In this episode of The Coachers Podcast, Keanu Yamamoto interviews Jim Shapiro, the head football coach at Kings High School in Seattle, Washington. Coach Shapiro shares his journey from a college football player to a successful coach, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, character development, and building champions. He discusses the influence of his mentor, Coach Frosty Westering, and how his coaching philosophy focuses on transformational coaching rather than transactional coaching. Shapiro also delves into the challenges facing modern football, the significance of shared leadership, and the impact of fostering a positive team environment. Throughout the conversation, he highlights the importance of making choices, the power of teamwork, and the role of adversity in shaping young athletes into men.

Coach Jim Shapiro has been the Head Football Coach at King's High School since 1998, marking his 28th season as head coach in 2025 and over three decades with the Knights program. A King's alumnus himself, Coach Shapiro returned to his alma mater in 1994 as an assistant, quickly rising to lead a team that embodies his philosophy: ”building champions”. The Knights have achieved a lot of success both athletically with deep playoff runs and academically being crowned Academic State Champions 11 times. Coach Shapiro's accolades reflect his impact: he's been named Cascade Conference Coach of the Year six times and Washington State Coach of the Year in 2013.

A 1993 graduate of Pacific Lutheran University, Coach Shapiro was a key contributor to PLU's NAIA Division II National Championship team that year and is enshrined in the PLU Hall of Fame.  When not coaching, Coach Shapiro works in fundraising as the Co-Founder of Better Fundraising, which serves over 60 non-profits nationally. Coach is a man of humility and servitude. He and his wife, Wendy, have three children and have answered the call to serve as foster parents for over 24 individuals. On their 25th fostering opportunity, they were blessed to welcome Kai, who became their third child through adoption. This was an impactful conversation with a lot of substance. Thank you Coach Shapiro for your time and insights!

Takeaways

Coaching is about building relationships and character.

Transformational coaching focuses on the individual, not just the game.

Creating a winning culture requires investment in team dynamics.

Shared leadership empowers players and fosters accountability.

Life choices impact both personal and athletic growth.

Foster care can change lives and communities.

Healthy competition drives improvement and engagement.

Greatness is achieved through consistent, small choices.

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