An Interview with "Survivor" Star Benjamin "Coach" Wade

If you are a fan of the CBS reality series "Survivor", then you certainly know who Benjamin "Coach" Wade is. Called the "Dragon Slayer", Coach appeared on "Survivor: Tocantins" as well as "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains". Coach is the men's soccer coach at Lassen College of California (his 15th season as a head college coach), which earned him the nickname "Coach". Coach is also the Artisic Director and Conductor of the Susanville Symphony in Susanville, CA.

Candice Cain : What motivated you to apply for " Survivor: Tocantins "?

Coach: The college womens soccer players told me I should apply for a reality show. I did not at first and they submitted me to " The Bachelor ". Then I recieved an email saying I should apply for "Survivor". I downloaded application and cest la vie. The rest is histoire

CC : After the preliminary application, what other steps did you have to go through in order to get onto the show?

Coach: The usual. I was not a recruited applicant. After several phone calls they flew me in to finals for casting. But actually after the first phone call I was like "I guess this is my next adventure"

CC : How long did it take from the time you applied until the time you found out that you were going to be a castaway?

Coach : Probably about five months.

CC: Was "Survivor: Tocantins" the first season that you applied for?

Coach: Yes I really never thought of being a contestant on a reality show before.
CC: You called yourself the "Dragon Slayer" in "Survivor: Tocantins". Can you please clarify the origin of the name for those that don't know? Did it really come from wanting to vote Brendan off?

Coach: I was being tested throughout my time on "Survivor". I wanted to take the strong to the end. Brendan was strong. The subject came up in a confessional. They asked why I was contradicting myself. I quoted Duk Ku Kim ( KIlled in the ring by Boom Boom Mancini in the 80s) a boxer who wrote on his lamp shade the night before the fight, "Kill or be killed". I also quoted an old samauri proverb: If you want to defeat the army and win the war, cut off the head of the dragon" hence the line "Brendan is the dragon and I am the dragon slayer". The name stuck and now true fans of the show call me that when they see me. I think it's cool that the name stuck like that. In fact I believe that this question was on Jeopardy a few weeks ago. Hey when you can go out into the wild and have fun and start makin up nicknames for yourself and it actually changes (by a one billionth of an inch) the cultural dial...well then you know you've made it lol.

CC : On "Survivor: Tocantins", you claimed that you had a back spasm and lost an immunity challenge to JT, which ultimately led to your demise. Why didn't you allow medics to check out your back?

Coach: My body was wrecked from start to finish. For starters I didnt really train properly going in. I felt like an old man. Among many other excuses that I hid behind... what happened is I had a bulging disc which pinched one of the nerves in my back shooting pain down my right leg. At that time, I actually thought I could make it all the way to the final and didnt want anyone taking me out. The first time you play you dont know how fragile it can be to be medi vaced out and nothing was stopping me from that. This hapened before in 2002, when I was walking around with a cane for two months, so it was nothing new.

CC : What was your favorite challenge on "Survivor: Tocantins"?

Coach: My favorite challenge was the aforementioned one because it shows what one human can do when they put their mind to it. I had just gotten off exhile where I did not eat, drink or sleep. And I came out on the other side performing the best yet in the challenge. Mind over matter. Thats a key to success in my book.

CC : What was your least favorite challenge?

Coach: The weights where Tyson and Trendan represented us. I should have done that challenge. At that time, I was really nursing my back and didnt want to over-extend myself and get taken out medically. Hindsight, I wish I would have done it.

CC : Who was your favorite castaway on "Survivor: Tocantins"?

Coach: Besides myself? Haha. Just kidding. Probably Tyson. He was a riot and always kept us lagughing.

CC : Who was your least favorite castaway in "Survivor: Tocantins"?

Coach: Its pretty well known thru out the "Survivor" world that Candice hates me. I thought she was annoying and petty and bossy on the show, but hey you can let that go. What dissapoints me the most is that she still carries a serious grudge. That's uncalled for. Hey it was a game, get over it. I slayed your dragon, move on. But some people are petty so you just move on.

CC : If you could have mapped out "Survivor: Tocantins" from day one, who would you have put in the final three?

Coach: Tyson and Debbie.

CC : How did you end up on " Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains "?

Coach: Dragon slayer-esque antics. And when they called, I didnt hesitate.

CC : When did you find out you were going to be on the Villains tribe, and how did you feel about your placement?

Coach:Found out on day one. I was not surprised, but I said in my heart that I would win over the fans and play a different game.

CC: Personally, I didn't think you belonged on the Villains tribe. What do you think you could have don differently to go further in "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains"?

Coach: Everyone that has ever played the game has said "if this one thing would have happened differently then I would have gone all the way." I don't want to be that guy. Okay, well, maybe I will be: If the merge would have happened at 12 I would have gone all the way.

CC: I've got to ask this one because people still wonder... Was there ever anything romantic between you and Jerri?

Coach : Jerri and I saw each other after the show and we remain good friends. It would have been the most dynamic showmance post show relationship ever if it had happened but we went our seperate ways.

CC : Who is your favorite castaway of all time?

Coach: Either the Dragon Slayer or King Arthur. Oh wait, that's me. (That answer was for the fans that still think I'm delusional). Loved Marty and Brenda from this season. NaOnka was golden. An all timer? Not sure. Its easier to break it down by the season. SO many good characters over the years. My hats off to casting for that!

CC: Okay, you brought up NaOnka. How did you feel about her quitting the game?

Coach: I am on the motivational speaking circuit and I tell all of the audience members the same things. Your character is forged like a sword in the fire. WIth perserverence comes character, and with character comes success.

CC: If you could have mapped out "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" from day one, who would you have pegged as the final three?

Coach : That a tough one. Many many people. Boston Rob and Tyson (thanks, Tyson, for lousing that one up!) Colby and Rupert. Tyson and JT. Candice and James and Amanda, and, hell, almost the whole cast except the tribe I was on!

CC : You have already done "Survivor" twice. If given the opportunity, would you ever do "Survivor" again?

Coach: Without question yes, if the timing was right. I have lots of things going on right now so hopefully my schedule would open up.

CC: In both of your seasons, you made reference to missionary work you have done. Please tell me about it. Are you still involved in missionary work or charity?

Coach : Yes I am still involved with charities and missions. I am helping to lead a missions trip to Kenya this July. We will go the the Masai village and the orphanages and slums of Nairobi. I am pastor of church at Eagle Lake, California so there are lots of opportunities to witness.

CC: I have heard that you are quite the musician. What sort of music do you play? Can fans listen to it anywhere?

Coach : I play trumpet. I also write classical music. Fans should come to Susanville, California this April 29, 30 and May 1. We are premiering a ballet that I wrote and it is going to be incredible. Also if they type in the Susanville Symphony on youtube you will find stuff there as well.

CC: A ballet? What is it called? Please discuss it.

Coach: The ballet is called the four elements: Water, Earth, Air and Fire. The ballet is a fusion of classical, modern, jazz and interpretive choreography. The music is a fusion of Baroque, neo-classical, modern cinematic like soundtracks, and a little rock. Each movement is stand alone, with one theme introduced, another one added, a third one and then a blending an infusion of all three layered on top of each other. There is also a short 10-14 second narration at the beginning of each movement. The music is 42 minutes long but will most likely be longer because of the interpretation left up to the conductor and the time elapse between each movement. They are each very distinct and also descriptive. I wanted the music to completely embody each element.
CC : What is next for Coach Benjamin Wade?

Coach: The release of the movie 180 is coming out in March. LOOK FOR IT. I am also writing music, coaching a natinoally ranked soccer team at Lassen College, filming another movie in April. I also have a show that I am trying to get picked up called "The Way of the Warrior". Look for that as well.

CC: How did you get involved in acting?

Coach:Like most great things in my life it just kind of fell on my lap! I met a guy on an airplane (Randy Evans) who said his best friend had written a scripts and was getting a movie together, with production in the works. We hit it off good, he introcuded me to WIlliam Price III (an incredible writer) and voila he cast me as the lead role in the film "180", coming out in March. Life gives you so many opportunities. I think it is important to kick the door open and jump in with both feet when this happens. I have been so blessed to do so many things in life. I feel truly as if God has had his hand on my life all his life.

CC: What is "The Way of the Warrior" about?

Coach: This is a show where I would be the host of a travel, history, cultural, dramatic reality show. The way of the warrior will take men and women who are at a crossroads in their life and go to other countries who historically had great warrior cultures. We will go to these countries (the mongols of mongolia, the spartans of greece, the saumari of japan etc) and study the culture and put the contestants thru the rituals, ancient customs and rites of passage that these ancient warriors embedded in their culture. People will be broken but I will be there each step of the way allowing them to perservere and become more than they ever imagined. Many people will face, most will not make it thru the gauntlet of the way of the warrior, but each and every person will have their life changed forever

CC : Let's do some fast favorites. Favorite food?

Coach: In order: Lamb Korma (Indian) Toro (sushi) and Pad Woon Sen (Thai)

CC : Favorite color?

Coach: Black

CC : Favorite television show?

Coach: Ultimate fighter

CC : Favorite movie?

Coach: Lucky Number Slevin

CC : Favorite actor?

Coach: Al Pacino

CC : Favorite sports team?

Coach: University of Tennessee Football

CC : Favorite vacation destination?

Coach: Tocantins (seriously) and then maybe Mendocino, California

CC : Favorite book?

Coach: Shantaram.