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Draft:Willie D. Spears Jr.

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Willie D. Spears, Jr. (born October 20. 1977) is an American motivational speaker, author, coach, licensed minister, and award-winning teacher. He has also worked as a syndicated radio personality and a national columnist.[1] Spears speaks to schools, companies, sports teams, churches, prison inmates, and individuals through his business, The Willie Spears Experience.[2] Excerpts from his speeches have more than one million views on social media.

Early Life

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Spears, born in Panama City, Florida, is the great, great grandson of Jose Massalina, the first black man to settle in Panama City.[3] He is the great grandson of Hawk Massalina who fought in the Civil War for the Union and the Confederacy and lived to be 107 years old.[4][5] Spears has written two children's books about Massalina: Who was Hawk Massalina? (2020) and George and Hawk's Big Adventure (2023).[6]

Spears graduated from Rutherford High School and stayed in his hometown to attend Gulf Coast State College and Florida State University Panama City before transferring to Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU) in Alva, Oklahoma, where he was a starting wide receiver for the NWOSU Rangers football team. He led the Rangers in receptions and was part of a 31-game win-streak. During the 1999 NAIA National Championship, Spears caught a 73-yard pass with less than four minutes to play to seal the win for his team.[7] NWOSU beat Georgetown College 34-26 despite trailing 20-0 at the half. While at Northwestern, Spears was active on campus within the Mass Communication Department and was twice named the Best College Disk Jockey in the State of Oklahoma.[8]

Spears earned a bachelor's degree in communication from NWOSU in 2000 and master's degree in education from Troy University in 2007.[6] In 2008, NWOSU awarded him the Alumni Foundation Outstanding Graduate Award in Education.[9]

Spears' athletic and communication abilities led him to many opportunities following college. He was part of an indoor professional football league for two years in Boise, Idaho, entertained as a comedian on Disney Cruise Line, and was a morning radio personality in his hometown and Rochester, New York.

Teaching and Coaching

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When Spears decided to become a teacher, he failed the certification test 12 times, but went on to work as a teacher, administrator, and coach for 20 years, winning numerous awards for his efforts.[10] He coached at the NCAA Division I and Division II levels, was athletic director at three high schools and head football coach of seven high schools.[1]

His first head football coaching job was at Jefferson County High School in Monticello, Florida where he was named Coach of the Year by for organizations, including the Florida Athletic Coaches Association, Tallahassee Democrat, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and 4quartersonline.com.[8] Spears stayed in Florida and worked as the head football coach for two seasons at Suwannee High School and two seasons at Class 6A Escambia High School, a program that featured star running back Emmett Smith in the 1980s.[11][12]

During two seasons at Escambia, Spears led the Yellow Jackets to a 14-8 record and one district title.[11] Escambia County Schools Superintendent Malcolm Thomas fired Spears in 2014 for his involvement in Florida High School Athletic recruiting violations. Spears was later vindicated of the charges. [12] A few months later, Spears was hired as a morning show host on Blab TV in Pensacola, Florida, with his former boss Thomas offering a positive recommendation. Spears was among 60 people selected for interviews after more than 250 people applied.[13] That same year, the Bay County branch of the National Association of Advancement of Colored People recognized Spears for his accomplishments.[3]

Over the next six years, Spears worked at Florida A&M University, NWOSU, Vernon High School in Florida, and G.W. Carver and Bullock County high schools in Alabama.[14][11][13]

In 2020, Spears coached the inaugural football season for Valiant Cross, a school founded five years earlier with the mission of serving underprivileged and at-risk Black boys in Montgomery, Alabama.[15]

Speaking

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Spears began speaking and offering professional development services part-time in 2006 and focused on this passion full-time beginning in 2020. As founder of The Willie Spears Experience, Spears has added value to organizations such as The Southern Company, State Farm, Allen and Jean Miller Center in Alberta, Canada, and dozens of universities, schools, teams, and churches.

Spears has been featured on CNN, FOX, HBO, ESPN, and several regional television stations.[16] He debated Stephen A. Smith on ESPN and was interviewed for a documentary called "Education in America," a look at high school education in the inner cities.[17][18]

In 2023, Spears traveled to 23 states, spoke to more than 130 groups, and reached millions on social media through his viral videos.[19]

Books

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Spears has written several books include:

Soul Searching (2023) ISBN 9798865351542

Now Hiring (2023) ISBN 9798853010970

George and Hawk's Big Adventure with Big Dreams (2023) ISBN 9798374993639

David's Depression--A Story of Mental Illness (2022) ISBN 9798802640807

Bib or Apron (2021) ISBN 9798542646657

Win at Home (2021) ISBN 9798507604654

Culture Creators (2018) ISBN 9781722607982

Transforming Your Life from Good to Great (2014) ISBN 9781495963155

Who was Hawk Massalina? (2020) ISBN 979-8558812985

Derek's Dilemma (2017) ISBN 1542716470

  1. ^ a b "Lorain High students hear from award-winning coach, teacher Willie Spears". Morning Journal. 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  2. ^ Eagle, Enid News & (2021-03-15). "Motivational speaker to present Willie Spears Experience in Enid, Tonkawa". Enidnews.com. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  3. ^ a b report, News Herald staff. "NAACP to honor Panama City native Willie Spears Sunday". Panama City News Herald. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  4. ^ Simmons, Tony. "Local author Willie Spears' children's book examines the life of Hawk Massalina". Panama City News Herald. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  5. ^ Northwest Regional Library System, Florida (2021-06-23). A Tribute to Hawk Massalina. Retrieved 2024-08-28 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ a b Simmons, Tony. "Local author Willie Spears' children's book examines the life of Hawk Massalina". Panama City News Herald. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  7. ^ Kevin Wiersig (2020-06-12). 1999 NAIA Football National Championship Part#5. Retrieved 2024-08-28 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ a b ExpertFile. "Willie D. Spears Jr. Speaker, Author, Teacher, Coach, Story Teller - Expert with The Willie Spears Experience | ExpertFile". expertfile.com. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  9. ^ "The decisions you make today will determine your life tomorrow". Speakerpedia. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  10. ^ The Culture Shift Podcast (2023-08-20). The Culture Shift Podcast With Motivational Speaker Willie Spears. Retrieved 2024-08-28 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ a b c Sebastianelli, Joel (2017-02-26). "Willie Spears leaves Vernon for Carver". WJHG. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  12. ^ a b Rankin, Duane. "Carver pick Spears tells his version of Escambia firing". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  13. ^ a b Vilona, Bill. "Former Escambia coach Spears thankful for new venture". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  14. ^ [email protected], Jill Holloway (2023-10-05). "Shared testimony leads to athletes joining Team Jesus". Thomasville Times-Enterprise. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  15. ^ Toran, Andre. "The prophecy: Valiant Cross and head coach Willie Spears set to face inaugural season". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  16. ^ ""The 4th Quarter" 3rd Anniversary Podcast Series | Willie Spears | Author | Keynote Speaker |Evangelist|". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  17. ^ Willie Spears (2021-01-14). Willie Spears takes on ESPN's Stephen A Smith on First Take | Willie Spears live talk show |. Retrieved 2024-08-28 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "January 2024". Noube Productions. 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  19. ^ Willie Spears (2024-01-27). Coach Spears talks Coach Prime. Retrieved 2024-08-28 – via YouTube.
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