Coach Fox, Hall of Fame Inductee HSCOACH 01/02/09 04:32 PM 0 hits
Last year I recieved an award from the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association for "Man of the Year" 2007 and this year on January 31st I will be inducted into the IHSBCA Hall of Fame. At first impulse I was excited and thought that this was a great award for me as a baseball coach and would be a highlight of my career but as I thought more about it, it was even a bigger honor for many others.
I would have never recieved this honor if it wasn't for a great group of people around me...and I would like to thank them now and give this honor to the people that deserve it most and made it all possible. You win some, You lose some...It's the feeling of being apart of it you never forget and that's what has meant the most to me.
My wife Penny and my family Paul. David, Nick, Jessica, and Greg have always taken a back seat to my love of the game and the time I spent on the baseball practice and game fields. The time spent away from them was unbelievable and yet they stood by me. They truely have made all of this possible for me by their sacrifices. They are the main reason I was able to have success and be the type of coach I have always wanted to be.
My players have been the real cause of these honors because they have really done all the hard work, effort, and preperation to succeed at this level. I have been very fortunate to be associated with the greatest group of athletes and teams that anyone could hope for. They were all class individuals and are a very important part of my life and my baseball success. They are all winners and I will never forget them...they are a life time full of great memories.
The school, the families, and the boosters were also a big part of these awards...
The Downers Grove South School and Oregon High School faculty and Administrators were very helpful to me and my ability to improve the facilities and playing conditions for the athletes and to improve my coaching skills and abilities.
The families and boosters that supported the baseball program also were big in the development of first class equipment, facilities, and uniforms. They were not only great parents that supported there kids a 100% but great boosters that supported me through all these years...I can't thank all of them seperately but they will always be a part of me and my great memories at Oregon High School and Downers Grove South. They were willing to not only sacrifice time and money for the program but support of my ideas and philosophies. There kids were great examples of great families.
The assistant coaches that I have had over the years were outstanding. I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by the best assistant coaches a head coach could ask for.I would name them all and thank it one but I could never thank them enough...I learned so much from them. I do want to mention Rudy Boker who was the head coach at South before me...He was a greeat teacher of the game of baseball...Thanks.
As an IHSBCA Board member for the last 9 years i have also learned that there is ways of supporting Illinois baseball besides coaching...Helping Illinois baseball coaches learn and supporting their programs. The IHSBCA Board members are the greatest group of coaches that take coaching to the next level...State wide. They have taught me and shared many coaching ideas that even today have helped me be a better caoch.
I am writing this article not to accept this honor on my behalf but for all the teams that I have coached in the last 32 years. I had the honor to coach at Downers grove South for 23 years and Oregon High School for 9 years. My 397 victories do not exist without any of these players. My 21 years as a head Varsity baseball coach doesn't exist without the support of my family and my extended baseball family. The last 2 years I have recieved honors not for me but for them. On January 31st I will be inducted into IHSBCA Hall of Fame but my shoulders will be alot bigger than ever before...I will be carrying alot of players,c oaches, family, and friends with me.
Congratualtions to all of you who have had a part in this honor...it truely is for you too.The award and honor are not mine alone...But my baseball family's.
Thanks to the Chicago White Sox Academy in Lisle for allowing me to continue coaching and doing what I love most. Being able to touch individual baseball players and help their progress is a great feeling. Still coaching hitting and pitching lessons.This allows me to still help some of Downers Grove South's players.