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Who made a difference in your son's life?

FutureBack.MomFutureBack.Mom1,000+ posts
Am feeling very nostalgic, and sad, right now.

We learned yesterday that our son's former head coach at UC Riverside, Jack Smitheran, has resigned from UCR after 31 years. I received the news during a call on my cell phone as I was headed to Lancaster to see my kid throw ... and was so taken aback, that I almost missed my exit (fortunately, none of those 18 wheelers were hauling up the freeway at the time!!).

Our son had the great pleasure of playing baseball for a man that I truly believe was a class act. He has a wonderful respect for the game, and taught that respect to his players across the decades at UCR. Coach Smitheran will be replaced by his (former) assistant coach, Doug Smith ... who not only coached with Smitheran for 25 seasons but did so after having played for Smitheran at UCR.

After reading articles on the school website, as well as two extremely wonderful articles in the local paper today, I have become quite emotional about his resignation because I truly believe he had a very significant impact on our son and the wonderful turn of events in our son's life. If you have the chance to check out these articles, to get a feel for what a great coach is all about, please take the time. They are good reads ... and give you an idea of how much he will be missed ... not just by the current and future players, but by those he mentored through the years.

The end of an era
Laying UCR's foundation

Coach Smitheran was/is definitely "old school" but for some of us, that is not a bad thing. I will really miss having the chance to talk with him on a regular basis ... he always took the time to make me feel special when I spoke with him, whether at the ball park, in the baseball office while trekking my kid around, or in messages on the internet. He is a true asset to the game of baseball ...

So I am wondering if others might like to share stories about coaches who have had a positive and significant impact on their own son's life ...

(And now, you might understand my new signature ...)

Mary Ann
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * [i]"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08][/i]
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justbaseballjustbaseball10,000+ posts
Easily his pitching coach since age 9 or 10...still remains close. But, in the Fall of his 15-year old travel team. For the first time, the parents got together and decided its time to "hire" a coach. Hired a former D1 infielder who had played at a top-20 school.

He instilled discipline, level-headedness (new word?), work ethic, etc...

But most of all, he instilled CONFIDENCE! Following a tournament loss my son took while pitching against teams with JC players, a game lost mostly on errors, something like 4-2...he took my son aside and told him "you're better than those guys." "Don't ever let another team or your own teammates see you show frustration over whats going on behind you again." "Watch Roger Clemens or Mike Mussina pitch, you'll never be able to tell if they're behind or ahead." "They look to you as the pitcher for confidence...give it to them!"

For whatever reason, it took and I believe looking back it was a turning point for him. Seems like after that Fall, he took a nice turn upwards and I thank that particular coach for instilling the confidence in my son that he maintains today.

(His mother, my wonderful wife, has been known to instill a shot of confidence or two as well! biglaugh)
O OnePlayer'sPop500+ posts
Mark Dickenson, Homerun Alley, Waco, TX.

When my son was 11(Dec, 1994), I noticed an article in the Sunday sports section that highlighted the opening of a new baseball training facility(a FIRST in this area). I drove the 30+ miles for my son to "experience" a real baseball training facility within the first week after reading that article.

Mark Dickenson(the owner of the training facility) welcomed us with open arms(hey! new business recognizes their first customers).

My son got his first hitting and pitching lessons shortly after our first visit, I attended my first coaching clinic and a long- term friendship was formed.

To make a long story short.... this relationship opened the doors to my son's first Little League success, provided his first contact with "real" professional and ex-professional players and coaches, instilled in my son the basics of baseball discipline, provided an avenue to move my son into a higher level of HS baseball competition, opened doors to his first "select" baseball experiences, instilled the belief that he can succeed in baseball at every level and also provided me(Dad) with a greatly expanded vision of baseball beyond my limited HS experiences many years prior.

Mark Dickenson also re-inforced the principles which I was using to rear my son... he was a second Dad to him!(and is to this very day)

Mark's sons are my son's brothers.... always will be from that point in 1994 and forever.

Mark challenged my son to be the best player he can be and (inadvertently) challenged me to be the best parent I can be.

If we had never met Mark Dickenson, I am convinced that my son would have just been another kid who played HS baseball in a small town and nothing came from it.

Thank you forever, Mark!!

OPP
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
There have been many people who have made a difference in my son's life for baseball. He has been fortunate to have great coaches, great sponsors. He told me the other day that the pitching coach at school has already made a significant impact on him, as well as his Head Coach. I suppose he will continue to meet people who will always make a difference in his life.
However, in my opinion I think the person who made the biggest difference was his first coach, his Dad. It was he who taught him to love the game, respect your teammates and coaches, dedication,not to mention all the other things Dad teach their sons about baseball. He only coached him for two years. He felt that he needed to be his Dad, not his coach. If the game was good, they celebrated with a sub, hamburger,wings or ice cream, if it was bad they did the same thing, just with less conversation until my son was ready to talk about it. My son would not be where he is if it were not for his dad.
We always tend to find someone else to name when we think about the person who may have made the difference in their lives. However, if you ask your sons, I'll bet his answer might surprise you when he tells you it was dad (or mom).
Last edited by TPM
luvbbluvbb1,000+ posts
I definetly agree with Tigerpawmom's post. If you asked my son who his greatest influence in baseball has been....he'd tell you his greatest baseball influence is the same as his greatest "life's" influence....his dad. He only coached my son thru t-ball and his first two years of local ball.....but I know my son would tell you that life's lessons are just as important to his success in baseball as his actual lessons in the skills of baseball. Last father's day he wrote a note to his dad that brought tears to both of our eyes. He just has that ability to bring out the best in our son both on and off the field, and I'm glad my son is smart enough (again....because of his dad) to recognize that!
LadyNmomLadyNmom1,000+ posts
We have asked our son this question, from time to time,and the answer is always the same...his first tournament coach. This is the coach that didn't just go over the fundamentals, again and again....but taught Brian the subtleties of the game. He also taught him the importance of hustle, leadership and persistance. As my son says, this coach taught him "the game within the game". Baseball took on a whole new demension for Brain, and became a lot more fun and challenging to play. Thank you Coach Jeano
Last edited by LadyNmom
N NorthernCalif_Dad100+ posts
Rob Bruno - Norcal Baseball

Many young players in Northern California owe a debt to Rob. In addition to skills, he introduced my son to the highest level of compitition and gave him the confidence that allowed him to compete successfully at that level.
A very busy man, he always had time to take calls and offer advice to my son during some very tough desicions. Rob even helped Matt with his senior project in high school by helping him organize and put on a baseball clinic for local youth leagues.

Thanks for everything Rob and good luck in the future.
Last edited by NorthernCalif_Dad
TRhitTRhit10,000+ posts
I think there are many that influence a boy as he develops as a baseball player--from LL right thru college and then to the pros if that happens-- for my sons it was a combination of things and to single out one would be an injustice to the others.

Suffice it to say it all worked and they each had a wonderful college career
Last edited by TRhit
P PiC500+ posts
BabyBackMomma

You said:
So I am wondering if others might like to share stories about coaches who have had a positive and significant impact on their own son's life ...

Key words are "positive and significant" impact...

For me it is Bob Williams of Areacode Baseball.
Bob saw the potential upside of my son and
extended to him an opportunity to earn some respect while playing with some very good players. In the aftermath of his 2003 experience in Australia he achieved a measure of confidence which to this day has giving him a steely resolve (much more relaxed) to prevail over adversity.

It's not that he doesn't have his ups and downs, as we all do, but he has developed an outlook on life, that my wife calls, "life-is-a-bowl-of-cherries which describes his positive jubilant nature.

Along with the kindness and respectful thoughtfulness he displays to all his coaches and teammates, I can honestly say he is geniunely liked by all those who know him personally.

Bob Williams is a real gentleman with a "dry sense of humor" and flair to get his points across, all-the-while using interesting stories of his experinces and the rich history with so many players over the years.

We are thankful for his kindness and faith he has placed in our son. And we are elated with our son's selection to the Brewers team this year.
FutureBack.MomFutureBack.Mom1,000+ posts
TR ...

quote:
to single out one would be an injustice to the others.


I think PiC indicated well what I was thinking ... I didn't ask for any ONE person to be mentioned without others. I was just asking for some anecdotes about coaches who have been influential in our sons' lives ... positively and significantly.

As with most of those who have posted, other than AJ's own dad, I would never select just one person who was the most influential. But I honestly believe that some of the coaches are more influential than others ... and I am again speaking only in terms of positive things.

So often we hear complaints about the "bad guys" that I thought it would be nice to hear some good stories for a change, and a way to give a little bit of a tribute to those special coaches.
BK'sMOMBK'sMOM1,000+ posts
I remember how my son's basketball coach during his senior year of high school last year expected "hard work" and "commitment" on a level that was so challenging ...

The team did reap the results winning district and going deep into playoffs. They had no super stars...but they had "team."

This coach was "a good if not great coach".

He demanded team unity ...and when he handed my son his plaque he said "this one played for me for 3 years...JV and Varsity for two years...and never missed a practice.

Made my son's night...

(I can say my son often quoted him, "Coach doesn't expect 100% he expects 150% from us."

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