high reps and high intensity in his practices and varies the drills to accommodate to each player's strengths and abilities.

"My short term goals as a coach are to help all my players become the best they can be on the court and to be the best person they can be off the court,” he said. “I hope to teach life lessons that the kids can take with them and pass along to the kids they may coach one day."

Redmond was Marmonte League Coach of the Year last year and said he strives to repeat this year with his perseverance and dedication to the team. “Every play is a learning experience and a chance to improve. If you set your goals high and work hard, you will achieve greatness," he said.

Jackie Wessely, soon to be Jackie Redmond (marrying sibling Brice Redmond), is beginning her second year as the dance teacher for the high school. She has been teaching dance for ten years and has been a dancer since she was two. Although Jackie has yet to receive any awards as a teacher, she has been awarded scholarships and awards as a performer, including the Most Outstanding Graduate in Dance from Loyola Marymount University.

"As a teacher I am awarded or rewarded by the growth and development I see in my students as they continue to learn about dance" stated Wessely.

Wessely doesn't expect perfection in her classes but does expect effort and hard work. Her philosophy consists of her students learning about dance in a safe and fun environment and not worrying about whether or not they look funny or silly as they attempt to learn choreography, she said. Her goals include increasing the interest level among students for the class, especially boys. Also to create one cohesive dance program that can be seen in many of the surrounding high schools today, she said.

For almost a decade, a Redmond has been at Agoura High school, guiding and coaching the future. Other than the obvious similarities, they all are dedicated mentors who love what they do and strive to make each student and athlete better in some way.