For the love of the coach

By ERNEST HOOPER
Published December 9, 2005

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Faith, family and football.

For 241/2 years, that's been the rule of order in the Callahan household . Sean puts in long hours as the head coach of the successful Armwood High football program, while Anna Marie works in management for T-Mobile in Tampa. They have three kids. Still, they have maintained balance by never forgetting the fundamental values that drew them together when they were students at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

Over morning bagels and coffee, I talked to the first lady of Armwood football about her hopes for a third state title and the stress that comes from relying on a group of unpredictable teenagers to provide joy.

Pull up a chair and join us.

How do you juggle the demands of this job with being the wife of a football coach who is putting in untold hours at the school?

I guess the main thing is being very organized. I have to work myself up because it's kind of like I'm the Lone Ranger. I kind of have to take care of everything with the family and everything that goes on with the house. It's just being organized, and I've done it for so many years. I've gone to Friday night games forever, even when the kids were small. Only them being sick would keep me home.

Have you always loved football, or did you grow to love it?

I kind of grew to love it because he really shares the game with me. He's very knowledgeable on it and he educated me. It's more fun to watch because you understand the game.

Are you at the point now where you're giving him advice, drawing up plays?

I'm not to that expertise level, but I do ask him before the game what should I watch for, what are their strengths, what are their weaknesses. He'll give me insight into a trick play he might run.

Is it difficult having family meals during the week?

Normally, I try to schedule dinner a little bit later. We're eating at 7:30 and he might come in later and jump in. Or the microwave always works well. The other thing I always plan is to not ask him anything. I don't ask him questions that will take his focus away from football. I leave him his space.

How did you guys meet?

We met at Slippery Rock College. We have totally different career paths. I was in math and computer science, and he was in PE, teaching and coaching. We just happened to fall into this English class at the tail end of our college career. I saw him in the classroom, and I went over and sat right in front of him and started talking to him.

It sounds like it was love at first sight.

Yeah it was. (Laughs.) Opposites attract. We were totally different in our career paths, but our family upbringings are very similar. We both had the same ideas as to how to raise a family and things like that. We really connect even though we do totally different things in work. Our values and morals are exactly the same.

In his fifth year, the team went 2-8. What did you do to help him when he wasn't winning?

It wasn't always roses and perfect like it is now. At those times, I was just constantly encouraging and being positive. But he's that way anyway. He just kept on trying and moving forward with little steps. Even in those times, he was really not that bad to live with. Everybody thinks when he loses, he's just horrible.

That's what you hear about coaches.

But he's not. He really tries to leave it at the school, and I think it's because we have such a good family life at home. That's kind of been the process. No matter how bad it was at work, he really enjoys his family and his kids. That was always a positive. I think if you had both of those being a bad situation, it would really be depressing.

It must be something that a part of your joy is determined by some teenager trying to kick a 47-yard field goal.

It's crazy, isn't it? That's what Sean always says: his career is based on these young kids who really don't always realize what an important part it is of his life and happiness. But you can always look at it as building the character of the kids. It's such a good program to help kids who are swaying away from that structure. You can get a good feeling even if you're not winning on the field. There are a lot of positives.

DESSERT: A postscript from Ernest

The Callahans have attended St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church since it first began in a store front, and Anna Marie says faith is a critical part of what's brought the family together. Although the family has blossomed in Seffner, Sean may get offers from other schools if he wins a third title. Says Anna Marie: "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, depending on what transpires." Eventually, the Callahans would like to retire to a beachfront home, but Anna Marie says sports would still be a big part of their lives.