Coach Coyle, 62, was my baseball coach a few years ago. He heavily emphasized respect and hard work, constantly relating the sport to life. Coach Coyle realized that most, if not all, of his players would not become professionals, so he used his position to teach admirable qualities. He loved baseball, but his dedication to his players far outweighed his commitment to the sport. Coach Coyle wanted to win, like we all did, but he wanted to win the right way, with respect, hustle, and a good attitude. Although I do not know about Coach Coyle’s personal life, he is one of my influential mentors growing up.
Q: What jobs have you had?
I was born on November 18, 1953 at Memorial Hospital in Worcester, MA. For most of my life my job has been to help people out. I coached and taught, and got involved with helping kids. In 1983, I got into the insurance business with Liberty Mutual, but continued to coach on the side.
Q: Who was your greatest moral influence? Did you have any role models?
My college coaches were the guys that taught me it doesn’t take talent to hustle. Those are the guys that taught me to help people out. Mike Vendetti was an icon to me. Those guys set the tone for where I wanted to go in life.
Q: When did you begin coaching? What drew you to it?
After finishing school at Nichols College in ‘76 , a friend of mine started coaching football at Saint Peter’s, so I started coaching football with him. I also was hired as the JV baseball coach at the same time. So I was teaching in Oxford and I would get in my Volkswagen without heat and drive from Oxford at 2:30 up to Saint Peter’s to coach. Then I would go back to Oxford the next morning and do it again. I saw two different groups of kids, but I always liked the Oxford kids even way back when.
Q: Do you still coach today? Do you have any intentions of retiring from your coaching career?
I still coach Cherry Valley baseball. I only have one more year in me. If someone asked me to help coach town league, I would, but I wouldn’t take a main coaching job again. Say you’re 25 and you decide to coach a team in town and you call me up to help. I’ll help, but you’re the guy. That’s your team.
Q: What do you hope players will take away from being on your team?
Respect. It doesn’t take talent to hustle. Do the next right thing. Baseball is baseball, but bringing life’s lessons into it is what’s important. I have a cop in Worcester, Brendon Tivnan, he was a captain for me in ‘07. I just went to his wedding in the summer. He calls me once a month to say “how ya doin’ coach” and we always leave the conversation with “hey let’s both of us do the next right thing.”
Q:What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?
Stuff like this [the interview]. Going to former player’s weddings. Being a godfather to one of my assistant coaches daughter. Seeing guys grow into being good fathers.
Q: What future goals do you have for yourself?
Stay healthy. Continue to try to be a friend among friends.
Q: What do you see as the most prevalent issue facing society today? How have world issue’s changed throughout your life?
It’s a changed world. I see addiction in young kids. There’s no more true heroes.  When I was growing up, Mickey Mantle was my hero. With social media, people your age don’t have the right heroes. Society today is a tougher time, because of the influences you have access to.
Q: How do you define a “good” or “successful life”?
I’m not a millionaire, and I never set out to be one. But when you touch the life of someone young, that’s the greatest thing in the world. Stay young, help people, have a laugh, and be a good father.

From interviewing Coach Coyle, I learned about the importance of valuing people. He did not have monetary wealth, but the experiences and people in his life made him happy. His mantra “do the next right thing” is infinitely applicable due to its timeless meaning. Everyone makes mistakes, but using the next moment to mitigate the problem is what is important.