Before moving completely to fall sports coverage, there is a newsworthy event to report from a spring sport: the retirement of a successful and beloved coach.
Some people mark the days off their calendar as they look forward to retirement. For Mike Day, who announced his retirement as the Centerville High School head girls track and field coach at the end of last season, it was a bittersweet opportunity to look back and reflect on many pleasant memories.
Day’s athletes and teams had many notable achievements during his 29-year tenure. His team won the Tri-Eastern Conference championship 16 times. Several of his athletes advanced to the state track meet, and several went on to successfully compete at the collegiate level. But it would be inaccurate to say that he was a demanding, win-at-all-costs coach. Day viewed his team members as family, and he was their biggest fan. Everyone wants to win; Day helped develop his team members into winners on and off the track.
Even after his team members graduated, his door was always open to them. Day has officiated at a few former team members’ weddings and sang at others. He also sang at the funeral of another former team member.
For the past 29 seasons Day viewed his position more as a blessing than a job. Day coached his daughter, Maddie Janae Dishmond, who followed in her father’s footsteps and is now the head junior high track coach at Centerville.
Track and field is something Day learned to love in junior high school from his coach, the late George Romack. In high school, Dennis Stephen served as his coach. From his seventh grade year to his senior year the Bulldogs never lost a dual track meet. Day’s high school track career was highlighted by being a member of the Centerville team that won the 21-team Brookville sectional in the spring of 1989, sliding past the Richmond Red Devils 81-79 for the team title.
Day threw shot put and discus under coaches Ken Arnold and Brian Lambert. Day credits Romack, Stephen, Arnold and Lambert for modeling the values and character as coaches that have always served him well in his coaching career.
Day, a Hall of Fame wrestling coach, will continue as the head wrestling coach at Centerville High School.
After 29 years as the track coach, there are things Day will miss and things he will not miss.
Day will miss the competition and the big meets. He will miss the spring air and chats with opposing coaches. He will not miss rain, heat, sleet, snow or winds. But everyone will miss Coach Day.
A version of this article appeared in the August 21 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.