Coach dedicates time to little league program
Randy “Boone” Coomer takes the act of coaching and turns it into a way of life.
Coomer has been involved with the Adair County Little League program off and on for almost 15 years.
“I played softball until I was about 35 but I’ve been involved in it (little league) since then and I’m almost 51,” Coomer said.
Coomer saw his son Adam all through little league and high school, and then returned five years ago to the little league program. He has been involved since and plans to continue to stay involved in sports in Adair County.
Even though Coomer is actively involved in the program, he did not play little league sports as a child. He started playing softball when he was 15 years old.
“I never played many sports in school,” Coomer said. “In that day and age it just wasn’t easy for mom and dad to get me there.”
Right now Randy is involved in several different things in the sports program in Adair County.
Coomer has a t-ball team for 11- and 12-year-olds and he keeps score at the high school.
“That’s really all I have done as far as that goes,” Coomer said. “When Adam was in school I helped some with the baseball program but now I just come and watch. But I’m mainly involved in little league.”
Coomer enjoys every minute of his time at little league even though he doesn’t have a child in the program anymore.
“I just love the game,” Coomer said. “I love being around sports.”
A lot of the joy Coomer has for the program comes from the players.
“The kids come around and they tell me that this was the best year ever because I have fun with them and I get out and play with them,” Coomer said. “That means it all to me when a kid will tell you that year was the most fun they’ve had since they started little league.”
Coomer will be a part of the program for a long while because of his passion for it.
“It’s just something I enjoy,” Coomer said. “I could say no and come home but I really, really enjoy doing it.”
When Adam left little league in 1997, Coomer knew that he wasn’t done with the program.
“I got out of it there for a year or two just to rest a little bit,” Coomer said. “Once this group of kids got started I decided to help, but the next thing you know I was back in it again.”
Coomer also has personal reasons to stay so involved in sports.
“I love the game and it’s just a way for me to keep myself going,” said Coomer jokingly. “It’s a way that I continue to be involved where I don’t feel as old as I probably am.”
He enjoys doing everything he does; Coomer doesn’t plan on getting out of it any time soon.
“As long as I’m able I’ll be willing to help any way I can with the program,” Coomer said.
Coomer is very dedicated to the program in Adair County and always tries to do his part in making sure the Adair County sports program remains successful.
“Its home. This is where I’ve always lived and I’ve not been associated with any other schools as far as sports and I want to see our kids here do good,” Coomer said. “I want to always have a good sports program here in Adair County.”
Coomer also believes that it is important for school-aged children to have a positive option for entertainment.
“The main goal by coaching is always to try to show kids that are that age that you can have fun without having to get into something you don’t need to be into,” Coomer said. “I just want to teach them that even though there’s all of this other stuff to do like drugs and alcohol, they can have fun doing something like playing ball.”
Coomer said playing sports is about more than just winning.
“Winning is not all of it; it’s the learning and the teaching,” Coomer said. “If they only learn one thing then that is my main goal and this year, I think we accomplished that.”
This season Coomer’s T-Ball team won their league. He is assisting with the all-star team of that group and believes they will do well also. Coomer has been dedicated to his county and his love for sports. He is also a little league basketball coach and coaches his nephews.
He will continue to coach until his youngest nephew is too old for sports, he said.
By Will Rich
Sportswriter
