KYLA Graduates Hear About Leadership From Warsaw Coach
May 8, 2025 at 9:01 p.m.
NORTH WEBSTER — What does being a coach have to do with Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy (KYLA) and leadership?
Warsaw girls basketball coach Lenny Krebs explained the connection during the 32nd annual KYLA graduation Wednesday at The Owl's Nest, North Webster. He also shared his journey in coaching and overcoming obstacles.
“You can't be a tour guide for places you've never been,” he stated.
“Besides dad, husband, coach is the word I hear the most,” said Krebs. He shared the definition of coach — a fine carriage to transport an important person where they want to go. “As a leader you are becoming coaches, helping people where they want to go and be.”
He asked the question, “Which describes your leadership style, a lifeguard or a police officer?”
He went over points of leadership detailing areas including: You cannot see the label from inside the bottle, striving to have dirty shoulders on a daily basis, having a sheepdog mentality, finding what your looking for and communicating.
Elaborating in each of the areas, Krebs talked about taking time to ask questions of people — do they like to be led or coached by you? What is it like to coach or lead you? Work for you? Be honest with you? He noted leaders need to let others stand on their shoulders to look good, also called positional leadership. “Sometimes you need to lead from the front. Sometimes from behind. Other times to walk beside when they need someone to walk with them …”
He used the cartoon image of the sheepdog and coyote from his youth. He noted how people respond when the coyote is expected to show up, but what is the response when you don't know? Seether, rager and brooder were three examples of reactions to the unexpected. But he encouraged the youth to be zen-masters and handle hard better.
Krebs used the example a golf ball, which was originally smooth, until it was learned that dents made the ball go farther. “The more dents you have the farther you are going to go." A bamboo plant was also used, noting it takes three years of watering before the seed starts to sprout and break the surface, growing 90 feet in 60 days, he said, “If you don't see results just keep watering.”
Warsaw girls basketball coach Lenny Krebs was the keynote speaker at Wednesday’s Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy graduation. Photo by Deb Patterson, InkFreeNewsAnother example was conflict. “Conflict is inevitable,” he said, referencing obstacles and barriers. “An obstacle is a temporary setback. A barrier is permanent.” He stated it will depend on the attitude. “It's not going to get easier. … If you are looking for the good you will find it. If you are looking for the bad you're going to find it. Find what you're looking for and be determined to find the best."
On communication, he shared some of the acronyms he uses in coaching: NITE — name, information, tone and eye contact, when talking to someone and REPS — reminders, encouragement, praise, sugar or salt. “Don't strive to be the most important person, be interested in others. Leadership is all about connection.”
With that, he referenced Legos, where to create you connect piece by piece. He explained by stating how you know you are connected with people and becoming the leader you are called to be is “when people are willing to run through the wall for you.”
When sharing his obstacles in life, Krebs was also sharing about life. He was born with profound hearing loss. Five years ago he had a cochlear implant.
Krebs stated he was born with an 80-90% hearing loss that was not discovered until he was in the third grade, which was because “I learned to read lips so well.” His first hearing aids were in the third grade and he was able to hear the telephone ring for the first time.
He joked about taking spelling tests, which were a struggle. “I had to guess what the teacher was saying,” he laughed. “It was real. One of the things I learned at an early age, you're going to fail. That's OK.”
He found his identity in playing basketball. He also noted that he could have had a scribe come in and take notes for him in class. His hearing loss “was not an excuse. I had to find a way to overcome.”
He received a full basketball ride to Illinois Valley and Grace College where he began starting, figuring out how he became No. 3 in the nation in free throws his freshman year and No. 1 his sophomore year. “When I was at the line to shoot, I turned my hearing aid off and shot in quiet,” he said, which brought laughs from all present. He did the same his sophomore year.
“Every negative situation created a positive opportunity. You just had to find it,” he said.
He presented each KYLA graduate with a bamboo stick, a golf ball, a Lego keychain and a personally handwritten note of encouragement, to reflect all he had shared.
The 32 students who participate in KYLA work in groups on community projects. These projects, titled Project Proud, are presented at the culmination of the program with two of the eight projects presented at the graduation banquet.
Pop Up For A Purpose and Bed Build with Sleep In Heavenly Peace were the two projects presented.
Pop Up For A Purpose was a collection of items Cardinal Services clients could use. They collected 1,804 different items — clothing, hygiene items, art supplies and games. Because an abundance was collected, the items were also shared with Fellowship Missions and Gateway Education, Warsaw.
Bed Build with Sleep In Heavenly Peace was a program where they partnered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to raise funds to build 20 beds and gather a group to build the beds. While construction of the beds has been completed, the team will be working in the near future to stain the head and foot boards and deliver the beds.
Other projects included:
Project Pillows and Promises — Items were purchased for care baskets and tie pillows made for clients at Fellowship Missions.
Cause for Paws — Supplies purchased and dog treats made for the Marshall County Humane Society.
Youth Mentoring — Tutoring and mentoring grade school and middle school students.
Joe's Kids Donation Drive — Collected funds and supplies for Joe's Kids clients to use for at home therapy.
Hope and Hygiene Drive — Created hygiene packets.
Kate's Kart Drive — Raise funds for the purchase of books to give to children in the hospital through Kate's Kart.
Carl Lauster, KYLA president, stated in the last 32 years there have been 250 projects done by KYLA students and 800 students past and present participating. He mentioned the various areas the students undertook as projects.
“You choose in order to come here ... you choose to be a part of something that was bigger than yourself. You choose to be a part of this program, which promises to give back to your community. Learning leadership through community service … you learned that leadership isn't about titles, not about wealth or power, it's about influence, integrity and impact. … end of the day what remains is how you treated people ...”
Chris McKeand, KYLA moderator, closed the evening after the diplomas were presented, by stating he learned a lot over the year. “I walked away with information from the interactions I learned … They taught me something."
Each year a graduating KYLA student is named to serve one year on the board. This year's student is Jackson Barros.
KYLA is a nonprofit organization that provides an opportunity for high school juniors in Kosciusko County to learn about leadership and become informed about the community they live in.
Applications are being accepted for next year’s class. Current high school sophomores are eligible to apply. The online application, as well as additional information about KYLA, can be found at kosciuskoyouthleadership.org. The application deadline is May 20.
NORTH WEBSTER — What does being a coach have to do with Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy (KYLA) and leadership?
Warsaw girls basketball coach Lenny Krebs explained the connection during the 32nd annual KYLA graduation Wednesday at The Owl's Nest, North Webster. He also shared his journey in coaching and overcoming obstacles.
“You can't be a tour guide for places you've never been,” he stated.
“Besides dad, husband, coach is the word I hear the most,” said Krebs. He shared the definition of coach — a fine carriage to transport an important person where they want to go. “As a leader you are becoming coaches, helping people where they want to go and be.”
He asked the question, “Which describes your leadership style, a lifeguard or a police officer?”
He went over points of leadership detailing areas including: You cannot see the label from inside the bottle, striving to have dirty shoulders on a daily basis, having a sheepdog mentality, finding what your looking for and communicating.
Elaborating in each of the areas, Krebs talked about taking time to ask questions of people — do they like to be led or coached by you? What is it like to coach or lead you? Work for you? Be honest with you? He noted leaders need to let others stand on their shoulders to look good, also called positional leadership. “Sometimes you need to lead from the front. Sometimes from behind. Other times to walk beside when they need someone to walk with them …”
He used the cartoon image of the sheepdog and coyote from his youth. He noted how people respond when the coyote is expected to show up, but what is the response when you don't know? Seether, rager and brooder were three examples of reactions to the unexpected. But he encouraged the youth to be zen-masters and handle hard better.
Krebs used the example a golf ball, which was originally smooth, until it was learned that dents made the ball go farther. “The more dents you have the farther you are going to go." A bamboo plant was also used, noting it takes three years of watering before the seed starts to sprout and break the surface, growing 90 feet in 60 days, he said, “If you don't see results just keep watering.”
Warsaw girls basketball coach Lenny Krebs was the keynote speaker at Wednesday’s Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy graduation. Photo by Deb Patterson, InkFreeNewsAnother example was conflict. “Conflict is inevitable,” he said, referencing obstacles and barriers. “An obstacle is a temporary setback. A barrier is permanent.” He stated it will depend on the attitude. “It's not going to get easier. … If you are looking for the good you will find it. If you are looking for the bad you're going to find it. Find what you're looking for and be determined to find the best."
On communication, he shared some of the acronyms he uses in coaching: NITE — name, information, tone and eye contact, when talking to someone and REPS — reminders, encouragement, praise, sugar or salt. “Don't strive to be the most important person, be interested in others. Leadership is all about connection.”
With that, he referenced Legos, where to create you connect piece by piece. He explained by stating how you know you are connected with people and becoming the leader you are called to be is “when people are willing to run through the wall for you.”
When sharing his obstacles in life, Krebs was also sharing about life. He was born with profound hearing loss. Five years ago he had a cochlear implant.
Krebs stated he was born with an 80-90% hearing loss that was not discovered until he was in the third grade, which was because “I learned to read lips so well.” His first hearing aids were in the third grade and he was able to hear the telephone ring for the first time.
He joked about taking spelling tests, which were a struggle. “I had to guess what the teacher was saying,” he laughed. “It was real. One of the things I learned at an early age, you're going to fail. That's OK.”
He found his identity in playing basketball. He also noted that he could have had a scribe come in and take notes for him in class. His hearing loss “was not an excuse. I had to find a way to overcome.”
He received a full basketball ride to Illinois Valley and Grace College where he began starting, figuring out how he became No. 3 in the nation in free throws his freshman year and No. 1 his sophomore year. “When I was at the line to shoot, I turned my hearing aid off and shot in quiet,” he said, which brought laughs from all present. He did the same his sophomore year.
“Every negative situation created a positive opportunity. You just had to find it,” he said.
He presented each KYLA graduate with a bamboo stick, a golf ball, a Lego keychain and a personally handwritten note of encouragement, to reflect all he had shared.
The 32 students who participate in KYLA work in groups on community projects. These projects, titled Project Proud, are presented at the culmination of the program with two of the eight projects presented at the graduation banquet.
Pop Up For A Purpose and Bed Build with Sleep In Heavenly Peace were the two projects presented.
Pop Up For A Purpose was a collection of items Cardinal Services clients could use. They collected 1,804 different items — clothing, hygiene items, art supplies and games. Because an abundance was collected, the items were also shared with Fellowship Missions and Gateway Education, Warsaw.
Bed Build with Sleep In Heavenly Peace was a program where they partnered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to raise funds to build 20 beds and gather a group to build the beds. While construction of the beds has been completed, the team will be working in the near future to stain the head and foot boards and deliver the beds.
Other projects included:
Project Pillows and Promises — Items were purchased for care baskets and tie pillows made for clients at Fellowship Missions.
Cause for Paws — Supplies purchased and dog treats made for the Marshall County Humane Society.
Youth Mentoring — Tutoring and mentoring grade school and middle school students.
Joe's Kids Donation Drive — Collected funds and supplies for Joe's Kids clients to use for at home therapy.
Hope and Hygiene Drive — Created hygiene packets.
Kate's Kart Drive — Raise funds for the purchase of books to give to children in the hospital through Kate's Kart.
Carl Lauster, KYLA president, stated in the last 32 years there have been 250 projects done by KYLA students and 800 students past and present participating. He mentioned the various areas the students undertook as projects.
“You choose in order to come here ... you choose to be a part of something that was bigger than yourself. You choose to be a part of this program, which promises to give back to your community. Learning leadership through community service … you learned that leadership isn't about titles, not about wealth or power, it's about influence, integrity and impact. … end of the day what remains is how you treated people ...”
Chris McKeand, KYLA moderator, closed the evening after the diplomas were presented, by stating he learned a lot over the year. “I walked away with information from the interactions I learned … They taught me something."
Each year a graduating KYLA student is named to serve one year on the board. This year's student is Jackson Barros.
KYLA is a nonprofit organization that provides an opportunity for high school juniors in Kosciusko County to learn about leadership and become informed about the community they live in.
Applications are being accepted for next year’s class. Current high school sophomores are eligible to apply. The online application, as well as additional information about KYLA, can be found at kosciuskoyouthleadership.org. The application deadline is May 20.