MHC Dish From the Pitch 2013 MHC Dish From the Pitch 5 | Page 2

photo credit: Ellen Burmeister

As an MHC youth coach from the
very beginning, Coach Toomey has seen
many kids grow up in the club. He says
watching the kids improve and thrive is what
keeps him coming back. “[Seeing a kid go]
from being intimidated and scared to
excelling in the adult league or watching a
kid hit the ball for the first time and the
amazement crosses his face, that’s what it’s
all about.”

The MHC Youth League would be a
different place without Dan’s smiling face
and words of wisdom. Along with his work
ethic and discipline also comes his shared
joy and passion for the game. If you’re
caught goofing off or slacking he might
have you doing push ups, but a few minutes
later after working hard you’ll be rewarded
with a pat on the back for a job well done.

There are especially lighthearted
moments that everyone will always
remember like the silliness of singing his
wonderful rendition of the “Ring of Fire,”
which was born on the 2007 youth trip to
Ireland. He’s instilled in us youth players a

sense of responsibility and commitment to
the club, and we should all strive to make as
big an impact on the life of the MHC as he
has. As Dan says, “If you’re going to be a
part of something, do it 100%.”

The MHC is going to have big
Toomey sized shoes to fill next season as
Dan is retiring from coaching this year. We
congratulate and send our support to him in
his next adventure as the President of the
Wisconsin USO (United Service
Organizations). As much as we will miss
him, they are sure to benefit from his
positive attitude and his passion for helping
people. He says he’ll be stopping by to
check on everybody at the MHC from time to
time and we’ll all be looking forward to
those visits.

As Dave Olson, our Viking leader
always says, “We never say goodbye. It’s just
that we’ll see you on the next adventure.”
Let’s send Dan off with that, and with the
USO motto, “Until everyone comes home.”