How One Coach Helped Change a Teenager's Outlook On Life

Patch and When the Game Stands Tall are asking about the coaches, teachers or mentors who inspired you.

Justin Vaughan’s mentor helped change his outlook on life.

Mentor Name: Coach Dean Hugebeck

Known Mentor for: 4.5 years

School: Crestwood

Town: Mantua

State: Ohio

What mentor taught about success: As I walked up to the man, I didn’t notice anything past the shorts, sweatshirt, white beard and that one red Cleveland Indians cap with a Chief Wahoo logo just above the bill. At that moment in time, I only knew he was my tennis coach. However, shortly thereafter, I would view him as more than just a coach. He was a mentor-the type of individual who could really change a teenager’s outlook on life. With words of inspiration and the outlook of a motivational speaker, Mr. Hugebeck will remain an important role model throughout my life. Four years ago I decided that I was going to try out for tennis. I had never played before but thought that it looked like a neat, new experience. And, after all aren’t you supposed to try new things in high school? Coming into my freshman year season, I looked at “Coach” as just someone running a program, who, after the brief 3 month season, would have little impact on my life. That clearly represented the foolish thinking of an immature boy who turned out to be way wrong. With such passion and dedication he was there to teach more than how to play the game of tennis.

Being quite active in church, Coach rarely missed service on Sunday morning. One weekend I had a tennis tournament on a Sunday with my first match starting at 10:30 in the morning. Intrigued to get many supporters I invited him. However, I later found out that church would not get done until around 11, one half hour after my match started. Focused just on my match, I was not getting discouraged on the fact that he would be there late. To my surprise, he showed up before I even started my match! With this match being a preview to how my upcoming season would shape up, it was rather kind and very generous to have Coach present to give me tips and advice on how to improve my game. This was just one of many occasions in which he went out of his daily activities to help a player out in the game of tennis. While also instructing the passion of an individual putting others in front of one’s self. Now that high school is winding down and I am about to start a new chapter in my life, I’m realizing the impact all of this has had on me. When I wake up every day his wise words cross my mind.

“Winning is nice. But to grow and to learn is much more important. To be responsible, committed and to have dedication in everything that you push yourself to accomplish. And remember to put others before yourself, whether it is your team, friends or a random stranger.” This thought structures what coach has applied to his rules of tennis. Whenever I was having a rough day, needed improvement in a specific area or just wanted to talk about anything, Coach was always there knowing the right thing to say to me giving me the best advice to jump over the situation in the healthiest and best way possible. Attempting to improve each and every player, good or bad, Coach strived to instill all that he has learned into us. From the serves in tennis to serving the community, the strong relationships between you, yourself and your teammate and the love to pour knowledge into hungry young’uns, he taught all that decided to play tennis to take what you have learned in the sport and apply it to life.

I know that Coach will not always be my tennis coach but he will always be my coach in life. The memories that I have created with him and my many teammates will forever be in my mind. The advice and life lessons that he has given to me will continue to flourish throughout me while I attempt to use them every single day. Growing up from an inexperienced, lazy freshman to an intelligent, enthusiastic senior, I’ll always remember the “rules of life” the man in the shorts, sweatshirt and Indians cap has shown me. While never letting go those sweet times we have had together.

What mentor taught about dealing with failure: To fight it. As explained in the essay above he showed me how to go above and beyond failing and to keep everything positive.

Best advice from mentor: To go out into every match already a winner.