Gene Strusz, who coached for 32 years and served as an athletic administrator for 39 years at Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Appleton Wis., is sharing many of the lessons he learned during his tenure in a new book titled “Essays on Coaching Athletes – Advice for Athletic Administrator and Coaches of All Sports.”

By Jeff Pederson-Pedal Down Promotions

(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) January 14, 2021 – During a career that spanned 39 years, former athletic administrator and coach Gene Strusz experienced firsthand the bountiful rewards and accompanying challenges of leading student-athletes and a staff of coaches in a high school setting.

After four decades of intense involvement in high school athletics at Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Appleton, Wis., Strusz is sharing the many lessons he learned along the way in his new book “Essays on Coaching Athletes – Advice for Athletic Administrators and Coaches of All Sports.”

Published by Pedal Down Promotions of Manitowoc, Wis, Strusz’s second book is designed to serve as a reference tool for coaches and school athletic administrators.

“During my 39 years as athletic administrator and 32 years of coaching, certain topics, concerns, or buzz words entered the world of athletics,” Strusz said. “I often was called upon to make presentations to coaches, parents, athletes, booster clubs and others connected to school or community athletics. From time to time, I would write an essay to myself so I could digest and clarify my views concerning the issues surrounding athletics. These essays to myself allowed me to be a better coach, administrator and public speaker.

Gene Strusz, who served 39 years as an athletic administrator and coached for 32 years at Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Appleton, Wis., has published his second book “Essays on Coaching Athletes – Advice for Athletic Administrators and Coaches of All Sports” through Pedal Down Promotions of Manitowoc, Wis.

“Being retired and staying home and safe during the COVID-19 restrictions of 2020 allowed me to do something I had wished to do but never had or took the time to do,” he said. “After completing my first book in 2020, ‘Morning Prayers for a Christian School,’ I knew my second book would center on athletics, the world in which I lived my entire life.”

Strusz, whose first book “Morning Prayers for a Christian School” was published in July 2020, says the process of writing a book on his experience as a coach and athletic administrator produced a wealth of ideas and concepts to share.

“Having written many essays to myself and having them stored on my computer, it was easy to create more essays on athletics,” Strusz said. “Within three minutes, I wrote a list of over 30 more topics on which I had experience, views, and/or opinions. Having worked with other athletic administrators, overseen coaches, presented to parent groups, coached athletes and received athletic administration certification, I found that there was almost no limit to the number of essays I could write from experience.”

Strusz wrote “Essays on Coaching Athletes” with the goal of helping the next generation of coaches and athletic administrators navigate the sometimes tricky path to success that lies before them on a daily basis.

“I have witnessed many coaches who improved the longer they coached,” Strusz said. “I passionately believe experience is the best teacher.  As I wrote my essays, I realized how helpful my essays could be to athletic administrators and coaches. It is often said there is nothing new in athletics, we just borrow or steal ideas from others who do the same job as us. I hope readers can steal from me and not need to learn through failure. With too many failures, some coaches do not attain longevity in coaching.”

Beyond the realm of high school athletics, Strusz says the themes of the book are also designed to be of value to parents and coaches of all youth sports, as well as leaders in a variety of different professions.

“Even though my main target audience are coaches and athletic administrators, parents of athletes will also gain insights into the hows and whys of athletics,” Strusz said. “My experience came through my connection to high school athletics, but these essays apply to all levels of athletics, even t-ball and other youth sports. Some of my essays apply to any instructor, teacher, coach, boss, or administrator regardless of their field of work.”

“Essays on Coaching Athletes-Advice for Athletic Administrators and Coaches of All Sports” is now available for purchase for $15.95 at Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or by contacting Gene Strusz directly at gstrusz67@gmail.com.

For more information, contact Pedal Down Promotions via email at pedaldownpromotions@gmail.com, by phone at 920-323-7970 or by visiting www.pedaldownpromo.com.

Former Fox Valley Lutheran High School teacher, administrator and football coach Gene Strusz has released his first book “Morning Prayers for a Christian School.” – Pedal Down Promotions cover image

(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) July 20, 2020 – After spending four decades sharing weekly prayers as a teacher and administrator at a Christian high school, new author Gene Strusz has compiled these prayers as part of a recently released debut book “Morning Prayers for a Christian School.”

Published by Pedal Down Promotions of Manitowoc, Wis, Strusz’s first book is designed to assist Christian school leaders who deliver daily prayers. The prayers are both chronological following the school calendar and topical fulfilling the needs for specific prayers.

During his calling at Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Appleton, Wis., Strusz was assigned to open Wednesday mornings with prayer. Over the years, he rewrote, improved, and reused many of his prayers.When Fox Valley Lutheran’s assistant principal asked Strusz if he could pass along his three-ring binder of mornings prayers upon his retirement, the initial idea to write “Morning Prayers for a Christian School” was born.

“At that time, the prayers had rewrites and scribblings surrounding them,” Strusz said. “They were not ready to be passed on to the assistant principal. Soon after retirement, I began placing my previous written prayers into a book. When I reached the midpoint of writing, I set it aside for a couple of years.

“Recently, while staying home and safe from COVID-19, I was given time to complete this book of prayers,” he said. Strusz is aware of how Christian school teachers and administrators often are required to perform many duties each day, including reading prayers.

“I compiled these prayers into this book to help those responsible for delivering the morning prayer,” Strusz said. “It gives them ready to use prayers based on the truths of Holy Scripture. These prayers were written to an audience of high school students, but most prayers are appropriate for fifth grade and above.

“With a Bible passage and introduction accompanying each prayer, a classroom teacher could use each of these prayers as the basis for developing a brief devotion,” he said. Looking to the future, Strusz is aiming to use the release of “Morning Prayers for a Christian School” as a launching pad for additional book projects.

“Having been a coach and athletic administrator, I have completed a book titled, ‘Essays for Coaching Athletes – Advice for Coaches and Athletic Administrators.’ It will be published in the fall of 2020,” Strusz said.

Gene Strusz, pictured with his wife, Marilyn, has published his first book “Morning Prayers for a Christian School.”

“Morning Prayers for a Christian School” is now available for purchase for $10.99 at Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or by contacting Gene Strusz directly at gstrusz67@gmail.com.“Morning Prayers for a Christian School” is currently available at three bookstores in the Fox Valley area, including St. Patrick’s Gifts and Books, 972 West Northland Ave. in Appleton, The Carpenter, 120 East Main St. in Little Chute and The Book Store, 293 West Northland Ave. in Appleton.

Additional retail outlets where the book can be purchased, as well as book signings and appearances will be announced on the Pedal Down Promotions website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram social media pages in the near future.

For more information, contact Pedal Down Promotions via email at pedaldownpromotions@gmail.com, by phone at 920-323-7970 or by visiting www.pedaldownpromo.com.