October 27, 2017

Joyful memories of sports leads coach ‘to give back’

By John Shaughnessy

Patrick CollierThe joy flows from Patrick Collier as he recalls playing kickball with the habit‑wearing Franciscan sisters who taught him at St. Gabriel School in Connersville—the place where he played basketball as a boy in the CYO.

“They took their kickball seriously, and they were very good,” he says with a laugh.

His enthusiasm continues as he recalls his years in college when he served as a camp counselor for three summers for the CYO.

“Those were the best summers. We got to talk with and meet a lot of kids from different parts of the state. And just being outside and riding horses and seeing the beauty that God has created—it was all a lot of fun.”

Collier also recalls the fun of coaching his daughter and her classmates in kickball at St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis.

“The game is fast, and the girls were always enthusiastic. We had girls of all levels, but they were all assets to the team.”

All those joyful memories provide part of the spark that has continued to ignite Collier’s passion during his 17 years of coaching kickball, football and wrestling at St. Mark.

“For me, it’s about teaching the sport and the hard work that’s needed—and making it as fun as possible,” says Collier, a father of two who has been married for 28 years to his wife Dawn.

Collier has also used his experience in being recruited by colleges as a wrestler to help youths from St. Mark and Roncalli High School in Indianapolis in their search for the right college—and to also assist them in getting academic and athletic scholarships.

“He treats the youth of our parish with the same love and concern that he shares with his own children,” says Deacon Thomas Horn at St. Mark.

Collier says it’s just his way of thanking God for the gifts he’s received.

“God has given me some talents, and I feel I have to pay that forward as much as I can. I’m just trying to give back.” †

 

Related story: Archbishop salutes CYO honorees and ‘teams’ that support them

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