The YMCA is a great place for children to start building connections, develop social skills, confidence, leadership, and fitness through youth and family programming.

This year, we want to profile local community leaders who attribute their success to solid beginnings with the YMCA. Our second community leader is James Dockery, Assistant Athletic Director at Xavier College Prep.

1) Why was the Y so important to you during your youth &/or currently?

They Y was important to me because it let me view sports from the other side. What I mean by this is thinking back to my first experience with the YMCA here in the valley, where I served as a coach during my senior year of High school. It showed me that I could also delegate, lead, and work with kids. Those qualities and that experience was a forecast to what I would eventually do with my life.

2) What lessons did you learn from being involved with the Y that you apply to your life now?

I learned that every kid has something to offer to a team and that teams perform better when there is a true relationship from coach to player. Back at that age it wasn’t about the play design, it was about the kids having fun at practice and enjoying their time together. The Y experience helped instill that in myself and others.

3) A brief Bio of yourself…what makes you so great!

I am James Dockery currently an assistant athletic director art Xavier College Prep. I am a PDHS alum as well as a graduate of Oregon State university (Under grad) and Concordia Irvine (Post Grad). I am small business owner that owns Doc’s barbershop in the palm desert Westfield Mall. After college I played 5 years in the NFL for the browns, panthers, and raiders. I am married to Andreina Dockery and we have two boys, Xander (3) & Reign (1)