Tribute to a replaced coach
Editor, Townsman:
Dear Coach Maglio,
I wish more parents and members of our community had taken the time to get to know you the way I have. I am deeply honored to call you my friend. I can not begin to tell you what you have done for my life through your words, your actions, and the way you live your life. Your introduced me to weight lifting and physical exercise. You helped me through my pathetic gymnastics and football careers. You were always the instructor and mentor, always upbeat, always making a difference. When I'd come back to visit, you always took the time to pull out old pictures and have some laughs. To now have my son know you makes me smile with pride. You don't believe in self-promotion. You are not one for elaborate speeches and sound bites in the news. What you are all about is educating children.
Everything you did was always for the kids. For the 39 years that I have known you, I have watched you influence children's lives. I watched how you molded the lives of all different kinds of kids. These were not always kids who came from affluence; many had little if any, athletic ability. You have never been one for droning on about strategy and pressing the flesh. That to me is what an educator should be.
You understood that only nine people can play on a baseball field at one time and the only 11 can play in a football game at one time. You managed that well, knowing that some kids wouldn't be able to always play.
You also realized that kids developed at different ages and different levels. A child athlete who is mature from ages 8 to 12 doesn't necessarily deserve the starting quarterback job when he or she turns 17. You evaluated each kid based on what you saw when they reached the teams you were coaching. You didn't ask for parental input because you knew that wasn't fair. You wanted kids to show up and work hard and earn their spots. I wish more members of our community realized that.
You handled the difficult job of getting all kids playing time with dignity and grace. Sometimes the behind-the-scenes politics and back-stabbing can get very personal.
You always realized that the majority of kids are not elite athletes and will never be receiving fancy college scholarships.
You have always handled your staff and coaches fairly. You empowered them with the freedom to make their own decisions. When things didn't go exactly as planned you supported them. You have always stood for what was the right thing to do for the kids and knew that self promotion and personal gain didn't help to achieve that goal.
I wonder how many people realize that while you were a teacher and coach for years your also worked two other jobs to help support your family.
Forty years as an educator. We should be throwing you a party, Coach.
Thank you for taking the extra time. Thanks for your words of encouragement, and the pats on my back. Thanks for putting me in my place when I was being a punk. Thanks for, a generation later, taking care of my son. I am so proud of you.
Ken Sawaya
5 Twin Brooks Circle
