This week I wanted to write about our coaching staff at DBU.  Recently some of our guys put together a little project that we call the DBU Song.  It has been a project that has developed throughout last semester and this one.  The purpose of it was to write a song about our team just for fun.  Then, we thought it may be a good opportunity to really encourage some guys and even show some gratitude.  This may seem silly to some, and maybe it is a bit, but still, I think the song says it best.

“Slidin to the men who in the dugout

On and off the field, they da the same throughout

Holy Heef, what more can you say?

Best dad, best Coach, changing lives everyday

Wyckoff keeps everybody laughing

But when it’s work time, he’s a man not slackin’

Coach Free overflowin’ with wisdom

Always here for tha guys, there ain’t no intermission

B-Welk, man can talk for hours

bout ball, bout his bride, and the Holy Spirit power

JJ, the man never boasts

With the heart of a servant, he’ll be a great coach.”

There it is.  These guys are as good as it gets in my book.  Coach Heefner has had the Oaks leaders over to his home every Tuesday night to prepare, so we get to see him interact and pray with his family.  It is one of the best parts of my week. The Oaks is a voluntary discipleship program we have on the team where guys learn the Bible and spiritual disciplines such as reading, praying, sharing, memorizing, defending, etc.  It’s really neat.  Almost all of our guys are a part of it which is nuts.  When I think of Coach Heefner, I think of strength under control.  I could say a lot more, but lastly, he can teach some hitting, and he can still hit! Even though he never actually hits, I’ve seen samples and heard stories.

Coach Wyckoff is our pitching coach, and I have heard nothing but good from our pitchers since he first got here.  He has a great sense of humor and is really easy to get along with.  But also, he is very balanced.  He knows when it’s time to work, and he is a worker.  He has been successful everywhere he has been.  He was an All-American at Wichita State and even played some pro-ball which makes it easy to learn from him because he’s been there.  Our pitchers really enjoy how much he focuses on the mental side of the game which gives them an edge in the end.  Also, he is very bold in his faith which is a challenge to the rest of us.

Coach Freiling is our infielding coach.  We have been together since day one.  When I think of Coach Free, I think of all the times he’s in our ear about being better ball players and making good decisions.  He is quick to do it in a funny sarcastic way, but always loving.  All the guys know we always have Free to go to if we need anything.  His office door is always open.  That’s huge for our team and has been huge for me on many occasions the last four years.  I’m thankful for Coach Free.

Coach Welker is our volunteer assistant.  He’s been at DBU three of the four years I’ve been here and has always been someone who gives great, deep advise on baseball, spiritual life, life, tough questions, whatever.  He knows the game really well, and he does life really well.  It’s been good getting to know him.

Lastly, Josh Jackson is our Director of Baseball Operations.  He takes care of us.  He probably doesn’t get to do as much coaching as he would like, but he does his job with a smile on his face… and he does a great job.  He truly is a servant, and is going to be a great high school coach sometime soon.