Bruce Jenner's former high school coach and principal speak out

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Among the many Americans who watched the Bruce Jenner interview Friday night, were his former coach and high school principal.

"I wish him well," said Peter Kohut, Jenner's former coach. "Without being judgmental, which I can't do, impossible."

You see, Kohut knew Bruce Jenner years before he became a household name.

He's seen as number 11, wearing gold, and running the ball all the way to the 10-yard line in an old video.

"He's the tallest kid there," Kohut said.

He was a standout on the football team.

It was 1968; Bruce Jenner graduated from Newtown High School after spending part of his junior and senior years there.

"He was a great kid," Kohut said. "A likeable kid, tall, handsome."

Kohut told Eyewitness News Jenner also excelled in basketball and of course track.

Now 80, the former head coach fondly remembers his time at Newtown and starting up the football program.

Jenner was one of his first recruits.

"He was the best quarterback, even though I had a quarterback who could hand the ball off, the best running back I had," Kohut said.

He was an exceptional athlete who also broke records here on the track and field at Sleepy Hollow High School.

It didn't take long to find Jenner in the 1966 year book.

#34 on the JV basketball team, basketball was also his passion.

"His past really highlights excellence and that's a quality that we want our students to aspire to, so the timelessness of that lives at Sleepy Hollow and that's pretty cool," said Carol Conklin-Spillane, Principal of Sleepy Hollow High School.

His legacy lives on through the Bruce Jenner award each year, given to an outstanding student athlete.

Danny was honored to receive the plaque and along with his coach is curious to see where the road takes this former gold medalist.

"He's such a big icon that he can do whatever he wants, it's his body, his life," said Danny Elia, a student.

It's one filled with many peaks and valleys.

"I think there's a comfort in knowing where ever his future goes we wish him peace," Conklin-Spillane said.