Coach is surprised with 'Coach of the Year' Award

Photo courtesy of Marty Schwarz

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Marty Schwarz (back right) coaches the boys sixth-grade team with assistant coaches Dean Mayer and Danny Snow. The boys have continued to improve since they began in the fourth grade and tied for third in the semi-finals.

SALT LAKE CITY -"When they called me to tell me I had received the 2009 PARA Coach of the Year Award, I thought they were joking," said Marty Schwarz, a retired FBI special agent and a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Salt Lake City.

Schwarz coached the Our Lady of Lourdes Salt Lake City sixth grade boys team and the eighth grade girls team in 2009. For the past four years Schwarz has coached the boys who are now in seventh grade. He started coaching them when they and his son, John, were in the fourth grade. Last year the eighth grade girls needed a coach, so he volunteered to coach them.

In picking the Coach of the Year, the Parish Athletic Recreation Association (PARA) looks at how the coaches interact with their players, and how they treat the scorekeepers because the youth handle the scoreboard. They check to make sure the coaches have come to all the practices, the kids have arrived home safely and the coach's attitude toward the officials and other teams.

"Schwarz, our PARA Coach of the Year, has his teams shake hands with the other teams and he always comes over to the score table and thanks the scorekeepers for a job well done," said Willie Price, PARA commissioner. "Schwarz has not had winning teams, but winning is not everything. He had an eighth-grade girl who had special needs, and she played as much as any other player on the team. It brought tears to my eyes, because he could have easily played somebody else instead. He made her feel part of the team, and I admire that.

"That is what PARA is trying to get across to a lot of the coaches. You can win, but it is more about how you play the game," said Price. "Schwarz's teams are very respectful and polite."

Schwarz credits his success to his assistant coaches, Dean Mayer and Danny Snow, who have been with him for the past four years. Most of the boys had never played basketball before, and he had never coached before.

"We lost all but one game our first season," said Schwarz. "Then last year they improved and tied for third in the semi-finals. They have always had fun playing, but every year they have become more competitive. This year we have three wins and no losses."

Schwarz said his eighth-grade girls team had only seven players, and one of the girls had played on the Special Olympics basketball team.

"I was proud of the way the girls embraced and supported her and allowed her to play," said Schwarz. "They were a fantastic group of girls.

"I absolutely love coaching for PARA, said Schwarz. "When I first started, I did not know that much about basketball. Our primary focus was to have every boy on the team play and have fun. We slowly learned the basketball rules, how to work as a team and become competitive. I have learned more about the boys and how to coach and motivate them. This year I have stressed to them they are students first, have commitments to their families, the school, the school community, and their last priority is to be an athlete on our team. Their parents support the team and me as a coach."

Schwarz also filled in for the seventh grade language arts teacher while she was on maternity leave. Annie Razzeca, Our Lady of Lourdes advancement director, said Schwarz is the "go to guy" for everything. He substitutes on a moments notice, he cleans, paints, moves furniture, and he has a great rapport with the students.