Grace-CSAS Rivalry Doesn't Affect Coaching Friendship
Monday, March 8th, 2010Article by: Rick Nyman / WDEF TV Sports
(A link to the actual footage shown on TV 12 may be found by selecting "More Info" in the header, click on "Links", then scroll down to the link with this same title.)
Grace Academy and CSAS have played four times this season, including last Thursday's match-up for a region title. While the two schools are rivals, there's no rivalry what-so-ever between the head coaches.
Jon Mattheiss and Mark Dragoo became BFF's in high school at Tennessee Temple.
Said Mattheiss,"Probably from the first time we met, we've been like brothers ever since."
Basketball wasn't their only interest. As teenage boys, they liked cars and girls.
Said Dragoo,"Well, we used to go on double and triple dates all the time. Jon was going with a different girl each time, I remember that. I said to my wife Julie. Who's Jon going to take this time. Jon had lots of girlfriends back then. Jon's Dad used to sell cars on the side. Jon used to have these great cars. One time he had this Trans-Am, blue Trans-Am." Jon-"It was a Pontiac Firebird." Said Dragoo-"Okay. Close enough. It would
get like 8 miles a gallon. We just had to see how much money we had and how far we could drive."
When Mark got married, Jon was there to witness one of Mark's most embarrassing moments.
Said Dragoo,"I got put in jail on my wedding. I hope Jon had nothing to do with that. One of our other friends had the East Ridge police come and say here, sit in this car so I can get a good picture. So I said sure. I sat down. They closed the door, and they took me to the drunk tank. I was gone until they called back to the church.
My great grandmother, who was 85-years-old, was getting ready to leave. You better bring him back right now. I hope you didn't have anything to do with that."
Jon-"I didn't have anything to do with that."
Mark and Jon's friendship continued to grow as they worked together as assistants at Brainerd Baptist.
"Mark and I's relationship has overflowed into our whole families. Our parents know each other. His Mom and Dad treat me like I'm a son. My Mom and Dad do the same thing for him."
Both left Brainerd Baptist at the same time. Mark went to be the head coach at CSAS, while Jon went to be the head coach at Grace Academy. Now, they've been coaching against each other for nearly 20 years.
Said Mattheiss,"One of the things that is difficult is when you get in the playoffs, and people call you wanting information on the other team. But we don't trade tapes with people. I'll say to people, he's like my brother. We were in each other's weddings. We went to high school together. I said, you can call somebody else.
I just can't give you tapes on Arts and Sciences."
But what we wouldn't give to have a friend for life.
Said Mattheiss,"Our Christian faith, our relationship to the Lord is the same. There are so many things that tied us together. Looking back, you didn't how much you appreciated it at the time. But you look back now, and you say, wow. We were blessed."
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