Coach Mike

There was a new development in my world over the weekend and it has me feeling very unsettled. Here's what happened....

Saturday was a big rugby day for us. We had the DC Furies coming here to play us and the match was a must win if we wanted to have a chance to advance to the Sweet 16's. Alas we did not prevail and our competitive season is now over with one match left two weeks from now. During the post-match talk, Coach told us that he has decided to step down as our Head Coach. This news hit some of us harder than others. It actually made me cry while I was still at the pitch and I don't cry in front of people. For the past six years I have been a player for one of the best men I have ever had the privilege to meet. Coach joined us in the beginning when we were going through the growing pains of finding our competitive stride. Since Coach had only been associated with men's teams, his transition into working with us was a a bit rough to say the least. I seem to remember that he could make Mandy cry during practice and Parker used to say that if Coach didn't yell at her during training then he must not have been there. He has always been tougher on the people he saw potential in and those two players (Parker & Mandy) are prime examples of that. He helped shape us into a cohesive unit and motivated us to want be the best in our division. He was there with us for the two remarkable years when we were all focused on that one main goal... winning the DII National Championship... and we did it. With Coach. Twice. He has been with us during the Venom Baby Boom and on our move up to Division 1. He has been with us through everything and I have learned so much from him, not just about rugby but also about life and I don't know how I am going to react next season when I show up at practice and don't see Coach there.

Coach, I know you are probably not reading this but I really want to let you know a few things. You have been nothing but a positive influence on me. The picking & ribbing, the goofing off & playing catch before practice starts, the way you cheat during the run thru and laugh when you get called out for it, the beers and conversation at the pub... I looked forward to those times every day. You are one of my favorite people of all time and I thank you for your dedication to the team and to me. I am going to miss you. A lot.