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In Honor of Coach Gene Boyle

Even at that time, we knew our team was a different sort of football squad

By Jeff Epperly

Coach will be missed. He has left his mark. The man was the consummate “cheerleader” to the young people of this world. No matter where he went or where he worked he was a positive, encouraging, and exhortative influence on all those who came into his presence.

Coach Gene Boyle had dementia that literally wiped him out over the last five years. It took his memory away and eventually his body but never his heart. I was able to see him many times near the end of his life and he was still the same guy to me. He would exhort anyone within earshot. You could hear him say, “Come onnn!” or, “What’s going on?” Those who took care of him and even some of the fellow residents enjoyed this man as they experienced a “little coaching” from the old ball coach.

Beautifully, he was not alone in the end. He was a life coach before there was such a thing. His long-term impact on people engendered a reciprocal love, which came back to him when he needed it most. In one day, 11 different people came to see him. And on most days, there were at least two or three who made their presence known. They included administrators, co-workers, fellow coaches, and a plethora of former players and students. When you passionately try to move people to become better versions of them selves, and you succeed, well, you can’t help but endear yourself to people.

I have often thought about what makes a great coach. I know my answer will probably be a little different than yours, but I do know this: Gene Boyle is part of my definition and he has been since I played football for him in high school. You see, we played for a state title in 1980 losing to CMR of Great Falls that year, but failing to win pales in comparison to the overall success we had as a group of young men thanks to our coach.

Even at that time, we knew our team was a different sort of football squad. It was filled with a bunch of edgy, rabble rousers who seemed to embrace trouble like their need to breathe. Just ask the police force at the time! I think most of our team was on the “watch” list. But Coach Boyle and his staff engaged our group with tough love and a demanding enthusiasm that gave us room to grow along with just enough open space to be ourselves. Can you say AC/DC’s “Back in Black?”

Proudly, I was a team captain and quarterback on that team. And when I would go see coach, I would remind him who I was by saying, “I was your quarterback and you were my coach.” And he would rather quickly, and to the point, respond, “Were you any good?” Now coming from a guy with late-stage dementia, I didn’t know if he was kidding or simply asking me a question to which he could not remember the answer.

Oddly, some people have said to me that it must have been tough to see coach near the end of his life with his memory vanquished and his body deteriorated, but I never felt that way. You see, I have so many good memories of my coach that it is hard for me to think of him in any other way. So, in honor of you, Coach Gene Boyle, I want to now say what you often said to us. And by the way, thanks for practicing what you preached by living these words when it was needed most – at the end of your life.

“Ya gotta have some courage today! Embrace whatever comes your way, and be the best you can be!”

Jeff Epperly is a Kalispell native who grew up playing sports. Now he enjoys watching his kids doing the same.