A Coach's Greatest Reward Every coach hopes to win championships and develop great players. But if you stay in coaching long enough, you realize the greatest victories happen long after the final buzzer. Recently, I received a note from Paris Kyles, who played for me at Minneapolis Community and Technical College during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. During those two years, our teams compiled a 53–9 record. Paris was a two-year starter and, in 2005, was named the NJCAA Player of the Year. Paris continued his basketball career at Minnesota State University, Mankato—my alma mater—where he enjoyed an outstanding career under my good friend, Coach Matt Margenthaler, a long-time PIV's Pal. Seeing Paris continue to grow and succeed at Mankato made me just as proud as anything he accomplished while playing for me. Along with this note, Paris sent a photo of himself holding The Book of PIV. His words reminded me why I coached. "Coach, I just started reading your book. It brought back a bunch of memories from the tough practices, the locker room talks, and the open gyms in the summer—these moments, along with many more, helped me grow not just as an athlete, but as a young man finding his way. Your mentorship has been a true guiding force in my life, teaching me how to embrace tough challenges head-on and showing me what genuine work ethic and resiliency look like when things get hard. Beyond the game, the high standards you set and the unwavering belief you showed in me have played a massive role in shaping my character and pushing me to become a better person every day. Thank you for always holding me accountable and leading by example." There isn't a championship trophy or coaching award that means more to me than hearing those words from a former player. The older I get, the more convinced I am that coaching was never just about basketball. It was about helping young people discover what they were capable of becoming. Watching them build successful lives and knowing our relationship continues years later is the greatest reward a coach can receive. Thank you, Paris, for your thoughtful note, your friendship, and for reminding me that the lessons learned in the gym can last a lifetime. You are truly a PIV's Pal. — Coach PIV a.co/d/0aDQ5OLL