When it comes to answering the question of why I coach, it’s very easy to come up with a lot of reasons. I’m so lucky to have a profession that keeps me passionate and happy. There are people in the world who are lost and have no sense of direction. When you ask them the reason that they’re in their profession and why they are currently at their job, they have few words. That is sad to me, because I know how amazing it feels to have a job and passion that allows me to be happy with life. To give you an example, here are some of the reasons why I coach baseball:

1. I love baseball.

This is the most important reason that I coach the game of baseball. Baseball is the reason I am who I am today. From the time that I was 12 years old and probably for the rest of my life, I’ve been looking for a way to be better in the game of baseball. The ages 12-23 I would wake up everyday thinking, “How can I get better at baseball?”. Starting at 24 and probably for the rest of my life I will be thinking, “How can I make this team and these players better?” I love playing the game and I love helping others get better at the game that made me who I am today. 

2. Being outside.

In my recent journey of making my life exactly what I want it to be, I have found out how essential it is to be outside. Most jobs are indoors and I knew that I couldn’t do that in my college days. I didn’t know exactly why until I started my research these last few years. Getting sunlight exposure and grounding makes me human. This job allows me to be human. 

3. Traveling to new places.

This game has taken me to parts of this world that I would never have been to, otherwise. To show how much I love this game of baseball, I went to Alamogordo, New Mexico to play for $50 a week. Then, only two months later, I drove 30 hours to continue my professional career in Ottawa, Canada. My wife and I left our home in Florida to live in this small town in Tennessee for my current baseball coaching position. Baseball has given me the perspective in life to take on new challenges and experience parts of life I wouldn’t have if I wasn’t part of this sport. 

4. Building a new family every year. 

Every year is a new year. Those who know this best are the GOAT’s of every sport. Tom Brady, Michael Jordan and more. When you watch “Man in the Arena” and “The Last Dance” you see how this is true. Every year brings a new challenge and things never get stale. If you’re bad, you have a chance to improve. If you were the best then you have a chance to prove to people that you are still the best. This all happens with a new group each year. There are very few sports teams at each level that stay the same from year to year. This brings new challenges to grow together. 

5. Time to take care of your body.

This is something that I’m constantly working on. I’m not in the shape that I’d like to be…and that’s my own fault. This job gives me the opportunities to become exactly who I want to be. I say all the time that if I were working a desk job that I would be 300+ pounds for sure. I love being active and being a baseball coach gives me the opportunity to always be moving. If you know me, you know I have a hard time sitting still.

6. Having something on the line/winning.

I love to compete. Anything that has something on the line…I love to be a part of it. I love to play any game that has something on the line. The game of baseball is such a great sport because you get to play so often. It is more like life than any other sport, because of how many games are played. The next chance to compete is always around the corner in the game of baseball. 

7. Campus life.

College was one of the most transformative times of my life. I love college just for the reason that it allows you to become your own person. College allows the walls of what you “should” be to fall and then shows you the way to pave your own path. It did that for me and I have seen so many people use college as a springboard to their career and life. 

I could dive deeper into more reasons but you get the point. I was scrolling through social media the other day and saw a great movie scene that really made me happy with where I am. Here’s the scene:

Why Kids Love Athletes: Follow Your Dreams

I’m lucky to have the support group that has never allowed me to give up on my dreams. My dream has always been to be a part of the game of baseball. I thought it was playing baseball and with each passing year, I find that coaching the game is even better than playing…simply because I get to help others do what I was lucky enough to accomplish.