Chick Crandell steps away from Coaching

[RaptorCoach]

Coach Crandell stepped away from High school coaching last week after 14 years with the Hendersonville Commandos.

 

 

 

The End of an Era

Good coaches quietly make a player love the game without saying it. They quietly dedicate their time and effort into bringing their passion to others. And, the very best coaches somehow manage to teach players about life as well as the game. Many players can say that they’ve had one good coach. Some can say that they have never had a good coach at all. Fewer still can say that their parent was that great coach. My father has been coaching me in softball since I was eleven years old, so it didn’t seem like that big of a deal for me when he began coaching high school softball my freshman year. In fact, he had been coaching half of the high school team since we were twelve or thirteen years old; it made no difference to us that we were now wearing black and gold instead of red and blue. In actuality, it made all of the difference in the world.

Pride cannot be taught overnight. Fire and Smoke started as a little travel team made entirely of Hendersonville league players. We were small and under-experienced. Twelve was our age. It was also the number of games lost before we won our first. Out of the blue, we won our first tournament championship. We slowly believed in our community, our school, our team, and ourselves. That year, we played through the state tournament undefeated only to be beat in the finals twice by the Goodlettsville Storm. Coach Crandell told us that we had to learn how to win. How true that was. From then on, we hated being beat, especially by anyone from anyone down the road. As we got older, we still hated being beat, by anyone at all. In high school, rivals were born between schools “down the road†as well. In the summer, when some of us played together, we were all about our community, regardless of the school. Even though we fought hard against each other during high school and sometimes travel ball, we came to respect each other as players and people, no matter if we were Commandos, Cavaliers, Green Wave, Raiders, or Buccaneers.

Coach Crandell’s passion oozes out of every pore. Anyone close to a field while he’s on it can see it. It is infectious and, when playing for him, it made us want every game like he wanted it. In a time when players can be selfish in this sport, we wanted something more. We wanted to support each other. We wanted to win for each other. We wanted to win for Coach.

Winning certainly is not everything, but we certainly won a lot of games. In travel ball we had many tournament titles, several state championships and one World Series Championship. In high school, we had the best record the school ever had in 2000 and two state tournament appearances. There was something magical about that team and I refuse to believe it was only the players. There were many hard fought battles during Coach Crandell’s tenure, both in summer and in high school. We would be utterly disappointed with a loss, but he found a way to make it bearable. That’s not to say we never needed a good chewing out. When we needed it, we certainly got it (at least once per season, both high school and travel). No matter what, he told us to keep our heads high, that we fought hard, and we displayed class and character. If we were anything, we were respectful and treated each other, coaches, other teams, and umpires with class no matter where we were or who we were playing. I have always been proud of that.

Even as life has taken each of us different ways, we continue to keep in touch and live the lessons that dad taught us on the field. They can be illustrated in his very distinct “Chickisms†that everyone who has ever played for or against Coach Crandell will recognize. “Put a tent over this circus,†is one that I use frequently, both on the field and in the classroom. Nobody can say it quite like he does though.

It was from Coach Crandell that we learned Pride, Hard Work, Determination, Passion, and that Yes, Softball is supposed to be Fun. I now coach. I strive to be the coach that my father is. I am sad to see him walk away this year. It’s not that I am sad for him, but I am sad for all of the athletes that won’t have him. He is the kind of man that can coach anything in the world and be successful. He doesn’t just coach softball, he coaches the athletes and that goes a long way in any facet. He still truly teaches the game instead of just putting together the best lineup. It goes without saying that I am proud to be his daughter. But, just as important, I am very proud to have been a player of his. Good news is that I will see him at a lot more Ravenwood games this year. I can’t quite master, “It sounds like a funeral home out there!†And, he always brings good softball mojo.

 

 

Kari Crandell Akin

[daddyraider]

Kari very well put . My family had some of best times and great memories with Fire and Smoke and yes that 2000 season was awesome. Great coach ! Chic thanks for letting my family be a part of the great memories . See ya at the ballfield.

[MrNoitAll]

The one thin that I would always say to anybody about Chick is that he was as honest as the

day is long! If you were his friend he had your back! Not many good ole boys like that are

still around. Didnt matter who you were or what you were he would tell you it like he saw it

and you could take his word to the bank....again not many folks like that are still around which is a shame. The impact that he made on peoples lives can not be

measured.....

Sorry to see you hang it up but heck when you are as old as dirt I guess it is time! Good luck friend!

[HHS51]

I have to say it was a very sad day for me. I knew it was coming, but I can't say enough about what he has meant to me. We have fought many battles together and we have had a few of our own. He knows me like a book and I know him like a book. It will not be the same without him around. We have had many great conversations about life as well as softball. I could write a book about the things we have done and said. He will be missed by our school and he will be missed dearly by me. He is like a brother to me. I am glad he is going to get to spend more time with his family and friends.

 

Coach Griffin

[hawksoftball]

Chick,

Hate to see you go. I have known you since my days at Friendship and even more since I have come to Rossview. You will be missed by those who have played for you and those of us who have coached against you. You always had a handshake and a smile and nice words to say about our teams. Good luck.

Phil Burkhart, Rossview

[JDCAT25]

Chick,

I go all the way back to slow pitch with You>>>A Competitor is stating it mildly! Playing with You,against You,or Umpiring for You was always "Top Draw" I would bring My "A" Game, anything less was no good!

Chick>> You,Andy,Jeff and a few more are indeed a dying breed in Fast Pitch! It was a pleasure working Your Games Most of the time,the hardest part is mutual respect which I have for You!It won't be the same without You!!!!

 

Alway,

The Judge

Edited February 16, 2011 by JDCAT25

[DCdawg]

Chick,

 

Shane told me at practice that he saw where you had stepped down. I hate it for the Sport of Softball and all of us that have known and fought MANY battles against you and Andy. You are a fearsome competitor and that quality is always reflected in your players. You have always seemed to be able to get the absolute best out of whatever talent level you might have had in any given year. Having known some of your players over the years, they have always remarked how much they "LOVED" playing for you. That, my friend, is your Legacy.

 

I, (and I know I speak for Shane), will miss you terribly. For whatever reason you have made this decision, we wish you the best with it and hope it is everything that you want it to be.

 

God Bless Ol'Buddy

 

Bert