When the school day begins, Ben Spencer is surrounded by laughter and bouncing dodgeballs, patiently teaching elementary students fundamental skills. By the afternoon, under the bright lights of the PHS gym, he coaches his high school athletes to victory. Although his days are split between different worlds, Ben Spencer’s enthusiasm and love for his athletes explains why he is such a successful coach.
At Beach Elementary School, Spencer teaches his PE class the basics of sports, keeping activities simple and fun.
“If the kids aren’t having fun, they aren’t going to continue to play and enjoy it. ” Spencer said.
This is Spencer’s first year teaching PE. However, PE teacher Chad Hamilton said he has been teaching at the elementary level for 10 years.
“He is quickly learning the elementary school PE curriculum and putting his own spin on it, drawing on his experience playing and coaching basketball and working in summer camps,” Hamilton said.
Spencer said his basketball knowledge integrates into his time at Beach Elementary.
“For younger athletes, it’s a lot of skill development, like learning how to shoot and pass,” Spencer said. “In the classroom there’s a lot of scaffolding, it’s not just jumping in and doing multiplication. You have to build your way up. Basketball is the same way.”
Being both an elementary school teacher and a high school basketball coach, Spencer has watched some of his athletes grow for the past decade.
“Watching them grow and become leaders and role models has been really exciting to see,” Spencer said.
With his high school athletes, Spencer said he still prioritizes having fun, but devotes more time on strategy and game development.
“I’ve known Ben for a really long time, so he knows who I am and expects a lot from me,” said varsity basketball captain senior Dillon Casey.
Casey said he had Spencer as a 4th grade teacher at Beach Elementary, and said knowing him for this long has shaped their relationship.
“I think Ben is a very straightforward coach,” Casey said. “He’s not afraid to tell it how it is and actually coach you.”
Casey said that in addition to focusing on player feedback, Spencer is known for his passion and dedication to high school basketball.
“The biggest thing I’ve noticed is how passionate Ben is, he stays up for hours looking at film, texting after games, and is overall a great person,” Casey said.
Casey said outside of basketball, Spencer encourages the team to be good people.
“As players on his team, we reflect him and who he is, so we take on that responsibility,” Casey said.
Hamilton said through balancing coaching high school basketball and teaching PE, Spencer has earned the respect of staff and students at both Beach Elementary and at PHS.
“It’s impressive to see him go from teaching kindergarteners early in the day to coaching high-stakes high school basketball games later that same day, all while maintaining the right level of intensity for every one of his students and players,” Hamilton said.
In elementary school and at the high school level, Spencer said he wants his players to enjoy their sport and be passionate about what they do.
“I hope my athletes take away that whatever they do, they have to give 100% effort,” Spencer said. “I want them to be passionate about it and really enjoy it, especially in sports.”
