Steve Mariucci was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 1997 to 2002. Mooch had great success in the NFL, finishing first in the NFC west three times and yet he was fired after a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional Playoffs (My dad is still upset about it...oh and the Bucs went on to win the Super Bowl). Today, he is a analyst for NFL Gameday, but as sports fan can and should know, he will always be "Coach."
In the 30 for 30: Catholic vs. Convicts, Tony Rice—the quarterback for the Fightin' Irish—said "The Lord is my shepherd, but Lou Holtz is my coach." I smiled when I heard his words; far beyond the documentary, I have a sense of the relationship that existed between this coach and athlete, and the entire 1988 National Championship team. Rice's words paint the perfect picture of what was, and remains true. Holtz was his coach then, and that's what he is to Tony Rice et al today.
In my book "Pray and Practice with Purpose: A Playbook for the Spiritual Development of Athletes" I wrote about the significance of coaching as a profession and a ministry. I said:
It isn’t
uncommon for Americans to name a coach as their personal hero. Whether or not
they are enshrined in national or local hall of fame, many coaches are icons,
mentors, partners and friends. They are fascinating individuals. We admire them
for their unique gifts, their vision, their passion and their success. But
their success must be more than just wins; great coaches transform individuals
into a team—a band of brothers and sisters, a family that can both play and
pray together.
In the fifteen
years I have taught in the Religious Studies department at St. Ignatius College
Preparatory in San Francisco, CA, I have also coached three different sports:
girls’ rowing, cross country and golf. When I leave my classroom and head to
the coach’s locker room, I carry another attendance sheet, agenda and a
different kind of lesson plan. According to the school schedule, students have
six periods in a day. But ask any coach, and he or she will tell you there are
seven. The places where we practice and train are much more than a classroom
without walls, they are privileged places where young men and women are formed
according to our values, with our school slogan or team motto as the guide.
Jim Yerkovich articulates coaching as both a ministry in his essay, "We: A Model for Coaching and Christian Living." Coaching’s import is so significant that it merits its own title. He writes,
Jim Yerkovich articulates coaching as both a ministry in his essay, "We: A Model for Coaching and Christian Living." Coaching’s import is so significant that it merits its own title. He writes,
If you ever doubt the
significance of your role as a coach just consider as Father John Cusick
invited coaches to do at a conference entitled "Coaching is Calling"
in Chicago 1998, that apart from father or sister, "coach" is the
only person in the school who is called by their title. He pointed out that
students don't say "teacher" or "principal" but the coach
they call "coach." Father Cusick reflected on what it was like after
his ordination to suddenly have people calling him "Father." He felt
good about the fact that people were giving him the sign of respect after all
those years of preparation but also felt the sense of responsibility that went
along with this title and role. Likewise, when our students call us
"coach" this is a sign of respect, but there is also a great
responsibility to be a positive influence in their lives.
Seeing Steve Mariucci out on the street reminded me that being a coach is a critical component of a person's identity, one that remains long after a season—the wins or losses, the championships, defeats and even the firing. In that moment, I could have said "Steve" or "Mooch" or "Mr. Mariucci" but I chose the one I deemed most fitting in an instant. Based on the smile on his face and on mine, it was the right one...the best one. Thanks Coach.
No comments:
Post a Comment