Why Shawn Preston Sr. strives to be father figure for SEC football playing sons
Shawn Preston Sr.’s house is quieter than its ever been these days.
His children — Shawn Preston Jr. and Shazz Preston — have moved away from home and are preparing for their upcoming seasons of Southeastern Conference football. Shawn Jr. is a senior safety for Mississippi State, and Shazz is a freshman receiver for Alabama.
Shawn Sr. said he and his wife Lori are dealing with the changes.
“I’m getting used to it being an empty nest,” Shawn Sr. said. “Lori is probably handling it better than I am. This is the first time we’ve had both of the boys away at the same time, so me and my wife have been staying busy. We’re doing some remodeling here at the house. That keeps us busy.”
While his sons are gone to college, Shawn Sr. said he is still finding ways to give back to area youth.
The former Southern University running back has been involved in local high school education for nearly 30 years, including 13 as a football coach with stops at Thibodaux (1998-2002) and Assumption (2007-09) and assistant stops at St. James and Hahnville. He is preparing for his first year as an assistant principal at H.L. Bourgeois this fall.
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Shawn Sr. said his mission has always been to provide for his sons and help put others in the same path for success.
“I’ve always found time to take on other young men as the journey of my own two boys were going on at the same time,” Shawn Sr. said. “That has stayed consistent, even before I had children. I want to treat other young men just how I treat my sons. I want the same things for them.”
Shawn Sr. said his message to inspire his sons or other young athletes have always been the same: work hard, give back to others, stay humble and develop other interests outside of sports.
“My message to them is that we use the ball to help us along in life,” Shawn Sr. said. “I can’t promise you that you’ll be an NFL football player. I’ll promise you that this ball can garner relationships and experiences. It can garner good work ethics and help you overcome obstacles and show resiliency. If you use all those things, it can make a good life for you.”
Both Shawn Jr. and Shazz said they have a special relationship with their father. They’ve used his advice, especially when they are away from home.
“My dad been a big inspiration for me,” Shazz said. “He pushes me to do my best every day. He keeps me humble and working since I’ve started doing this. He gives me pointers and he wants the best for me. He taught me the ropes and I hope to pass it on to others.”
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Shawn Jr. said watching his father become a positive role model for many athletes has been inspiring.
“My dad has really encouraged me and taught me how to do a lot of different things for different people,” Shawn Jr. said. “I’m blessed because I know a lot of people don’t have a father figure like that. My dad has helped a lot of my friends and teammates. If you need anything from him, he’ll be there. That’s a character about my dad that I really love about him and appreciate.”
Shawn Sr. said other parents have reached out to him for advice on how to raise their own children.
“As a father, the main thing you want is for your kids to be successful,” Shawn Sr. said. “Those are things that make you feel good inside and that’s why you do it."
Reach Chris Singleton at 985-857-2213 or chris.singleton@houmatoday.com and on Twitter @courierchris.
This article originally appeared on The Courier: Shawn Preston Sr. is father figure for SEC football playing sons
