Every year I coached I had to evaluate what was needed to move the team forward. The inevitability of players graduating was as automatic as the sun rising and setting on a daily basis. There were times they would graduate early, finish early and stay for the final year while doing an MBA, or stay for the standard four. Of course, the JUCO transfers were only here for two years but there were fewer of them over the decade-plus. Sometimes, there was one graduate, maybe even none, but there were times where there were five or six. Those times were strenuous. As much fun as it was to continually get fresh players to come in and start their own process, it was also sad. When a player comes in and stays for the full time they are allotted the relationship that is built over that time is very important. My guys and their success while on campus was the highest honor I could have as a coach.
Watching your players walk across the stage, receive their diplomas from Dr. Kerr, and then relish the moments with friends and family afterwards was a great treat. Sadness, although selfish, was also a part of that few hours. Realizing that you no longer had their service on the squad and that you would have to find another player to come in and start that process all over again was an emotion that, for that day, had to be pushed off so the joy of the day could be completely taken in. Over the twelve years of coaching, I graduated just over forty-five players. Some are still finding their way in the world, some are continuing the educational process, and some have already completed their terminal degrees. There are business execs, hedge fund managers, tennis pros, a preacher, a few attorneys, an aspiring doctor, accountants, world traveling digital animation creator, bankers, and teachers. The amount of countries and states where they have ended up is also amazing. Some have found success far from home, while others have planted roots near the home where they have grown up. All of them are doing what they love or if not, working towards finding that which will satisfy the needs they have.
These guys, and women I coached, mean so much to me. When I decided to leave this past year, I knew I was leaving that cycle of jubilation and sadness behind. However, I was also leaving players that I had watched flourish, struggle, fight for their spot, and attempt to become the man they wanted. This season, some of those guys are now getting the opportunity they wanted so badly. They have earned the right to be integral parts of the playing team. This honor is something that is never taken lightly. It is definitely earned and is easily snatched away. Learning that success is earned and not given is something that I preached relentlessly while I was at the helm. I am so impressed with the perseverance they have shown, and their willingness to stick it out, even when things weren’t going the way they wanted or expected.
In less than a month, there will be five guys who will have swung a racket at the Wynee Warden Tennis Center for the last time as a MOC. They will walk across the stage and become alumni. The dream of college athletics will have its completion and the next dream will take hold. For some, it will be more schooling, for a couple it will be a master’s or Doctorate, and maybe others will immediately find the first job to cut their teeth in the corporate world. One thing is for sure, I have heard this from every player that I have ever talked to after they have left for a bit, they will miss the team. Each has their own reason. Some hated the structure, but loved the camaraderie, others miss the competition, while others simply miss the mandatory health benefits of being on a highly competitive athletic team. Miguel Alvarez, Derek Bell, Matt Matsuyama, Blaine Miller, and Lance Francisco will be heading into the next step of their lives here shortly. I know that I will be in the RP Funding Center to watch them receive that piece of paper that signifies years of sweat, hours of studying, some really good times, and the hope for their future. There will come a time that I don’t know any of the players on the squad and then that portion of my life will completely be closed, like the last book I finished reading. However, as far as I can tell I have three graduations still to attend. For many of the guys, I don’t think they truly understand how important they were to me and that I treasure them for what they came to me as and what they trained themselves to be when they left Florida Southern College.
I am happy for all of you. Heck, I am proud of all of you and cannot wait to see you all succeed like each of you think you will. That is why I enjoyed all of you. Your belief in yourselves made the motivation easier. Finish strong, study hard, and enjoy the remaining time. You will miss it.
Photo by Faustin Tuyambaze on Unsplash
Photo by rawpixel.com on Unsplash
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