Dan Dachelet
Southington HS, CT
"It's called the good vicious cycle," said Dan Dachelet, expressing how he tries to motivate his athletes and how they, in turn, inspire him.
Dan is a firefighter by trade but he heart is for coaching.
"I wrote a letter to the team to thank them for nominating me. I wrote about that. I try to motivate them to become better athletes. In turn, they motivate me in terms of response or energy and drive. That's the reward I look forward to... listening to them talk about how they want to be better. For the first time we went to the new England championships in the 4x800m; there was enthusiasm for doing well that keeps me going. I'm a full-time firefighter, but coaching is my full time job. I'm always on, I'm always thinking about it with the kids and thinking about ways to get the program better, the kids better, it drives me every day."
For Dan, coaching and running are more than a hobby. They are a driving force in his life.
"I like the word passion, and that's the way I approach the sport. If you're going to do this, be passionate about it. Don't just go through the motions. Put your heart and soul into it and you'll be better at it and you'll succeed."