Julia Baldwin, Golf

Years: 10

“Julia is an excellent role model for the young people that she works with. She takes the time to teach them not just about the fundamentals of golf, but about patience, perseverance, and self-confidence. She's the type of coach other younger coaches should strive to emulate.” (-Raina Harmon, Think Detroit PAL Assistant Director of Athletics)

Jake Boyd, Basketball

Years: 35

“The great joy about coaching is watching the development of these kids – not just as athletes but as people. It's almost like planting a seed with each child and watching it grow into a flower.”

Lonnie Bryant, Baseball

Years: 40

"When I joined the league, Lonnie Bryant pretty much adopted me. He was the type of coach who always put the needs of kids first and everything he did was centered around them. Everyone around Lonnie could see his dedication and commitment to the kids of Detroit , and had the utmost respect for him because of it. He was a joyful man who spread that joy through all the good he did.” (William Dooley, ADB President)

Sandra Combs, Cheerleading

Years:   30

Team: Cowboys

“You know the type of impact you can really have when you have kids that come back and say ‘I don't know where I may have ended up without you.' Then you know that what we teach goes way beyond just cheerleading, it's about teaching kids about life.”

Marvin Foreman, Tennis

Years:   4

“Working with kids in the city is like a box of Cracker Jacks…you never know what surprise you're going to get! Luckily, most of the surprises are good ones!”

Melvin Foreman, Tennis

Years:   23

“My involvement with this program allowed me to use tennis as a vehicle to teach kids about the importance of a positive mental attitude and self-confidence. I find real joy in giving an inner-city child the opportunity to participate in a sport, like tennis, that really crosses social and economic barriers.”

William Freeman, Football

Years:   30

Team: Broncos

“My involvement with the Broncos has allowed me to watch so many young men who come from different backgrounds really cooperate with each other and come to consider each other brothers. They figure out a way to work through the hard times and good times to experience success. That's what makes it most rewarding for me.”

Carleton Johnson, Football

Years:   36

Team: Raiders

“I can really appreciate the impact we have on kids when I see them move through the program and take what they've learned in football and apply that to other areas of their lives. I find it really satisfying to watch our kids experience success in school, in their jobs, and in their personal lives. But I see the real impact when these same kids come back – as adults – as coaches with the Raiders and share that experience with other kids.”

Virginia Lawrence, Basketball

Years:   35

Team: Brick City Bombers

“It's not about what I've done for kids, it's about what kids have done for me. You try to be a positive role model and teach them new things, but in the end, I think they have taught me more! They kept me young, energetic, and provided me with a dose of reality!”

Jeffrey McDougal, Football

Years:   30

Team: Broncos

“The most rewarding thing for me has been to watch the relationships that these kids develop with each other and with us as coaches. For me, like for a lot of us, the Broncos is more than just a team – we're a family. When kids go through our program they always remain teammates and eternal friends – that's what this is all about.”

Officer Emmett Porter

Years:   30

Administrator

“I've had the pleasure of watching the evolution of the programs that we offer and the ways in which they've impacted so many kids in the city of Detroit . Seeing so many of our young athletes go on to do so many great things makes me proud to be a part of such a great organization.”

Ray Stephen, Baseball

Years:   39

Team: Detroit A's

“The most important thing about being a coach is dedicating your efforts to making positive citizens, not just great athletes. It's always been more important to emphasize that our kids become student-athletes, not just athletes.”

George Taylor, Baseball

Years:   40

“George Taylor was a proud man and everything he did he did from his heart. The things he achieved were not for the purpose of being rewarded for it, but for the benefit of his kids…and all the kids in the neighborhood were his kids.” (Ron Bailey, Think Detroit PAL Coach and Friend of George Taylor)