We could all use a Coach Yanno in our lives
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JASON NADOLINSKI Sports Reporter
Back in mid July, I was able to sit down with former Clarence baseball coach Jack Yanno, who was in town to visit with, among others, a Bformer player who just happened to be on top of his sport's world at the moment. I spoke with him about that player, Kevyn Adams (who won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes), for quite a long time, intending to use some of the stories and other information he provided in an article about Adams' bringing the Cup to his parents' house in Clarence.

However, timing issues prevented me from speaking with Adams about his accomplishments and subsequent celebration in his hometown until just a few weeks ago, and even as a neat and orderly person, I was unable to find my notes from the Yanno interview until after the article came out.

It's a shame, because just like I felt at the time of the interview, I thought to myself as I reviewed the notes upon finding them that we could all use someone like Coach Yanno in our lives.

Yanno retired from coaching the Red Devils in 2003, one year after moving to Florida to be in a better climate for his aching knees. If that's not dedication, I don't know what is; returning from Florida to carry on your coaching duties in the pitiful excuse for spring baseball weather we get to enjoy as Western New Yorkers speaks volumes for Yanno's love of the game and, more importantly, his Clarence players he left behind.

Shortly before his retirement, Yanno told me that if he couldn't continue to run the program year-round as he preferred - including off-season training sessions, clinics and work with the town's youth - he'd have to walk away. He was a person who didn't want to give less than his complete attention and effort to the program, because he didn't think it would be fair to the players with whom he'd worked practically since they were old enough to pick up a bat.

While he never directly said so to me, I'm sure the decision to hang up his Clarence uniform for good was a tough one. Again, without insight directly from Yanno himself, I'd bet the toughest part was not so much walking away from the game that had been so good to him - Yanno finished his coaching career with 475 career victories - but losing that daily interaction with kids who were practically his own.

But the great thing about Yanno is that even though he was multiple states away, he never forgot about his players and his beloved Red Devils. He has made numerous trips back to Clarence to watch his former charges play, and he regularly keeps in touch with as many of his former players as possible, whether they were starting all-stars or utility guys who rarely saw live action.

Having a coach care that much about his or her players is truly a great thing, and it's one of the most important parts of being a great coach. Yanno obviously knew the game of baseball inside out, but without that connection to his players, it wouldn't be the same.

Yanno has jumped back into the coaching realm in Florida (but not as a full-time head coach) and was surprised to see so few teachers as baseball coaches. In most of the cases, outsiders were brought in to run the baseball teams. Many were there for the paycheck and little else. It's sad that kids would be shortchanged the coach-player bond that someone like Yanno brings to the table.

That bond made Yanno's stories about Adams even more amazing. Yanno told me of Adams' commitment, his drive, his talent and his sense of humor from his days as a Red Devil, and you could almost see the present-day Adams rounding third in a sectional playoff game. (Apparently, though, the two shared a joke about how Adams should perhaps stick to hockey once Yanno saw him skate). Yanno regaled me with tales about the Adams of yesteryear the way a proud father would talk about his son. You could definitely see that Adams has had an impact on Yanno, and I'm sure the reverse is just as true.

As you can see, my NBA career never really took off, which is why I'll be writing about basketball in a couple of months instead of lacing up my sneakers to play in front of 17,000 as a San Antonio Spur. But, I did have a couple of great coaches, just like Yanno, who cared more about Jason Nadolinski the person than Jason Nadolinski the shooting guard.

And I'm much better off for it, just like every player Yanno coached is as well.

e-mail: jnadolinski@beenews.com