Niwot's Coach Mo featured in new book

In his nearly two decades coaching high school track and field - the past 11 of which having come at Niwot - Maurice Henriques, or as he's affectionately known as Coach Mo, has accrued a good deal of wisdom.

Some of that insight, and perhaps more importantly to Henriques, life insight, will now be shared with the world as he was featured in a recently published book, "30 Days with America's High School Coaches."

Author Martin A. Davis Jr. interviewed many of the country's top high school coaches to learn their stories and philosophies, but as the title mentions, only 30 were featured in the book, which went on sale on Jan. 25. While Henriques said recognition of this sort isn't why he went into coaching, it was still a "humbling" experience.

"The main thing is, I'm more proud about the atmosphere that we have and the platform that you get to reach kids," said Henriques, a former defensive back for the University of Colorado football team and track athlete at CU.

In the book, Coach Mo talked about his experience changing Niwot track and field's culture from a struggling program to a Colorado powerhouse. Henriques took over the head coaching job in 2010 and assumed a program that hadn't yet won a state championship. But in his now decade-plus leading the Cougars, both the boys and girls teams have won multiple state titles, including one for each squad just last season.

Also discussed in the book was Henriques' 18-year experience as a juvenile probation officer and REAL Training, a track and field club that he formed in 2007.

Henriques added that he believes the book can serve well as a tool for fellow coaches working to create a culture that appreciates each individual athlete.

"If we really want to grow the sport and model the philosophy that every kid has value and every kid is important, then you got to set that example," Henriques said.

The longtime Niwot head coach wasn't short to realize that he's a student of his craft as well. He hopes that he can take something away from the other 29 coaches featured in the book and what their philosophies entail.

"I'm actually excited to read what other coaches do to build their program and the different sports and taking different ideas and being able to expand that too," Henriques said.