Federal Way Public Schools Alumni of Note
Barry Sacks
Football Coach, University of Nevada Wolf Pack
Federal Way High School
Graduate, Class of 1976
As a student, Barry Sacks was mostly interested in sports. At Federal Way High School, he played football, baseball and basketball. But he still found time for academics.
Today, as a special teams coordinator and defensive ends coach for the University of Nevada Wolf Pack football team, Sacks said he is grateful that he took academics seriously. Mathematics and skills he learned in drama class are especially helpful in his current career.
“In what I do, we deal with numbers unbelievably so – tendencies, percentages,” Sacks said. “What I do in college football is extremely detailed in how we calculate what people are doing. It’s not necessarily a willy nilly thing.”
Sacks recalls that his math teacher at Federal Way had a tremendous impact on him. “He understood the 17, 18–year-old persona and number one was my attention span was no longer than 30 seconds,” Sacks said. “He simplified mathematics for me and broke it down and it helped me a great deal that way. He taught me the love of math… Math is a puzzle and it’s just a matter of putting those pieces together.”
Not only did Sacks learn math from his favorite teacher, he learned lessons about being a good teacher himself. “It’s not how smart we are, it’s how smart our pupils are that’s the measure,” he said.
After graduating from Federal Way in 1976, Sacks went on to study and play as a linebacker at the University of Montana. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation with a minor in Speech and Communications. He then worked as a high school teacher and coached for San Jose State University, Portland State University and Boise State University before setting into his current position at the University of Nevada.
Sacks’ parents still live in Federal Way today and he has fond memories of his time in high school here. He played in the first game ever at the current Memorial Field. He especially enjoyed school dances and participating in drama productions. He laughs when he recalls being lured into drama thinking it would be an easy English credit. He was wrong – it wasn’t easy. But he ended up having a great time and learning valuable communication skills.
Teachers who encouraged him to keep busy with school activities contributed to his success, Sacks said. “Those things are just invaluable. We were just always going and they channeled that energy,” he said. “Extracurricular activities channel the energy of young people in a positive manner rather than a negative manner.”
“What I learned there in high school are things that I carry with me here today,” Sacks said. “I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing or where I’m at today if it hadn’t been for those years I spent there.”