DECATUR -- "Hello, Mike" was the greeting I heard every day for the past nine years and every time I walked into the coach's office at Peterson Gym in Decatur.
"Hello, coach" was my reply as I began assembling equipment for a game, getting the laundry folded, or airing up balls.
This exchange came from a man that was more than just a coach, he was a friend and, most important, one of my mentors. I am talking, of course, about Shane Holland, who is retiring from coaching after 40 years, 11 of them at Decatur.
"I've done forty of these things," Holland recounts during the 2022 Athletic Banquet. "This will be my last."
There was a sigh that quietly traveled through the students, family and friends assembled in the high school cafeteria as he gave his final presentations of his long career.
To me, like every student, coach, teacher, staff and parent whose life he touched, Holland was a big influence on my career and life in general.
When I came to the Westside Eagle Observer in April of 2013, I expected to write general stories about Decatur. When Randy Moll, managing editor of the paper, informed me that I was also going to cover Decatur High School sports, as well, my brain went into panic mode. Then I met Coach Holland.
From that point on to today, he took the time to mentor me to help me understand the inner workings of sports. Because of his help, I became a better sports writer, eventually becoming a sports editor for the newspaper.
More than just me, Holland had a bigger impact on his cross-country and track athletes, producing many state champions and bringing home two back-to-back state 1A girls' track championships in his 11 years at Decatur. Holland's list of state champions in track included brothers Evan and Bracy Owens, who both brought home gold in the pole vault, Ryan Shaffer in the hurdles, Cameron Shaffer in the shot put and discus, Destiny Mejia in the high jump, and one of the all-time best track athletes at Decatur, Desi Meek.
In fact, Desi was the top 1A track athlete her senior year and went on to earn a scholarship at John Brown University where she helped to restart the school's track and field program.
Andres Revolorio, one of Holland's runners and field athletes for the past six years, wanted to give his beloved coach one final gift, another state track title.
"Coach has done so much for me over the years that I plan on working hard to achieve one goal," Revolorio explained. "I want to give coach one more state title."
Revolorio and his fellow track athletes worked very hard, practiced hard and did indeed give him one more title, the runners-up plaque in the 2A District boys and girls track meet in Eureka Springs. For the Bulldog and Lady Bulldog track teams, this was the final 2A meet before Decatur moves down into the 1A conference next school year.
Most of these champions were groomed by Holland from the seventh grade. His loyalty and insight into the abilities of each and every athlete showed in not only his track programs but his football teams as well.
More than just a coach, Holland is also an accomplished math teacher, teaching advanced math courses to college-bound students.
I personally want to thank Shane Holland for all the lessons he taught me and his many, many students during his long career. I wish him well when he retires to his home in Oklahoma, where he plans on fishing on Grand Lake this week.
"Good luck in your retirement, my friend!"
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Coach Shane Holland (right) prepares to give out awards to some of his top track athletes as assistant coach Tahje Turner gets the remaining awards in order during the 2022 Decatur Athletic Banquet in the new cafeteria at Decatur High School May 16. Holland retires from coaching after 40 years, 11 at Decatur while Turner will take a teaching job in Missouri in August.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Lindy Lee (left) receives the very first "What A Day" award from Coach Shane Holland during the 2022 Athletic Banquet in the cafeteria at Decatur High School in Decatur May 16. The award was named after a saying that Holland greeted everybody with throughout each day.