Coaches play unique roles in the lives of the athletes with whom they work.
Those roles vary from teacher to friend to parental figure to confidant to authority figure to button-pusher to mentor and just about everything in between. For many athletes, relationships with coaches can last for the rest of their lives.
We’re celebrating coaches in this June/July 2022 issue of PressBox. Some have reached remarkable milestones, while others have recently decided to call it a career. These coaches span men’s and women’s sports at the high school, college and professional levels. They’ve all made a distinct impact on the Baltimore sports scene and an indelible impact on those they have coached. And yet, there are plenty of others who could’ve easily been recognized as well.
We asked some of the athletes who know these coaches best to tell us more about them.
Interviews have been edited for content and clarity.
John Harbaugh
Former Ravens players Brendon Ayanbadejo, Ray Rice, Sam Koch, Anthony Levine Sr. and Zach Orr share what has made John Harbaugh so successful since he became Baltimore’s head coach in 2008.
Pete Caringi
Former UMBC men’s soccer players Giuliano Celenza, Jason Dieter and Pete Eibner share what makes Retrievers coach Pete Caringi so successful.
Sasho Cirovski
Former Maryland men’s soccer players Scott Buete, Jake Pace and Donovan Pines share what makes Terps coach Sasho Cirovski so successful.
Missy Meharg
Former Maryland field hockey players Kasey Tapman Asper, Brooke Cabrera and Christine Knauss share what makes Terps coach Missy Meharg so successful.
Ken Niumatalolo
Former Navy quarterbacks Malcolm Perry and Keenan Reynolds share what makes Mids football coach Ken Niumatalolo so successful.
Janine Tucker
Janine Tucker retired as head coach of Johns Hopkins women’s lacrosse following the 2022 season, which marked her 29th campaign leading the Blue Jays. Former players Erin Wellner Hellmold, Mary Ann McGuire and Lauren Skellchock share what made Tucker so successful.
Pat Clatchey
Former Mount Saint Joseph basketball players Darryl Morsell, JJ Outlaw and Will Thomas share what makes Gaels coach Pat Clatchey so successful.
Lou Eckerl
Lou Eckerl retired as the athletic director and varsity baseball coach at Calvert Hall following the 2021-22 school year. Former players Matt Bosse, Brooks Kerr, Zach Rowe and Troy Stokes Jr. share what made Eckerl so successful.
Kendall Peace
Former Poly girls’ basketball players Britni Lonesome, Teira Pendleton and Khepera Stokes share what makes Engineers coach Kendall Peace so successful.
