VVHS Football Coach Inducted Into Hall of Fame

By KRISTI TAUSINGA

The Progress

Virgin Valley High School Football Coach, Charlie Jarvis, was recently inducted into the Southern Nevada Coaches Hall of Fame. This momentous occasion took place during the halftime of the UNLV/Hawaii game on Saturday, Nov. 13.

But Coach Jarvis was not in attendance to accept that award. Instead, he was doing what he does best: coaching! Jarvis was in Elko, Nevada that day, helping to lead the Bulldogs to a win in the state semi-finals playoff game. While his wife Sharon and his son Kyler were accepting this prestigious award for him, he was celebrating with his “football family” as the VVHS Bulldogs went on to win the game against the Elko Indians, 23-16.

Jarvis is currently in his 33rd year as a varsity football coach and Special Education Teacher for the Clark County School District.

As a defensive coordinator, he has helped lead teams to over 270 team victories including three state championships. Jarvis has also coached five state championship runners-up, and five region championships.

As a stand-out high school athlete, Coach Jarvis was recruited by UNLV and accepted a full-ride scholarship to play football. After an outstanding four years and a school record for the most interceptions, Jarvis earned All-American Football honors.

Jarvis has coached players who have gone on to play football in college and the NFL. He’s coached kids who are now coaches all over the country at every level, including the NFL.

Coach Jarvis was honored last week at a VVHS Tailgate and Pep Rally held on the night before the State Championship game. In some brief remarks, he thanked the team, the school and community for their continued support.

“I have been very fortunate to have amazing support from family, fellow coaches and friends who have always been there to encourage me and our teams throughout the years,” Jarvis said.

In an interview with The Progress, Jarvis said that many life lessons can be learned from the game of football.
“Things don’t always go your way and you must get up, dust yourself off and move on to the next play or the next day,” he said. “The hope is that the lessons learned through athletics teaches values like discipline, dedication, work ethic, respect and teamwork that will benefit kids throughout their lives.”

“We all experience adversity and challenging times in our lives that are beyond our control,” Jarvis added. “But we do have the choice of how we respond during those challenging situations and to remain positive, keep the faith, work hard, be grateful and know that the best is yet to come.”

Jarvis’ wife Sharon shared insights that had kept her husband going even when times were discouraging. The insights focused on the importance of the work that Coach Jarvis was doing with local kids.

“When you make a difference for a kid, you make a difference for a parent,” Sharon said. “When you make a difference for a parent, you make a difference for a family. When you make a difference for a family, you make a difference for a community. When you make a difference for a community, you make a difference for towns, cities, states and the entire country!”