How important are the coaches of high school sports teams?

Recent announcements of coaching being given state and national awards have given us pause to consider the role the coaches play in our student-athletes’ lives.

Wrestling coach Scott Stoner and track coach Mike Seybert, each of Butler Area High School, have been honored by their associates across the state for their talents this year. As persons who know them, they each deflected attention to include the staffs, as well as the athletes in earning the award.

Of course no one expected them to say, “I would win it every year if I had better players.”

But these two guys are sincere humble men. It has been our blessing to observe them for many years without having a child on either of the squads they coach.

During the almost two decades that our children attended Butler schools and participated in activities, ranging from choir and theater to cheerleading and basketball, we had more than a hundred conversations that Coach Seybert would almost always initiate.

Always calling us Mr., although sometimes with an abbreviated nickname following, we would get the question: How are the girls? He always took the time to engage in a conversation about them and to remind us that in his opinion they were great kids.

Remember, they did not participate on his squads. Coach Stoner, too, always showed interest in the girls’ lives, even though not only did they not wrestle, there were no female wrestlers at Butler High at that time. Yet one of those girls, to this day, would tell you she thought he was a great role model and supporter of everything she and her friends did.

Coaching, like teaching, gets harder all the time. These guys have been at it a long time and been very successful from the start, and right up to today. Their dedication and commitment to helping all kids succeed is both evident and remarkable.

Through good seasons and bad they have held up their responsibility to the school district and the students. We want to stress that it is not just their athletes but every kid that matters to them.

Many people question why a coach takes on such a grueling job. It certainly isn’t for the money. It certainly isn’t because they wouldn’t rather be home.

These men are touching lives in a very special way and you can see the satisfaction they get when a student passes by and offers a “Hi Coach.” That little “Hi Coach” means thank you.

We hope that Coach Seybert and Coach Stoner know how much they are appreciated. When you see them, will you please tell them so? A simple “Hi Coach” will do.

— RV