09/18/2026
This picture lives on my desktop at work, so I look at it every day. It truly is one of my favorite pictures of my husband, but lately I’ve realized I see a lot more than just him in it.
I’ve spent so much of my life loving coaches. My dad coached us when we were kids. Both of my brothers have coached, with one currently still coaching. I married a coach. And now I’m working alongside coaches daily.
I’ve also been a crazy sports parent, though. I’ve questioned decisions, gotten frustrated, and forgotten the bigger picture. I definitely wasn’t perfect.
When you see it from every side and see how much of themselves the coaches—and their families—give to other people’s kids, you think of it a little differently. Late nights, missed events, problem-solving, constantly thinking of ways to do better than the day before.
Coaches aren’t always going to get it right, and for some, they almost never do. But there’s a whole lot of love and sacrifice on those sidelines.
So when I look at this picture, I see my husband. But I also see so many people I love who have chosen this life: the long hours, the stress, and sometimes heartache— because if it means even one kid has someone in their corner, it’s worth it.
