“In life, they’re going to have to figure out how to get through the ups and downs of school. Good teachers, bad teachers, it doesn’t matter; they still gotta get through it, they still gotta apply their fundamentals and figure out how to succeed. In life, you lose jobs, but you keep plugging away and you push through and find another job. You don’t give up. There will be ups and downs in marriage too, and they’re going to have to figure out how to get through that. Baseball touches on all aspects of life.
“That’s why I love the sport. That’s why it grabbed my heart, you know? It’s such a challenge. It never gives you what you want, but it seems to give you everything you need. You can never truly figure it out, but you can find success in it as long as you keep grinding away.
“I’m getting older now, so I’m seeing players who have had babies. I’m seeing them stick by their babies and take care of their families, and I think what they’ve learned on the field has helped them. They’re good dads. I see that. They actually come to my house sometimes now, and that’s really a neat feeling. It’s just a joy to see their progress.
“I look forward to coaching every day. Sometimes it’s harder than other times --- you’re going through the ups and downs of winning and losing, injuries, frustrations, and grade problems --- but you push through it and you move on.”