CHICOPEE — Chicopee High School track coach Adam Tanguay recently won the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Coach of the Year Award for the 2023-24 outdoor track season.
The MIAA website discussed the award and said it is a way to recognize and honor “teacher coaches ‘who have had an impact on the lives of student-athletes, by encouraging them to succeed and by helping them develop self-confidence, ambition, a sound work ethic and other skills or values necessary or helpful for success in their later lives. Award candidates should have a record of encouraging student-athletes to be well-rounded, as well as a reputation, among their peers and the athletic community, for fair play, good sportsmanship, and the development of these attributes in their student-athletes.’”
Tanguay said it was “a real honor” to be recognized as the MIAA girls track and field coach of the year.
He stated, “It’s something I wasn’t expecting. There are so many great coaches across the state, especially here in Western Massachusetts. To be recognized certainly brings a sense of validation to all the hours spent preparing, planning and working with the student-athletes.”
Tanguay has been coaching now for 23 years and started coaching high school football while in college and he said he fell in love with coaching.
He was able to return to Chicopee High to teach Social Studies and since 2003, he coached football, before stopping in 2021, and track and field.
Tanguay talked about what it means to be a coach and the impact it can have on others.
He said, “Personally, coaches have had some of the most profound impacts on my life. Starting with my father, Paul. He was my first coach in youth sports, and he showed me early on the extra work coaches put in beyond the games and practices. When I had the opportunity to start coaching track and field it was with my high school coach, Ernie Goff. Coach Goff had a special way to get the most out of his athletes. Since 2004, I’ve coached with Alex Efstratios. Coach Efstratios is someone I hold in high regard, and he’s been extremely supportive of during my time coaching.”
Part of coaching is making sure the team and each athlete is ready for their game and/or meet and even though Tanguay makes sure to do that, he also focuses on teaching his student athletes important lessons that can be used in sports or in life.
He said, “As a coach, I am driven to instill a sense of pride and passion in our school and community. The sport of track and field is used as a vehicle for student-athletes to become immersed in their high school experience and actively engage with their team and local community. I place a strong emphasis on process with my student-athletes, stressing the importance of setting goals, taking steps to achieve those goals, and understanding that failures or missed goals are not setbacks but learning moments. I work with student-athletes to create a positive environment where dedication, supportive teammates, and hard work is valued above all.”
Tanguay said he enjoys coaching because he enjoys seeing the athletes progress and improve.
“As a coach, there’s nothing more rewarding than getting an athlete to ‘buy-in,’ put the work in, and then seeing their reactions to their accomplishments. We can often gauge what our athletes are capable of. The challenges lie in getting the student-athletes to realize what they are capable of doing. I also enjoy the relationships I’ve made with my fellow coaches. As coaches, we tend to spend more time with our coaching staff than our families. So having other coaches on staff who can connect with the student-athletes as well as help maintain a positive perspective has been important.”
A coaching staff is also very important when it comes to having the team succeed and Tanguay realizes this award wasn’t won by himself.
He said, “I didn’t win this award alone. There are so many moving parts that go into making a team successful. First, I’d like to thank Sean Mackin, our director of athletics. Mr. Mackin supports our team and our efforts to compete across the state. He understands the more opportunities the student-athletes have to compete; it only benefits them. And of course, I want to thank my family. During the season, practices, meets and invitationals keep me away from home. My wife Julie and my kids are always supportive of me and the team. I’m very lucky to have them in my corner.”
