All of us who did sports throughout our lives hit a point where we had to leave a coach behind. Whether it was leaving to make your sports career more serious or making the transition to high school sports, you had to leave behind someone you once saw as a mentor. These people had a huge impact on your life and you probably thanked them when you left and promised you'd visit. Years go by and life gets in the way and you don't visit like you said you would. So heres to the coaches that impacted my life incredibly, I owe you one.

Thank you for teaching me the essence of team work. I learned it at such a young age because of you and I'll never forget that lesson as I use almost everyday.

Thank you for being my support system for so long. There were times that I don't know if I would've made it through without you. Thank you for supporting me and my dreams.

Thank you for caring. There are coaches in this world that truly don't care. I thank you for always caring about my future and wanting what was best for me.

Thank you for believing in me, it meant more to me than you can imagine. You believing in me allowed me to believe in myself, believing in myself pushed me to bigger and better things.

Thank you for criticizing me. Because of you I grew stronger and got so much better. I was probably angry at you in the moment, but I couldn't be more thankful for your criticism now.

Thank you for pushing me beyond my beliefs. I wouldn't be the athlete I am today if you hadn't. So thank you for screaming in my face and making me work harder.

Thank you for being my family. Working with you and my team 6 or 7 days a week gave me a second home. I appreciate growing up with you all as my family.

Thank you for the memories. I'll never forget you, the laughs, tears, wins, and loses that we had together as a family. Those years and moments will never be replaced.

I don't know who I would be without everything you gave me. You might not have realized how much you impacted my life, but I think about how much you did often. I appreciate you and miss you. I hope the team you have now is doing well, and I hope an athlete learns the same lessons for you that I did so long ago.