By Matt Browning
Graham McGlynn has coached several different sports at the YMCA, but he first knew he wanted to get into coaching in high school.
“My little brother needed a coach for his basketball team, and I stepped in to help,” McGlynn said. “Right away I was drawn to the idea of passing down what I knew about the game and helping young players better themselves. I realized how rewarding it was to see kids grow in confidence and skill, and I’ve been hooked ever since.”
Being a volunteer coach, while also working and being a family fan, can be a challenge.
“Getting across town in traffic to make an early practice is sometimes tough, and practice nights can make it hard to have family dinner before 7,” McGlynn said. “But my family makes it work, and honestly, it’s all worth it when Saturday rolls around and the kids find success on the field or court. Those moments make every late night and rushed commute worth it.”
McGlynn has been blessed to have seen plenty of memorable moments throughout his time as a volunteer coach, but there are two that stand out in particular.
I’ve had so many great coaching memories, but a couple stand out,” McGlynn said. “One is from the spring 2025 soccer season when our team beat a squad that hadn’t lost a game in three years. Seeing how hard our kids worked and then watching them rise to that challenge was unforgettable. Another moment I’ll always cherish was in softball when my daughter hit a walk-off grand slam. I was coaching third base and had the perfect view of it. As a dad and a coach, it doesn’t get any better than that.”
