To be a successful coach, you can't just worry about winning championships.
Of course they are important. But focusing only on titles and trophies will always lead to disappointment. Instead, successful coaches must care about their student-athletes and focus on the day-to-day tasks, the details, the hassle, the hard work.
“It takes energy, drive, competition, recruiting, and a love of the phone,” says Babson men's soccer head coach John Anderson ('75, P'04, '08, '13, '13). “Hard work and work give satisfaction. If they just handed out victories, it would be empty.”
For 38 seasons, Anderson has done that job. He had a lot of success on the field, his teams won 15 conference championships, made 20 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, and he coached and shaped a generation or two of young men who played for him. contributed to.
In honor of Anderson, the Babson soccer community came together to award him the head coaching position for the men's soccer team. “This gift will help keep our program among the best in the nation,” said Mike Lynch, Pamela P. and Brian M. Barefoot Vice President of Athletics and Athletics Advancement. says. “I also think this is a very meaningful way to honor all that John has done for Babson.”
The response was overwhelming
Anderson didn't know about the donation at first. The fundraiser, part of Babson Athletics' larger Champions Forever campaign, was a quiet effort. Still, it was received with considerable enthusiasm. “When we started disseminating information to alumni, the response was overwhelming,” Lynch recalled. “This shows the impact Coach Anderson has had on hundreds of young people over the years.”
Lynch said nothing to Anderson. “He kept it a complete secret,” the coach says. “When he told me that, I thought what a great thing for the football program. I was speechless.”
This strong support of Anderson is representative of the close-knit, supportive community that has surrounded the football team over the years. For example, when the team goes on an away trip, alumni and players' parents are always there to help. “They really care about this program,” Anderson said. “I am truly shocked and horrified by what happened.”
Anderson said contributing to the head coaching position will help support the team, as it is inevitable that budgets and the economy will increase and decrease in the future. “It helps sustain it during difficult times,” he said.
This stability was important to Jim Olivier ’83, one of the many alumni who donated to the fund. “Soccer at Babson is a special program,” said Olivier, who served as an assistant coach under Anderson in the early 1990s. “There is a tradition of excellence there that I and others hope will continue for future generations.”
stay the same
A lot has changed at Babson since 1986, when Anderson started at the university. The athletic facilities were small, and so were the academic departments. Anderson wore multiple roles in his early years. In addition to being the men's soccer coach, he also served as softball director, intramural director, and facilities director.
“There were just a handful of people back then. We all did everything,” Anderson says. “It's a lot of work running this place right now. It's great to see the growth.”
However, some things have not changed. Steve Weber played at Anderson as a student in 1992 and MBA in 2005 and returned to the Beavers as an assistant coach three years ago. “What hasn’t changed is our focus on the team and our pride in knowing the black and white and working for each other,” Webber says.
Honor John Anderson '75, P'04 '08 '13 '13 and support the future of Babson Men's Soccer Team to the Coaching Fund.
The type of player who wears the green and white remains the same. Dave “Mucker” McEachern '94, who played under Anderson, said Babson's players are defined by PHD, which stands for Pride, Heart and Desire. “They never lose to their opponents on the field, not to mention their desire to win,” McEachern said. “Coaches are the key to bringing competitive players into the program.”
Another small but noteworthy point remains unchanged. It's the team's pregame music selection. As the Beavers have done for decades since Anderson played for Babson as an undergraduate and helped lead Babson to its first national title, the team will sing to the tune of “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones. appear on the field. “That's something I inherited,” Anderson says. “I don't know when it started.”
That doesn't mean Anderson is stuck in his ways after all these years. Continuing to win at an elite level (Anderson's teams won 454 games and counting in Babson's career) requires adaptability. “The game has evolved over the years,” Webber says. “Being able to change with the times is a testament to Coach Anderson’s legacy.”
What makes sports special
Like many former players, McEachern remains in touch with Anderson even though his playing career ended several years ago. “He asked a lot of us as young guys, and we responded,” McEachern says. “He always gave me the same thing back.”
Every spring, his coach calls him and leaves him a simple reminder to make the most of each day. “He lets me know the grass is growing, the flowers are blooming, and it’s time to get back on the field,” McEachern says.
“This donation will help keep our program among the best in the country. We also think this is a very meaningful way to honor all that John has done for Babson.”
Mike Lynch, Pamela P. and Brian M. Barefoot, Vice Presidents of Athletics and Athletics Promotion
For 38 seasons, Anderson has been on the field at Babson College, and each time he chooses to retire, Anderson will receive a new endowed position to recognize his lifetime contributions to the college. Anderson hopes the challenge and hard work of being part of his team will better prepare his players for the rigors of life. “I hope character is built in the process,” he says.
Perhaps his favorite part of coaching is when his hard work during the season pays off and his players develop into leaders. “Once it starts coming together, it's tremendous,” he says. “This is what makes the sport special and this program special. Just sitting back and enjoying it.”
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