Educator, coach Steve Athas named Springfield’s Hometown Hero

Stephen Athas gives advice to Tommy McLaughlin, while his mother Katie Ryan looks on.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen

SPRINGFIELD — Stephen Athas walked onto Picknelly Field with his boss, Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management Executive Director Thomas Ashe and a friend, expecting there to be projects for him to do.

Instead, more than 75 friends, family and former athletes were gathered. Mayor Domenic Sarno warmly greeted him with a hug and dozens of people followed suit, hugging him or shaking his hand.

The people had gathered to honor the local icon and fixture of the Springfield sports community as a “Hometown Hero.”

“As Steve and Pete and I were walking in, I don’t think Steve knew what was going on, and I’m not convinced he still knows what’s going on,” Ashe said. Athas later laughed, “I thought I was putting more banners up.”

David Morales, general manager of Wellpoint Health Solutions, which created the Hometown Hero award, explained its origins in 2025. “We wanted to figure out how we can be a part of the community and do this in a way that we honored people who served us, us as community, as residents of the commonwealth,” Morales said. It partnered with 98.5 The Sports Hub to solicit nominations from across the state. Last year, Wellpoint and the radio station honored Springfield Police Officer Nestor Santos, who was a bystander shot during a 2024 incident. His injuries left him blind in one eye.

When considering Athas as a nominee, Morales quoted Ryan McCollum as saying, “This is the guy.”

“A hometown hero is someone who goes above and beyond and does remarkable things in the shadows for their community” with “integrity” and “caring.” He addressed Athas, “What I’ve heard today, my friend — remarkable.”

Athas was presented with a plaque, a Boston Bruins jersey, signed by the entire team, a hockey puck and two tickets to an upcoming game.

Stepping up to the podium, the famously verbose Athas said, “For the first time in my life, I don’t know what to say.” He joked, “There are many more people much more deserving than I, but I’ll take it.”

Athas said, “It takes a village and I’m just part of that village. I’m part of a village in sports. I’m part of a village in education. I’m part of a village in the city of Springfield, that I dearly love.”

Ashe called Athas “an icon” and said, “He’s the heart and soul of Picknelly Field, for many years putting in hours and days too numerous to count as he creates an exceptional ballfield experience for young players to enjoy.” He praised Athas for the pride he puts into the city’s parks and facilities, not just at Picknelly Field, but also at Greenleaf Park and Clodovaldo Concepcion Community Center. “You can count on Steve to respond at a moment’s notice, no matter the time of day or night, to take care of any and all issues that might arise.”

Athas’s true contribution to Springfield, however, is the coaching and mentorship he has dedicated his life to. An inductee into the Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame, he was a basketball coach at Springfield Technical Community College, operated an adult basketball league at Hubbard Park, was a board member of the Springfield Soccer League and John L. Sullivan Baseball League.

John “Sully” Sullivan said he has known Athas since “the Greenleaf Community Center, when I was a kid. Anybody and everybody knew him.” He said what makes Athas so beloved is “his personality and how much he cares about you.”

Describing Athas as “caring, iconic, dedicated, stays behind the scenes,” Sarno said, “I go back with him to my younger days being a rec leader at old Emerson Wight Park in the South End. And the thousands of young people that he has coached, but more importantly, has put his arm around their shoulders, making sure that they’re going in the right direction.”

Athas does not seek commendations and acclaim. Instead, “When he sees the young ball players, male or female, doing well down the road, that’s his accolade,” Sarno said,

“Coach is the type of guy who has coached many children,” said Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi. “Those players have become coaches, coaches that are here. Coach continues to coach, and the players that have become coaches, have turned another generation of coaches over to our community.” He spoke about the “power and the influence that he had on [children’s] lives, to bring joy to their Saturdays and Sundays, and in practice.”

Athas’s daughters, Jamie Athas and Jessica Athas, were among the people who attended the ceremony. Jessica said some of her earliest memories were watching her father coach at STCC. “I’d watch him build relationships with his players, and even at that age, I could see the respect they had for him and the respect he gave right back,” she said. “He has this incredible ability to make people feel seen, valued and cared for.”

Despite Athas’s dedication to coaching, she said, “My dad did all this while making sure my sister and I never wanted for anything. He always had time for homework, playing catch. He never missed a game or practice and always on the sidelines, cheering us on — sometimes, a little too loudly.” Jessica said her father instilled in his children the values of “respect, hard work, showing up every day and being involved.”

Jessica said her father was beloved by the community because, “That is the impact of a life spent showing up for others.”