Cassidy meets true definition of coach

There is a coach in the Williamsville school district that has yet to cut an athlete because of the inability to find an open slot on his team. Oh, he may dismiss someone for consistent lack of performance or for breaking the rules (for example, drinking, smoking, or using illegal drugs). He won't hold a spot on the team for only those that have the best times, or those that may have been in the varsity ranks the year before, or for a child whose older sibling has participated in the sport and whose parents are in the position to "groom" this younger sibling.

This coach, North swim coach Doug Cassidy, will actually let all

who join the team participate. He says that it's his job (along with his assistant coaches) to figure out how to get the 60-plus athletes enough practice time, it's his job to find a way to get everyone to participate in the next school-versus-school competition, and it's his job to figure out how to give each athlete enough attention so that they can reach their full potential. And when he says full potential, he doesn't just mean making sure that his team has the best score at the end of the day, he includes the word

"service" - service to each team member by encouraging teammates, service within his team by teaching each others what will help them to be better athletes, and service to the community by participating in events that will help a greater cause.

No, my child may not receive a varsity letter at the end of four years in high school, but my child will know the true meaning of the word "team" thanks to this coach and his compassion to teach.

A.M. Tunkey

Getzville