'Coach' is one of the most endearing words in the English language. From childhood to adulthood, the names of your mentors and teachers stay with you, as do their lessons and messages of strength and unity. Their advice often exceeds the realm of sports and bleeds into life, shaping you, keeping your goals focused, making you a better person. In this one-of-a-kind anthology, consisting of both original and reprinted essays, notable authors and writers such as Pat Conroy, Tour , Frank Deford and George Plimpton write about the experiences they?ve had with the athletic coaches who changed and influenced their lives. The book includes original works from George Vecsey, E.M. Swift, Buzz Bissinger, Andrew Solomon, Francine Prose, Thomas Beller, Lauren Slater, Benjamin Cheever, Jane Leavy, David Maraniss, Bob Wolff and Bud Collins. From the minds of those who have prepared us for both life?s hardships and its rewards and from the mouths of those who we?ve grown to respect, comes a unique anthology sure to relive every person?s glory days while giving sage advice to be passed on from generation to generation.