The Household Heisman

My wife has been married to a coach for 26 years. Patty Thorn has been married to a coach twice as long, 52 years. Amazing!

These two ladies along with thousands of other coach’s wives deserve a parade, a party and a proclamation. They are a special sorority. My success, the success achieved by any coach, at any level, is a direct result of the love, encouragement and sacrifice of the coach’s wife. The coach’s wife…undisputed winner of the Household Heisman Trophy!

Last week I traveled to Gulf Shores with our Landmark Christian varsity boys and girls track teams. We were there for the the entire spring break (8 days). Our kids competed in three high caliber meets and trained each day between meets. It was a grueling schedule with more time spent in the sand at the end of the long jump pit than the sand right outside our door on the beach. Our kids performed well with the highlight coming when senior Brett Lewis ran a 4:26 1,600 in the Mobile Meet of Champions.
I’m sure the Lethbridge twins at Our Lady of Mercy are “tracking” his progress.

This particular trip was a continual reminder of the grace and beauty of the coach’s wife. Patty Thorn has been a demonstration of both qualities for over half a century. She is married to a legend. Bill Thorn has coached every sport and every athlete in the south metro area since FDR, continuing on even when we did not know who shot JR, and he is still going today with the advent of the hybrid car. And at 75, he’s still as energetic, intense and focused on winning as he was when I first met him 25 years ago when I was fortunate enough to coach a high school national all-star football game with him. I was 25 years old and I’ve never forgotten some of our one on one chats.

Here we are 25 years later and he has not changed a bit. Good thing. He’s won more football state titles and track state titles than anyone else in Georgia high school history. He is a man of conviction (stubborn as a mule), believes the key to success is good old-fashion hard work (his definition…not yours), and is about to run his 37th straight Peachtree Road Race (half marathons are for sissies and old people). He will eventually end up in the GHSA Hall of Fame. Until then, I’m glad he is at Landmark. I’m honored to work with him. Everyone at Landmark feels the same way.
One thing all successful coaches have in common is an incredible wife. A life-long best friend who is our encourager, our 6th sense, our strength and she is always willing to endure the loneliness that is the trademark of the profession. Miss Patty has been the perfect coach’s companion longer than Joe Paterno has been on the sidelines at Penn State. How’s that for perspective?

Patty Thorn is a southern belle. She is beautiful; she is kind and attentive to everyone around her. She is as fit and energetic as any 40 year-old women on the planet. The other night I saw her get on the bus…from the back exit! If I tried that I’d pull both groin muscles and if it were a field event I’d scratch on all three attempts; not Miss Patty. She’s got ups!

She is up before the kids, she fixes lunch for all 36 of us and if we head out to Cracker Barrel at 11 p.m. you can bet she’s going. She can throw down the chow as good as any of us. No wonder Bill fell in love with her. Miss Patty knows the name of every athlete, their events and needed improvements (hey, she is a coach’s wife).

Thank you Miss Patty for sharing Bill these 52 years (and counting). There are thousands of boys and girls who have grown into life-long winners as a result of your sacrifices at home.
So, how bout it coaches? When was the last time you took your wife out for dinner just so you could tell her how much her sacrifices at home have allowed you to be a success on the field? I know I cannot count the times I’ve brought boys home to eat (even the whole team) without warning and Shari has step into the batter’s box and hit a grand slam. We have five children, she works full-time, cooks dinner, gives baths, does homework, heals the sick all before I walk in the door from school. She has never missed a single game I’ve coached.

Face it men, there is no defense designed to stop how much we love our wives. Last week I was able to glimpse what it will be like in another 26 years for Shari and I.

Win or lose…I am a man most blessed.