Coach Llewellyn’s send-off
It’s been said that good deeds are like pebbles dropped into a pond, sending ripples out to touch far-off shores.
Steve Llewellyn’s career full of good deeds returned in a wave of good wishes Monday. The longtime University girls cross country coach did a 3-mile run with a host of his former runners, then sat down to a spaghetti feed to mark his retirement after 21 seasons leading the Titans.
Llewellyn, 59, retires having achieved something most men only dream about: earning the adoration of a legion of young women. Scores of runners from past University teams attended to pay tribute to coach – including members of the Titans’ first state meet team in 1985 and members of the state championship team in 1992.
The dais was set with trophies, plaques and photos from throughout Llewellyn’s tenure, with a pair of handmade team quilts providing a backdrop. Two televisions ran videos of past teams set to music.
For some, it was a chance to tell stories – many involving the coach’s eating habits, including his penchant for eating apples, core and all.
“Is this going to turn into a roast?” University athletic director Ken Van Sickle asked. “Because I can tell you some stories. …”
Mostly, it was to thank a man who gave up a 10-year law practice in Walla Walla to return home to teach and coach runners.
“I ran with Steve when we were both at East Valley High School,” West Valley coach Jim McLachlan told the gathering. “He was the anchor of our 4x400 relay team when he was a senior and I was a sophomore. And we ran together at Washington State for a while, and when he left WSU to be a lawyer, I thought I would never see him again.
“But he came back to do something he loved, and we’ve been colleagues for a long time. We’re family, because he married my cousin. Steve will be missed here. He will be missed in the coaching ranks, because he’s done a lot on that level over the years.”
“Mostly, I can tell you that Steve will be sorely missed,” Van Sickle said. “Steve Llewellyn and Bob Barbero created the cross country program at University High School, and Steve brought us our first state championship in any sport in 1992. And I can tell you that Steve isn’t going very far. I already have a starter’s pistol for him, and he’ll be the guy starting meets.”
University’s two assistant coaches, Shanna (DeLong) Hale, who ran for Llewellyn before becoming a teacher and coach herself, and Chrissy (Peterson) Francek, the state Class B champion in 1993 as a junior at St. George’s, organized the carbo-loading meal and the first of what will be an annual 3-mile run called “Llew’s Loop.”
“Llew doesn’t build a team,” Francek said. “He creates a family.”
“I’m sure I’m not alone,” Hale said. “Llew has been a second father for me, and I know he’s been the same for a lot of girls.”
Four-year standout Amie Dahnke, a 2004 graduate, agreed.
“Llew is an amazing person,” she said. “He’s a great high school teacher and a coach. He’s the reason I plan to become a high school teacher and a coach.”
“I graduated in 1988, so I’m one of the older runners here,” said Kelly O’Connell, a member of the 1985 state team. “I just want to thank you for all the things you’ve done for me as an athlete and as a person. And I just want to say that I had a great time.”
Another runner told about the time Llewellyn wrote a time on her hand – a time significantly faster than she had run all year. “You can run this,” the coach told her. Looking frequently at her hand for inspiration, she did. To the exact second.
Barbero shared a few stories about some of their early fund-raising projects – presenting his longtime partner with what he called “the last of the team stationary,” a candle left over from an effort to sell candles and pillows (“The pillows rotted away long ago,” Barbero quipped), and a decade-old frozen pizza.
“Steve was always very concerned about being able to provide uniforms for the girls and being able to pay for the trips and things,” Barbero said. “So we were always looking for ways to raise money.”
Barbero also told the story of a fund-raising escapade that involved the two coaches sitting in a dunk tank during an extended lunch period.
“We were in and out of that water the whole time,” he said. “And when it was all over, we went back to count up how much money we had raised. It was all of $15. And we had to share that with another school club.”
Longtime University wrestling coach Don Owen summed up his colleague’s secret – both as a teacher and as a coach.
“For the past 15 years, Steve has been my teaching partner and my mentor,” he said. “Steve taught me how to get the most out of kids. I can honestly say that in 15 years, I have never once heard Steve talk down to a student.
“I am dreading coming back here next year and not having you there.”