By Patric Hedlund

Jarudd Prosser may be a jock, but circumstances have also created of him a thoughtful man.

"It is a death that touched a lot more than our family, because of the circumstances," he recalls of the events surrounding the loss of his older brother, Cody Prosser, who was one of the first American soldiers to die in Afghanistan following America’s initial military response to the September 11, 2001 attack on the Twin Towers in New York City.

Prosser spoke in an interview just after conducting the football team’s first week of summer training as Frazier Mountain High School’s new varsity coach.

Just months ago he received his bachelors degree from Sonoma State University, but he served as a volunteer coach at FMHS while attending College of the Canyons for three years. In 2001 and 2002 he was varsity baseball coach and coached offensive and defensive line for football. "I took classes in the morning at COC and worked as an aide at FMHS, then coached after school. For the last year, in 2003, I was JV head coach.

"I was pretty young to start coaching, but as I got more involved, I liked it more and more. About two years ago I decided exactly what I wanted to do."

He grew up in Lockwood Valley. The family had five acres, near Adams Trail. "My dad was a retired L.A. City fireman. He built the house. We had horses, cows, chickens, geese, peacocks and pigs for the first ten years. We collected eggs from the chickens. Our parents had a welding shop and my mom had a beauty salon called Juliana’s Place. We sold eggs there.

"I was in charge of the kitchen garden, but after we got rid of most the animals, I rode dirt bikes more than I rode horses.

"My older sister was a good athlete. Three brothers were involved in sports too. I’m the youngest. I was in AYSO and FMLL, so athletics were always a big part of my life.

"The thing that I feel separates FMHS from other schools is that there is a powerful work ethic here. That is good to have for a coach- much better than having a few ‘A’ type superstars who don’t have a work ethic. Here, even our really great athletes are very willing to work."

He stops for a moment to think again about what he dreamed of when he was a boy, and what he has learned from the loss of his brother.

"Cody was the nearest to me in age," he said. "When my brother died it made all of us much closer. I drew a lot of strength from my parents.

"I have pictures of the [Cody Prosser Memorial in Frazier Mountain Park]. I go over sometimes. It is a death that touched a lot more people than our family, because of the circumstances.

"When a death happens like that, it makes you want to spend quality time with your family. I try not to be stressed out about things that in the long run do not carry long-lasting importance.

"Losing him made me re-evaluate my priorities and the way I spent my time. We can get focused on making money and lose sight of what is really most valuable. Our time together is short in the grand scheme of things.

"Any coach will tell you that the profession is not about money, it is about relationships and having an impact on the people you interact with."

See related story "Jarudd Prosser Named New Football Coach: Homecoming"

This is part of the July 06, 2007 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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