BILL COURTNEY: When I graduated from college, I planned on getting my doctorate. So, I taught school and coached football for a living while going to school. I got married during this time and started having children and my income as a teacher and coach wasn’t enough to support my family, so I had to give up the profession to pursue greater income. That however, didn’t change my love for coaching and teaching, and even as I was working my way up professionally, I continued to coach as a non-faculty coach and youth volunteer coach at numbers of different places and in different sports. Then, I started my company, Classic American Hardwoods, in 2001 and the demands of the startup took me out of coaching all together for a couple of years. In 2003, Jim Tipton, a friend and employee of my company started volunteering at Manassas High because he wanted to give back and it was only a mile away from CAH so it was convenient. He told me about the 17 kids they had at that time for a Varsity football team and told me about how bad they were, but also told me that they had some athletes and potential and asked me if I wanted to help out at spring practice. It sounded fun so I said sure and went over there for a two week spring practice. What I found was abject poverty, a group of kids who knew nothing about football, and despite this, an unbelievable willingness to try and an insatiable appetite for anything positive. I fell in love and that is what turned into a 6 ½ year stint at Manassas.

DR: When the producers wanted to film you and your team, were you hesitant at all?

BC:  Not really. We had some success and with that came some notoriety and press long before Rich Middlemas (Producer of Undefeated) ever called us. So, in some way we (the coaches and the kids) were accustomed to eyes on us. Also, you have to understand, it wasn’t like this was some big production with sets, lights, sound, trucks, and a bunch of people running around. It was 2 guys with a couple of small cameras. So, not only was it no big deal, we expected no one would ever see the thing besides us. It really wasn’t like we were making an Academy award winning film, rather some unknown thing that you might catch on channel 234 at 3:30 AM some Wednesday when there was absolutely nothing else to put on TV.

DR: You emphasized to your players that they need to continue their education. How many have gone on to higher education?

BC: Our last two years, we had 36 players graduate and 35 went to college.

DR: Have you been able to stay in contact with the players since they graduated?

BC: Of course. A two hour movie doesn’t allow enough time to chronicle the lives of 18 seniors. It doesn’t allow enough time to chronicle the lives of all the kids that played for us over a six year period. But, trust me; there is a story under every helmet and a relationship with each. So, not only do we keep up with the three kids that you get to know through Undefeated, but there are so many other amazing kids that you know nothing about that we also still keep up with. The football season ending doesn’t end the relationships that the coaches and kids had because those relationships were so much deeper than just football.

DR: How has coaching this amazing team change your life personally?

BC: It really hasn’t changed who we are. Obviously, the notoriety has changed eating dinner out. I am writing a book, speaking all over the country, considering some TV stuff and its fun and we should allow ourselves to enjoy it. Also, it gives me a broader stage to say some things to and about our society that I think need to be said and I am grateful for that opportunity. But, let’s be real. There are awesome people all over this country doing amazing things – the only difference in them and me is that my story got told. So, fundamentally, we don’t need to take ourselves too seriously and recognize that this has given us a louder, broader voice, but we are who we are before this all started and if we allow ourselves to think this makes us something bigger, then all the fundamentals that we say we espouse to are false and then we are hypocritical and stupid.

DR: How did you feel when you heard that Undefeated won the Oscar for Best Documentary?

BC: Incredulous. I was sitting in that place thinking how cool it was that we were even able to get this far. When we were walking the red carpet with Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs (Executive Producer), I was also thinking what the hell am I doing here? This wasn’t some political or social statement making film that you would expect Hollywood to really support. Candidly, you would expect some global warming, environmental, socially flammable, societally impactful documentary to grab the attention of Hollywood. Certainly, this story about a bunch of men coaching a bunch of inner city kids in football sounds cliché’ and outside the interest of the Academy. But, there I was standing next to George Clooney being interviewed by Ryan Seacrest with Sean – CRAZY. However, the fact that it did win makes me so very proud because it communicates that we as people are still drawn to the tales of humanity, decency, love, commitment, character, and success in the face of adversity. To me, the win was a testament to the endurance of the story of common people doing uncommon things and the truth that these stories still tug at our heart and trump what the media, pop society, and politics tell us we are supposed to care about.

DR: What are you doing nowadays? Are you still working at your lumber company?

BC:  Of course. I have 120 employees and a business to run. I have four kids and a wife to support. I am who I am. I am a husband, father, lumberman, and coach. So, I am the same guy and do the same things that I always did. The only difference is that I have added author, public speaker, and personality to the list, but the last three come way after the first 4.

DR: Do you miss coaching at Manassas?

BC: Yes – I miss it every day. I hope I can do it again there or somewhere like there again once my kids move on to college. Other than my marriage and fatherhood, those kids allowing me into their lives has been the most rewarding experience of my life.

DR: Do you have any words of wisdom to all our readers out there?

BC: Always Compete. Always lead by first serving. Get out of your comfort zone, because change will never happen from the comfort of your sofa. Live a life of love. Walk a walk of honor. Respect your country and all of its leaders regardless of political persuasion. Vote. Forgive, but never forget. Understand that the only thing that can never be taken from you by another person is your word. Dream. Understand that American exceptionalism is based on exceptional Americans and we still are. Give for the sake of another. Recognize that what we do for ourselves in this life will die with us, but what we do for another will live forever. And finally, there is no finish line.

We like to thank Coach Bill Courtney for the interview. If you have not seen Undefeated, I HIGHLY recommend it. Own Undefeated on DVD & Blu-Ray TODAY!