One of the hardest times in my life has been the death of my basketball coach, Richard Scofield. He has been the head coach for around seven years before this tragedy happened. My dad was his assistant coach and one of his best friends. It was my time to have the opportunity to play under him. I was looking forward to this ever since he started his coaching career at my school. Our team made it to the regional round of the playoffs, but we unfortunately lost. It was his son’s senior year, and I have never seen a coach show as much passion as he did in that game. This man loved the game, but loved is players more. It was a couple of months after the season ended, and we were heading into track season when we heard the news that our coach was hospitalized with a heart attack. I was scared at first, but I never suspected that he wouldnt’t make it because he was one of the strongest and most respected men that are in my life. When my family and I were on our way to the hospital, we got a call that informed us that he had passed away. I felt so bad for his two sons, daughter, and wife; especially because I was very close to his youngest son. This was not only hard for his family or my family, but it hit the whole entire school hard. This only showed how great of a man he truly was.



For me, this tragedy has taught me to live life to the fullest and to work hard at everything I do, because as humans, we do not know when our life will end. Coach “Sco” was riding his bicycle over twenty miles to school once or twice a week. I do not know anyone else who is doing that at his age. His determination and love for adventure was something that impacted peoples lives just by watching him. A quote that he said that is imprinted in everyone at my schools mind is, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” And he lived by this. By his example, it has made me want to live life to the fullest and never take anything for granted. He has made me want to work harder and get better every single day. Every time basketball season starts, I think of him. He has also shown me to give God the glory in everything that I do in life, winning or losing, to praise our Lord. His life will never be forgotten and he will be in my heart until the day that I die.