The Man who Loved All

There are way too many memories going through my mind right now. I have no idea where to start. I also have no pictures to back up any of my stories, so I hope I am descriptive enough.

First off, Bill was not just a soccer coach. He was an amazing friend in whom I, and my parents had complete trust.

He definitely was a second Dad to everyone he coached, but especially to those of us who he coached for 12+ years. The relationship that was built over those many years is indescribable, and one I definitely took for granted. My wife (Kristin) always wondered about, and I think maybe even questioned, the relationship that I had with him. I always talked about how great of guy he was and how much fun we had together as a soccer team, but she had never met him until September 2004, when a passing of a loved one hit our family. Even though I had not seen Bill for probably 2-3 years at that point, he came out of the woodwork to deliver one of his famous "bear hugs" to one of his adopted sons in need. This might not seem like much to any outsider, but it meant the world to me. His hug and his tears that he shed reminded me of immediately of a scripture in Mosiah 18:9 "are willing to mourn with those that mourn yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort..." Bill was that kind of guy. He loved everyone, and Kristin finally understood what I had been talking about for so long. Bill was not your usual, every day coach. He was our second Dad.

I have never and will not ever take for granted the life lessons that he taught us on and off the field. He was a man of integrity and of respect. Despite the usual dominance that we had during summer, fall, and spring leagues, he never once allowed us young teens to disrespect another team, (or official) in any way.

I have to run to a lab, but I hope to continue with some of my humorous memories in the next post.