My Coach Is…

by Ryan Krzykowski

On Sunday May 5, CFC held its annual Metro KC Coach of the Year celebration, and it appeared a terrific time was had by all.  Three female and three male finalists were recognized, voting results were announced (congratulations to Michelle Abshire and Jerald Long, who were voted the 2024 Coaches of the Year), and we awarded the 2024 Rising Star Award to Anders Hanson, an up and coming distance running coach at Olathe East High.  As has often been the case, the highlights of the evening were the athletes who stood up and provided introductions for each of the finalists. 

We heard from 12-year olds and high schoolers, college students and a college head coach who was there to honor his high school coach who was among the finalists.  We heard poignant words from a man in his 30s, thanking his middle school coach for helping him get his life on a better path 20 years ago.  It was an unbelievably encouraging evening, and many thanks to the finalists of the Class of ’24, and all who were able to join us.

Watching this 30-second video I received from Positive Coaching Alliance provided a reminder of what coaches can mean to the young people we serve.  The finalists for 2024 Coach of the Year: Michelle Abshire, Amy Hoffsommer-Griffin, Lauren Paccapaniccia, Aaron Davidson, Jerald Long and Adam Olerich, certainly embody these qualities and are out there doing it right and making our city a better place.

Let’s Coach With Purpose…