The legion of men and women in Southeastern North Carolina who help coach sports have plenty of stories, and plenty of challenges to do the job for boys and girls learning the game they love. Over the course of 2016, StarNews staff writer Tim Hower will tell some of the stories and explain those challenges, from a variety of leagues, sports and levels.
By Tim Hower | StarNews Staff
From Hugh MacRae Park to Fenway Park, Sandy and Dr. Bill Nixon have made the baseball diamond their second home over the past four decades.
Watching their son, Trot, play was a pleasure. There were plenty of special moments: Trot’s first hit, capturing a state championship with New Hanover in 1993, and winning the 2004 World Series with the Boston Red Sox are just a few.
And the memories aren’t finished yet.
Since retiring in 2007, Trot has been influential in the lives of young kids in his hometown. He recently finished helping coach his sons’ teams at Noble Middle School and Supper Optimist.
Sandy and Bill still attend every game. Bill takes his spot behind home plate with his pocket radar gun, while Sandy sits down one of the baselines.
“I take a lot of pleasure and pride in what he’s doing after playing at the level he played and then coming back and working with kids,” Bill said. “People did it for him and he is returning that to the community and kids in the area.”
GOOD EXAMPLES
Trot doesn’t recall the names of every coach. What he does remember is that each helped him develop the skills needed to spend 12 years in Major League Baseball.
“My experience was like a lot of these kids,” he said. “I loved to be out at the ballpark. I grew up playing over at Hugh MacRae Park. The most important people were the coaching staffs over there. Pat Harrell, Frank Clemmons and Cliff Winefordner come to mind. Those guys did a great job with not only me, but a lot of the other kids that were over there.”
On days when he didn’t have a game or practice, Trot could be found with a ball in his hand. He had a desire to improve.
“He’s done well everywhere he’s been, but it didn’t come natural,” Bill said. “He worked at it for hours after school. He had good coaches that pushed him, and he was one of those kids who could accept being pushed.”
Now, he uses his own experience as an example of how hard work pays off.
“Trot’s baseball knowledge is through the roof, but he also instills in them a really good work ethic,” said Chris Holland, who has been coaching alongside Trot at Supper Optimist for the past six years. “That’s how he got to where he was. He lets them know all the time if they don’t work at it they aren’t going to be any good at it.”
PAYING IT FORWARD
It’s been nearly a decade since Trot retired, but he couldn’t just leave the game he loved. He got right into coaching, starting with his oldest son Chase’s T-ball team.
"If we had girls, he would probably be out there coaching softball," Trot’s wife Kathryn said.
Not one to seek the spotlight, Trot is content being an assistant coach. He coached first base for Noble and the Royals, an 11-12U major league team at Supper Optimist.
“It’s all about these kids and hopefully giving them an opportunity to continue to play the game and hopefully have fun with it,” Trot said.
To most kids, Trot is just another coach. All the players were either too young or not even born during his glory days.
“They don’t have any idea who he is, really,” said Brian McDaniel, whose son Tyler played for Trot for the first time this season. “My son went on YouTube to watch some clips, but it’s hard to understand at that age. I think it’s probably cooler for the parents. The kids will appreciate it when they are a little older.”
Each season, Trot gets a chance to build new relationships with players. It doesn’t take long for him to earn their trust.
“Just because you are good at something it doesn’t mean you can teach it, but the really good thing about him is he takes time with the boys and he is a really good teacher,” McDaniel said.
TEACHING EVERY FACET OF THE GAME
In 2001, Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Paul Quantrill referred to Trot and a few of his Red Sox teammates as “dirt dogs.” The name couldn’t have been more fitting for the hard-nosed player who cared more about winning than his own statistics.
It’s not surprising that his team-first approach has carried into coaching.
"The most important thing is to make sure they appreciate every part of the game,” Trot said. “Everyone loves to be in the batter's box, but they don't usually love base running or playing in the field.
"I try to teach them that you can go 0-for-4 and still help your team win the ballgame with good base running or by playing good defense."
Trot remains positive even if a player strikes out or commits an error. Those things happen. What he won’t accept is a lack of effort.
"If he sees we're not hustling as much as we should be, he'll make us hustle,” said 11-year-old Will Hinshaw, a member of the Royals. “That's Trot."
- Reporter Tim Hower can be reached at 910-343-2366 or Tim.Hower@StarNewsOnline.com.