High School Coaches Combine Racing and Football to Help Students On and Off the Field

CHARLOTTE, NC — It is no secret many high school assistant coaches have other jobs. But for two coaches at East Mecklenburg high school, their jobs off the field are a bit outside the box.

Early mornings in the gym, two a day practices, moving around constantly. This may sound like the life of a high school athlete, but it also describes the weekly schedule of two Eagles assistant coaches, who spend Friday nights under the lights, and their weekends on pit road.

Dante Johnson is a tire changer for GMS Racing on the NASCAR Craftsman truck series, where he works on the #43 Daniel Dye Truck. He also works for Ryan Sieg Racing on the #38 car driven by Joe Graf Jr.

Johnson was recruited out of college upon graduation, not to the gridiron, but instead the oval. Where his ability to switch directions on a dime comes in handy.

“Because of how we move and how fast and urgent we can get things done and not only that just the ability to adjust to certain situations on pit road. If one person makes a mistake it really like messes up the whole stop so it really translates from football to the pit crew,” said Johnson, who was a wide receiver for the University of Miami and is now the defensive backs coach for East Mecklenburg High School.

Johnson was brought on to the coaching staff by a teammate at GMS Racing, Alpha Lamin. Lamin is a veteran jackman, working with #23 Grant Enfinger on the Craftsman Truck Series, for #25 Brett Moffitt on the Xfinity Series, and for #84 Jimmie Johnson occasionally on the Cup series. Lamin is also fellow former college athlete, as he played at UNC-Pembroke. He is a defensive oriented coach who fits into the role of captain on the pit crew well.

“Before my stops I am looking at everybody. Communicating, making sure everything is going good. Cause when something goes wrong, first thing everyone is looking at is the jack man,” said Lamin, the defensive line coach at East Meck.

But Lamin is a coach first and foremost. One is a passion, one is a paycheck. Both coaches want to open their players eyes to what is out there.

“These kids in high school think ‘Oh I gotta play college football, Oh I gotta do this, I gotta do this.’ Well you can actually go to a local NASCAR team and tell ’em ‘Hey can you teach me and come out there to a practice”, and they’ll let you come out there to a practice,” said Lamin.

“I mean somebody could see me on pit road and be like I wanna be that guy,” said Johnson.

“They have actually helped develop that whole working together mentality. I mean that is what they do in NASCAR and just from bringing those guys in I started learning more-so how working together helps to build the whole program,” said Lennie Sanders, Head Football Coach at East Meck High School.High School Coaches Combine Racing and Football to Help Students On and Off the Field