By Justin Damasiewicz
If you want to know what high school sports is all about, watch an Aberdeen High School boys basketball game. You will see third-year head coach Leonard Barnes pacing up and down the sideline, shouting instructions and calling plays. From the Bobcat players, you will see hustle, intensity, tough defense, and boys with floor burns on their elbows from diving after loose balls.
There is an easily noticeable theme in Barnes’ coaching style. He preaches hard work, effort, passion, can-do attitude, teamwork and character. He teaches his players that there is more to life than basketball, but Barnes believes that youth sports can help young people build a foundation of life skills.
“I love working with kids,” Barnes said. “To me it’s all about giving back and helping them, in the big picture, learn some of the skill sets that will make them successful in life. Words I use with my kids are, ‘hard work, effort, passion and character.’ (Sports is) like life. What you put into it is what you’re going to get out of it. There’s never a perfect day. It’s what you make of it. I just really have a passion for trying to make a difference in kids’ lives.”
Barnes coaches with an emphasis on encouragement and positive reinforcement. Players are often given hugs and high-fives during time outs and when they sub out of the game.
“A lot of times they don’t get support or help,” Barnes said. “It’s always the negative. ‘Why are you failing? Why are you doing this? You can’t make a basket. You can’t catch a pass.’ You have to believe in yourself and you have to learn from your mistakes and move forward. I’m all about positive reinforcement.”
Leonard recalls having great coaches as a young athlete, and wants his players to get just as much out of basketball as he did. He feels a responsibility to give back to the game. Barnes remembers his playing days very fondly and wants his players to have “special moments” that they can remember as well. Earlier this season, the Bobcats had such a moment.
“On the bus, the kids were not feeling great about the loss (to Chehalis),” Barnes said. “We got back to Aberdeen High School at 11:00. I got up and turned around and told them, ‘I want to thank each and every one of you personally for your commitment to your school and your teammates. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be your coach and lead your program. Believe in yourself and continue this work ethic because there’s more to life than just basketball.’ I shook hands with each of them as they got off the bus.”
Aberdeen struggled in Barnes’ first two seasons at the helm (3-21 in league play, 12-28 overall), and is off to a bit of a rocky start this season as well. Although he describes himself as “ultra competitive,” Barnes is able to find satisfaction in his job even when the team is not winning.
“Everybody wants to go to 20-0 and win the state title. I’ve been there as a coach and a player, collegiately and in high school,” Barnes said. “You have to get the other skill sets right. Believe in yourself. Have the right work ethic. Believe that you’re going to be the best at what you do.”
In addition to the usual “study tables” that players can attend at the school, Leonard and his wife, Kris, lead study sessions twice each week so players can get additional help with their homework. Kris also takes players to the library, loans them her laptop and does anything else she can to help. Leonard noted that sometimes former players who have since graduated will come back and help tutor the team’s current players.
Barnes attended East Bremerton High School. As a player, his high school team won the state title twice. He then moved on to play collegiately at Grays Harbor College, where his team made it to the Northwest Association of Community Colleges Tournament twice.
When he is not coaching basketball, Barnes makes his living as the Deputy Executive Director at the Port of Grays Harbor. He balances his work and family life by making his family a part of his basketball life.
Leonard’s son, Brandon, is an assistant coach on Leonard’s staff and the coach of Aberdeen’s boys junior varsity team. Leonard’s other son, Dominic, helps with off-season practices, and also regularly attends games to support the team. Kris is also heavily involved in many capacities. She can be found keeping stats, working at the concession stand and assisting in just about any way she can.
“It is a family affair,” Barnes said. “Both of my boys are heavily involved. Our kids love athletics and they get that there is a real reward coming from athletics into your life. You have to put it all together with your family. I’ve been married 35 years. I’m really proud of that.”
The philosophy that Barnes employs may lead to winning basketball for Aberdeen over the next few years. It will, however, help build the character of the student athletes in the program, and help them reach their highest potential. For Leonard, that is what matters most.
