What makes a high school athletic experience truly special? For West Ottawa Superintendent Tim Bearden, it's that magical Friday night feeling – middle schoolers creating "white noise" in one section, the high school "Black Hole" roaring in another, dozens of cheerleaders, 120 marching band members, football players giving their all, and youth players taking the field at halftime. "You just look around and think, man, this is so cool. This is what it's supposed to be." 

In this thoughtful conversation, Bearden opens up about his lifelong connection to athletics – from his days as a high school golfer and track athlete to becoming a state championship-winning volleyball coach, and eventually a proud sports parent of his kids and watching his daughter Kennedy score the Golden Goal for GVSU in the national championship. 

Along the way, he shares how these experiences shaped his educational philosophy and approach to leadership. Bearden's journey reveals the true power of educational athletics. "Athletics as a platform teaches a lot of valuable lessons – in some ways, lessons that are more memorable and will stick with kids longer than lessons they learn in the classroom," he explains. His personal evolution as a coach mirrors what many parents experience – moving from an intense focus on competition to understanding that "if it's not a fun experience for kids, then we screwed up." 

The conversation explores West Ottawa's commitment to inclusive athletic opportunities through initiatives like Panther Pathways, which removed transportation barriers for elementary students, and how the district's impressive facilities support student pride and participation. Bearden also addresses challenges facing high school sports, including the battle to maintain high school athletic involvement and the importance of preserving multi-sport participation.

Whether you're a coach, parent, educator, or simply someone who values the role of athletics in building character and community, this episode offers valuable perspective on what truly matters in high school sports. Listen now and rediscover why, even decades later, those team experiences remain some of life's most cherished memories.

This episode was recorded on September 23, 2025.