"There is no game that teaches life lessons better, at least none that I've found," said Doug Bevier. He is known to give his Little League ball players a little homework after practice.
"After each practice he would give the kids a word like ‘discipline.’ He would tell them the meaning and then quiz them on what it meant the next practice," Bevier's daughter Bria said over the loudspeaker Wednesday night at the Miller-Sibley Complex. Unbeknownst to "Coach Doug," several members of the community and his family arranged to honor him for his 30 years of coaching Little League in the Franklin area.
"After each practice he would give the kids a word like ‘discipline.’ He would tell them the meaning and then quiz them on what it meant the next practice," Bevier's daughter Bria said over the loudspeaker Wednesday night at the Miller-Sibley Complex. Unbeknownst to "Coach Doug," several members of the community and his family arranged to honor him for his 30 years of coaching Little League in the Franklin area.
He stood humbly along the first base infield as an announcement was made that they were delaying the start of the final game for his league-leading Elks team in order to thank him for all his years of service to the kids.
"He enjoyed when a player could make a head-ups play, but he loved when a player received all As on a report card or seeing a player get summer job more. He instilled in them what leadership was and how in everything you do in this life you lead by example, or lead by being vocal and picking your teammates up," his daughter continued.
"He enjoyed when a player could make a head-ups play, but he loved when a player received all As on a report card or seeing a player get summer job more. He instilled in them what leadership was and how in everything you do in this life you lead by example, or lead by being vocal and picking your teammates up," his daughter continued.
That homework Bevier would give was the most important thing he could do, he said. He looked at coaching baseball as a means to teach kids to be better people and leaders. "My kids all have given me the time to help all these other kids," Coach Doug said, as he started to get a little emotional. "And they have all come out to help coach too."
Bevier's daughter said her dad has reached over 300 local kids over the years, instilling in them lessons on how to be successful in life. "Some of his lessons included responsibility, accountability, sportsmanship and that hard work pays off."
Bevier's daughter said her dad has reached over 300 local kids over the years, instilling in them lessons on how to be successful in life. "Some of his lessons included responsibility, accountability, sportsmanship and that hard work pays off."
He has a good reason for leaving his successful coaching career that includes eight league championships, several district titles and state runs in both baseball and softball - he wants to spend more time watching his youngest son Hayden play varsity ball and hopefully help out with practices at Rocky Grove.
He didn't rule out a return in the future. "Who knows, we'll see if Jodi (his wife) needs me out of the house, maybe I'll be back in four years," he said.
"Doug's contributions to this league and community will be felt in the hearts of the kids for a long time," his daughter concluded her speech. "Thank you Coach Doug, thank you Dad."
"Doug's contributions to this league and community will be felt in the hearts of the kids for a long time," his daughter concluded her speech. "Thank you Coach Doug, thank you Dad."
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