Created: 3/27/2009 7:54:39 PM 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- He's a teacher and a football coach and he has a lot to deal with these days. Ryan Keith teaches at Eagle's View Academy. He's also their Head Football Coach and he's our Teacher of the Week.
The students called him Coach Keith and he is tough in class and tough on the football field. "He makes us work hard," said football player Zach White.
Coach Keith is in his third year as Head Football Coach and he may be tough but the players and students love him. "Real good coach. Probably one of my favorites," said player Triston Welch.
Which made it all the more difficult when Coach Keith was diagnosed last year with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. "I cried. I'm not going to lie about it. He's a good guy and I was real sad," said Welch.
Coach Keith explains what is happening to his body this way. "An easy way to explain it is you have a light bulb and you have a light switch and both of them work but the wiring has been messed up; and essentially that's what's wrong with my body."
Even with the disease, he has not stopped. He keeps teaching and keeps coaching because it is what he loves. "I really do enjoy what I do. So that makes it a lot better," said Keith.
He's not letting anything hold him back. His football team went to the playoffs this past season and his students have formed "Team Keith." They all plan to walk once again this year in the 'Walk to Defeat ALS.'
"I'm walking. I walked last year and it's just to give support to Keith and all the other people with ALS," said White.
Coach Keith is happy for the support and the love he gets back from his students. "It's great to know people care about you and that many people really care about you."
The Walk to Defeat ALS takes place on April 4, 2009. For more information visit http://walkfl.alsa.org.
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