In his book Values of the Game, Bill Bradley notes that, "many people in all walks of life will tell you that their lives were turned around by a coach who took an interest in their well being." He goes on to say that "really great coaches engage their players in a quest to be the best" and that high school coaches have an opportunity, by how they approach the game, to teach lessons that "extend their reach to life off the court."

On a recent cold night in January, at Brindisi's Restaurant in Jericho, the Carle Place Athletic Booster Club acknowledged the important role played by coaches in the Carle Place school district by holding a Coaches Appreciation Dinner. Some 75 members of the Carle Place school community, including parents, were on hand to celebrate the tireless efforts of the coaches of the district. Forty coaches attended representing the various sports programs. Suellen Blum, the president of the CPABC, extended her appreciation, on behalf of the community, parents, and school administrators, to "all the coaches, assistant coaches, custodians, and groundskeepers who make our athletic program so successful." Special thanks were offered to Janet Conlon, the school nurse, and Debbie Iraci, administrative assistant to the athletic director, for their contributions. The focal point of the evening were remarks made by veterans teacher and soccer coach John Strassenreiter, who, speaking on behalf of the coaches, extolled on the positives of coaching multiple generations in the district. Neil Connolly, the Carle Place Middle/High School principal, James Colligan, the athletic director, and Marino Ceccoli, coordinator of the girls athletic program, also delivered remarks praising the coaches as well as the CPABC for its support.

Who are the coaches in the Carle Place School district who invest their time in the children and young adults of the district? While too numerous to name individually, they include relatively new teachers in the district who enjoy sports and see it as another way of connecting with the children and young adults they teach in the classroom. They include Carle Place school alumni who have come back to give back. They include veteran teachers who year after year, win or lose, are dedicated to the youth of the community. They include non-teachers who simply enjoy the game and the children and who believe they can make a positive contribution to both.

The Carle Place Athletic Booster Club is a membership organization dedicated to supporting the coaches student-athletes, and sports program of the Carle Place School District through the provision of financial as well as non-financial help. Its next scheduled event is its spring dance to be held April 21 at Our Lady of Hope Church.