Ask any child who laces up their cleats or ties a shoelace tight before a big game what they remember most, and chances are, it’s not the score. It's the voice in the stands shouting their name, the hand on their shoulder when they needed it most—and often, it’s the memory of a parent who showed up, over and over again.
In Smyrna and Vinings, a handful of dads have turned "showing up" into something even bigger: they’ve stepped onto the field or court as coaches, mentors, and lifelong role models.
Derek Norton, father of two and a longtime Little League baseball coach, understands just how fleeting childhood can be. “I’ve heard that 75% of the time you spend with your kids happens by the time they turn 12," Derek says. "I don’t want to waste a second.”
Between work and busy schedules, it would be easy to stay on the sidelines—but for Derek, coaching son Jack and daughter Sam was a no-brainer. "Family is always my priority," he says. "Coaching gives me another way to stay connected to them—and to their friends, too."
Tom Bass, who once coached girls’ softball at Rhyne Park, focused on blending fun with purpose. “When they were younger, it was all about having fun. We wanted them to love playing," Tom recalls. "As they got older, we encouraged them to be all in if they were going to be part of something."
Tom had a tradition that made game days extra special: a gratitude ritual. Before each game, players shared what they were grateful for, and a stuffed polar bear mascot named Blizzard guarded the dugout, with every player giving him a pat on the head before stepping up to bat. That season, Blizzard brought luck—Tom’s team ended up champions of Rhyne Park—but Tom is quick to say it was the spirit, not the score, that made the season unforgettable.
For Bola Akigbogun, who grew up playing soccer himself, coaching feels like coming full circle. “As a player, it was about what I could do," he explains. "As a coach, it's about helping the team grow together."
His proudest moments aren’t just the wins—they're the small victories that add up to real change. “Lots of small improvements create big changes," he says, a lesson he hopes his players will carry long after the season ends. Watching a former player make it to a professional team is just one example of the quiet impact coaches like Bola have every day.
Basketball coach Jeff Pennington believes that sports are simply a platform for something far deeper. “The sport is just the vehicle," Jeff says. "The real work is about building character, memories, and connection.”
Coaching his daughters has been a gift of built-in quality time—something he says has strengthened their bond immeasurably. “The practices and games are meaningful, but it’s the conversations before and after that matter even more,” he says.
His advice to other dads is simple: say yes. “You don't have to be a coaching genius," Jeff says. "You just have to care and show up. Influence matters more than any scoreboard ever will."
These dads aren’t just shaping athletes—they're shaping confidence, resilience, and heart. In the end, the trophies will tarnish, the uniforms will be boxed away, but the memories they’ve created—those will last a lifetime.
Possible pull-quote 1: "Building bonds beyond the scoreboard."
Possible pull-quote 2: "You just have to care and show up." Jeff Pennington