Lake Nona High School Lions welcomes Pat Lee as the new defensive back coach. Growing up in Miami, Pat Lee was always involved in and surrounded by sports. His mother was an Olympic track athlete; in high school, Pat ran track and played basketball and football. Although Pat qualified to run track for the Olympics, his focus at the time was on football.

After receiving several scholarship offers, Pat decided to take his talents from Miami to Auburn University. He says he wasn’t immediately satisfied when he first entered college. He was away from home, and although he wanted to play, he wasn’t necessarily ready to play. This experience taught him a lesson he shares with his students. During the time he wasn’t playing, he was working and training behind closed doors. This was the time that allowed him to know more about the game and prepare his body to excel. Pat says, “Coaches have maybe two hours a day with you, but you won’t become an expert at the game if you don’t go and do the work at home.”

All the hard work paid off. Pat Lee was All-SEC (Southeastern Conference) and a second-round draft pick for the Green Bay Packers. Pat played with Green Bay for four seasons, ultimately playing in Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Very few men enter the NFL, and even fewer have played in and won a Super Bowl. Lake Nona High School football has that type of experience in Pat Lee.

I asked Pat what was his fondest memory. Although he said winning the Super Bowl was amazing, his fondest memory was the 2004 season playing with Auburn. The team was undefeated and won the Southeastern Conference championship. However, due to the BCS ranking, they were denied the BCS National Championship Game. Pat remembers winning the Sugar Bowl and the camaraderie between the players.

Due to injury, Pat’s NFL career was cut short, but Pat’s football career has never ended. Beginning at Auburn, Pat began mentoring a young student and teaching at camps. This opportunity continued in his NFL career. Before joining the Lions, Pat was coaching the Jr. Lions and privately coaching students to get them stronger for the pros. Transitioning to coach the Lake Nona Lions was the next step.

Pat’s hopes for his students are that they learn to work hard on and off the field. He’d love to see them get scholarships and advance in their own journeys. He says he wants them to understand that playing for smaller colleges does not mean your dreams of the NFL are gone. He mentioned Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie going to Tennessee State University, a relatively small school, but being a first-round draft pick at 16th overall.

On the field, Pat’s goals are to create cohesion and camaraderie between the players. By doing so, it will create trust on the field. He’s teaching his players spirited competition and the understanding of being ready when needed. That’s how teams win. The focus is on the future, not the past.

Look for Pat coaching the Lake Nona Lions defensive backs on Sept. 16, Sept. 23, or Sept. 30! Games begin at 7:30 p.m. Go, Lions!