PHOENIX, AZ – There’s no greater bond than what a father and son have. Whether it’s playing catch in the street, learning how to drive, or going to him for advice. For some guys, they have the privilege of growing a stronger bond with their fathers through football. 

If you have ever played sports growing up, more often than not, your head coach had a kid who was on the team. Usually in little league, youth basketball and football leagues, and so on. For most, that’s the end of the line. For some, it’s just the beginning. 

Andy Wittenwyler, a senior at Thunderbird High School in Phoenix, is in his final season as the starting quarterback. But more importantly, the final season he will ever play under his dad. 

Brent Wittenwyler, is known by the entire Thunderbird school as the head coach of the football team. Except for one person. To Andy, Brent is simply known as dad. 

“He has been helping me in sports for as long as I can remember,” the quarterback said when asked about his father’s impact. “He was my flag football coach when I was younger, and now the fact that he is my head coach in high school is truly unreal.” 

One of the more famous father/son duos in sports is with the Los Angeles Clippers. The head coach is Doc Rivers, and his son, Austin, is the shooting guard for the team. Many people have criticized Doc, thinking that he favors his son, and gives him more minutes than deserved. Being a father/son duo, especially in high school sports, draws this type of criticism as well. 

“There definitely is an external pressure from others to perform at a higher level,” Wittenwyler said, when asked about having to play for his dad. “No matter how well I perform, there will always be people who argue I am undeserving of my opportunity.” 

It’s safe to say that Andy is seizing every moment of his opportunity. 

On the season, the senior has thrown for 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns in just six games. For his career, he has thrown for over 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns, with a QB rating of 86.4 as per MaxPreps. He has also rushed for seven touchdowns. 

Andy makes sure that having to balance being a student-athlete and being a son doesn’t get in the way with each other. “There are definitely additional challenges present when your dad is your coach,” the 17-year-old said. “It's difficult to create that separation between being a player on the field and a son at home, without letting them interfere with each other. It can be difficult to not allow tempers to boil over when you spend that much time together, particularly when he is my position coach as well.”

Andy only has a few games left playing under his dad. The quarterback is going to make sure to cherish every moment before moving on to college.