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From a song by Rascal Flatts:

“… I’ve lived in this place and I know all the faces
Each one is different but they’re all the same
They mean no harm but it’s time that I face it
They’ll never allow me to change
But I never dreamed home would end up where I don’t belong

I’m movin on
I’m movin on

At last I can see life has been patiently waiting for me
And I know there’s no guarantees, but I’m not alone
There comes a time in everyone’s life
When all you can see are the years passing by
And I have made up my mind that those days are gone

I’m movin on
I’m movin on

I’ve resigned as the Head Coach for Triad High School. What a great ride I’ve had these past 9 years. I’m the most blessed person on the face of the earth. In 1998 after winning a second state title and assisting in approximately 450+ varsity win, the administration of Edwardsville High School decided I wasn’t good enough to be their head coach. Triad gave me a chance. Last week we won our 200th game while I was the head coach. In all, we went 201 – 88 in my time here and won 4 Regional and 1 sectional title. The secret here for a school of under 1,300 that had to take on schools of 2,000-2,600 is that we have great kids, tremendous assistant coaches, an administration that allowed me to do what I had to do and fantastic parents.

I would mention that positions where a baseball coach can simply coach the game are rare. Here, I had to raise money without being able to have fundraisers so I did so through camps etc.. You have to be adept at maintenance/grounds keeping and so, your field requires so much work. I can rarely think of a Sunday where I haven’t spent time either working a camp or working on my field. In fact, I can’t think of any Sunday for the last 9 years where I haven’t done one and/or the other. The hardest thing about coaching is what it does to your family. It’s hard to leave the game on the field. Your highs are so high and your lows are so low. You have to be everything to everyone and yet, I personally struggled with being Dad. My daughter has already played approximately 25 games. I haven’t seen a third of them. Thank God I was at the game where she was hit by a line drive. She is a pitcher and so, … As I have told a local reporter, I now have to choose between the thing I love the most in this life (Triad Baseball) and the person I love the most (Brianna). I intend to be there to watch her play the next four years since she enters high school this fall. I want to thank all of you that have had kind things to say about my program and kids. God Bless you all.

"Failure depends upon people who say I can't."  - my dad's quote July 1st, 2021.  CoachB25 = Cannonball for other sites.

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Coach B,

What a wonderful legacy you're leaving at Triad. Your words explaining your decision are easy to read, but I'm sure much harder to write. You're walking away from something you truly love, to be with and support your daughter in her athletic adventures. You're to be commended for knowing about priorities in life and I wish you nothing but health and happiness in your role as Dad.

Illinois HS baseball has, temporarily, lost a great man and a great coach.
Last edited by itsrosy
Coach,

Good luck to you! As I am sure you know, in another post i wrote about Coach Tichy resigning to be with his family.

Who would have thought coaching high school baseball would be so time consuming. I forgot to mention Tichy's fundraising. But the field work and being there fot the kids really takes a tremendous committment. But, if you love kids, you've got to be there for your family. As someone said in the other thread, maybe in the future you can come back to coaching.
quote:
Originally posted by itsrosy:
Illinois HS baseball has, temporarily, lost a great man and a great coach.


I disagree that Illinois HS baseball has "lost" a great man. We know where to "find" him--at his daughter's softball games!!!!

CoachB25: Enjoy it! We are leaving baseball for the softball fields, too. Hope to run into you somewhere, someday....
Last edited by play baseball
CoachB25:

This could not have been an easy decision at all for you to make, but it is the right one.

Brianna, just like your former players and current students, is fortunate to have you in her life.

The time does indeed go fast...all the more reason to slow down a bit and enjoy it.

Now that you'll have a little more time on your hands I expect wonderful things from you...where's the back of the line for that delicious Christmas chili?


Happy Trails To You and Brianna!
Last edited by gotwood4sale
Wow! Is there something in the water? That's like the 6th or 7th (or is it 8th?) resignation that I've read about in the past few days...

All the best to you coach - you'll never regret a decision that allows you to spend more time with your beautiful daughter. And, like others have said before me, I don't think you'll be gone forever, just for now!

Enjoy the view from the other side of the fence!
Coach B - I've always respected your passion for your job and your guys. There's no doubt that you've been very good at what you enjoy doing so very much. However, baseball will be there waiting for you in four years. Your daughter's HS years are impossible to relive. So, I commend you for the decision to put coaching aside for a tiny while.... these years will seem so very big to your girl! May you and your family enjoy each and every one of them! Smile
Coach, I know this had to be hard decision and I think you've made the best one. Somehow I have a feeling you'll be back doing something with the Triad Knights baseball team at some point.

You've worked your butt off the last several years getting the Knights program to where it's at. I hope you take an opportunity to watch from outside the fence. Wonder your way up a foul line and watch them play from the outside.

One nice thing about being a teacher is your able to get to your daughter's events more often than some professions are able.

Dad went to coaching three sports to coaching one this year. He said he always enjoyed at football games standing down in a corner away from everyone being able to watch the action. During baseball, he'd stand out in our bullpen in left field going back and forth between the field and the house. Giving up football and baseball were hard decisions for him and I know he enjoyed being able to watch my senior year, but I know he missed being in the dugout. He'll be back. Sounds like he's probably going to put the uniform back on next year.

Now that I'm done rambling, Coach, it's been a pleasure and I'd love to see you back in uniform in a few years.

I think I could probably speak for a lot of us on here when I say that I hope you don't leave us, but I'll also understand if you do come around less often.
Coach B25,

Enjoy your time with your daughter. She will be 25 before you know it. The good news about not coaching is that you can now question the game day decisions by others with certainity. I have become a better coach by watching over the last two years while standing along the foul lines than the last 30 plus years in the dugout. Just ask me.

Good luck to you and your family!
quote:
Originally posted by lsc59:
Coach B25,

Enjoy your time with your daughter. She will be 25 before you know it. The good news about not coaching is that you can now question the game day decisions by others with certainity. I have become a better coach by watching over the last two years while standing along the foul lines than the last 30 plus years in the dugout. Just ask me.

Good luck to you and your family!


lsc59, thanks for the laugh. This has been a very hard week. I appreciate the humor. I have a couple of duties left such as our All-Conference Meeting and then, I will have all the time in the world to reflect on all of the great times. To be sure, few things in my life have been as difficult as turning in that letter of resignation. I would say this - my wish for all of you presently coaching is to be as blessed as I have been. If so, what an incrediable life you will have.
Coach,

Congrats on a timely decision.

Go to every softball game, catch some fish and enjoy your retirement.

You should be proud of such a wonderful career.

Call or email me when you get to Chicago...we can root for the Sox at the cell and/or my other favorite team at Wrigley!....Tix and eats are on me! (we could ask some of this crazy gang to join us)

(708) 945-5120.
OR
[poconnor@videosoundinc.com]

All the best for your future!
I just couldn't resist Coach...sorry...


"Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know is on third..."



Can I still swing by for some of that Christmas chili?

And I'm sure you and Brianna watched the Women's College World Series Championship last night. My hat is off to the Arizona Wildcats...I really thought the Lady Volunteers of Tennessee would win the championship. I think Arizona's abundance of championship experience paid off well for them. Congratulations to the Arizona Wildcats!
Last edited by gotwood4sale
Coach....

I have two daughters, the oldest is living in Madison with her husband, and my youngest living in Lockport with her husband and twin girls born in January. I understand your decision, since time does move along quickly. With all of the craziness in this world, you can't do enough for your children, and there is never, never enough time!!

Just a few more words for you...........spoil, spoil, spoil, spoil!!!!!!!

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