Castillo’s teams will be competitive, but he isn’t known for winning championships, he’s known for being one of the most committed coaches in the league. At each game and practice he shows up with a van full of kids that he has gathered from throughout the city. To him, chauffeuring is just part of the job.
“The parents are working,” said Castillo. “They don’t have transportation, don’t have the money. I pay for uniforms or registration so the players can play.”
Additionally, each year players stay with the Coach and his family all summer. They kids play ball and Castillo takes them camping.
“We’re like one big family,” said Castillo. He jokes, “The parents ask if I adopted their kids.”
When asked to point out one player most impacted by Think Detroit PAL programs he answers, “There’s so many of them.”
But he recalls one, named David, who he talked out of joining a gang. Then later, he did the same for his own son.
“I talked and talked and talked to them,” Castillo said. “I got them out.”
A game like baseball offers a lot of opportunities to children, Castillo explains. The team can provide a family structure they may lack.
“They look at the coach as a father-figure,” he said. “I get a lot of respect from them because I give them respect.”
Castillo turns that respect into motivation. He’s motivated to keep going and the children are motivated to do their best.
When singled out, Castillo’s efforts seem extraordinary. No doubt, we are lucky to have him in our league. However, his is just one hand out of many at the coaches meeting and its time to move on to the next. |
