Long Beach Pop Warner coach Louie Silva a light in the darkness

For young kids, playing Pop Waer football is the first step to becoming the next NFL superstar. But long-time Long Beach Pop Waer coach Louie Silva doesn’t see it that way. He sees Pop Waer as a character builder. Over the last few decades, he’s used the game of football as a tool to teach valuable life lessons that have an everlasting impact over his players’ lives.

“Get kids out of trouble, that’s been my concentration,” Silva said about his role as a youth football coach. “If I can get a couple of kids out of the streets and onto the field, I’m going to do it.”

In 1981, Silva was just a parent on the sideline, offering his advice whenever he got the chance to share it. But during the season, he and the coaching staff noticed that the players were drawn to Silva and listened to what he had to say. He was offered a spot on the staff and the following year the parents pushed for him to get a head coaching spot in the league. Long Beach Pop Waer and the game of football in general have changed over the last few decades, but the one constant between the two has always been Silva. Fast forward 35 years and Silva is still with the league, now coaching his grandsons and still making a difference in young players’ lives.

“I love teaching kids,” he said. “Helping as many kids as I can, that’s what I enjoy the best.”

Silva can be seen at high school football stadiums, basketball gyms, and baseball fields all over the city of Long Beach, checking in on his former players. Most recently he was spotted at the 605 All-Star football game, where seven of his former players were selected as participants.

Since he’s been coaching so many different age groups for so many years, there is an enormous amount of players that have descended from the Louie Silva coaching tree. From bright young football stars like former St. Anthony wide-receiver Logan Gamble (Cal signee), to young basketball stars like former Long Beach Poly guard Drew Buggs (Hawaii signee), to current NFL players like former Millikan standout Alden Darby (New Orleans Saints safety), Silva continues to keep in touch with his players and keep a hand in their lives.

“I can’t believe all of the players I’ve coached,” Silva said. “Seeing my players grow up, starting new jobs and starting families, that’s what I enjoy.”

What Silva does best as a coach is spread his attention to every individual player. Instead of preaching to an entire group, he forms a relationship with each of his players individually and pours his heart and soul into the job. Silva is very knowledgeable about the game of football, but if his former players are asked about him, they’ll refer to him as more of a mentor than a coach.

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“(Silva is) like a father figure,” Darby said. “He doesn’t just care about you as a player, he cares about your entire life like you’re his own son.”

“He’s always been by my side,” Gamble said. “He goes out of his way to make each of his kids better football players and better people.”

And yes, wiing is important to Silva, just as it is to every coach. But what’s most important to him is school and life’s big picture. Seeing his kids on the right path toward graduation is on the top of his list.

“I push my players to work hard on the field, but hitting the books is most important,” Silva said. “I preach discipline and having a good attitude so that the kids can represent their city and their families well.”

Silva will do anything for his players. Whether that’s driving them to and from practice, feeding them, or attending their graduations, he’s there to make sure his kids are in good shape.

“Once he’s done coaching you he doesn’t just go away,” Darby said. “Wherever his players are at in Long Beach, he’ll be there for them. Those are his kids, his sons.”

He sets a good example for his players and the entire city of Long Beach and he’s a person that his players can look up to.

“Coach Louie does so much to give back to the community,” Buggs said. “He’s always supportive and is a great all-around person that I want to be like.”

With all of the good work that Silva has done with his players, the one thing that he says was missing from his coaching resume was an Orange Bowl victory. But last year he fulfilled that goal when his Pee Wee team defeated Santa Margarita 18-16 in the championship game to claim the title as the best Pop Waer team in the area.

“It was fun, but all of my former players kept calling and asking how come I never took them to the championship,” Silva said jokingly when asked about the victory. “But I’m proud of all of my groups and I’m proud to see all of them follow through with everything I’ve preached.”