Hanging up the Boots: Milestones

After nineteen years, my husband hung up his coaching boots and Sponge Bob hat.  He is an icon on the soccer field - whether watching his team, or his kids' teams.  His hat was easy to spot.  His boots (what was left of them) had many miles of pacing up and down the field, coaching the kids to  use the gifts God gave them to get the ball into the net.

He has the title of coach, but there was so much more to it.  He poured himself into the kids.  He encouraged them, both on and off the field, to be the best they could be.  He helped them pick up the pieces of their lives when things fell apart.  He prayed for them.  He prayed with them.   He even made special trips to their schools to hand-deliver chocolate Valentines.  He took them to Hawaii, he chaperoned trips to the movies and planned Mall Hunts for extra-curricular fun.   There were innumerable nights of practicing out in the rain, driving kids to and from the field, waiting for parents to pick them up, taking kids to Timmies for hot chocolate.  He spent his money on supplies, on gas, on food, on ferries, on hotels.  I think there must be a special crown waiting for him somewhere.

When he posted this picture, he was inundated with comments from former and present team members who had him as a coach, such as:

• You were an awesome coach!

• Some of my fondest memories is of us going to and from the field together! 

• You are an amazing coach but also the GREATEST dad! 

• Personally, I think the time and effort you have put into [our city] as member of the community, soccer coaching and keeping the coed alive you deserve a medal... 

• you'll be missed

And from his wife:

• Wouldn't you like to thank the Academy and your wife who has stood by you ??