Comments on: Remembering A Legend

By: Laurie Malinowski

Laurie Malinowski — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:27:56 +0000

What a moving tribute, Bill. I know Coach is proud of you, I certainly am!

Mom

By: grendel

grendel — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:40:37 +0000

Great piece, sir. Couldn’t have said it better. A man with too big a heart. Great coach. Met him in grade school as well. Everyone that went to a summer camp or went near that school knew him. Never met a more determined yet humble and devote man in my entire life. Miss his handshakes. Favorite story I remember of him was from his funeral. Around New Years in 2002, he was at a party/reception/something with his wife. Every single guy that knew anything about football was clamoring at the bar watching the Ohio State- Miami national championship game. Coach stayed with his wife. When it went into overtime, instead of watching one of the better title games in recent memory, he was out on the floor, dancing with his wife. The man had priorities. He loved football, family, God, and LA. Best compliment he ever gave me was saying that one day I would make a good coach and I cherish that to this day, even if my last down ever played was in high school. It was an honor to play for him. I didn’t live amongst giants, just coached by one.

My favorite quote of him ever:
“Doctor says it’s blood, but I swear I piss maroon and gold!”

RIP Coachie Woachie.
Bob Lofgren ‘04

By: Liz

Liz — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:02:10 +0000

Beautifully said Bill, I think so many people can relate to your experiences with Coach. I met him for the first time when I was 12 years old, mom and I went in to his office to pay for your football camp, he took one look at me and told me my blood ran maroon and gold, and ever since then it has. He was truly a man for others and this really reminded me of what a transformative experience my time at Loyola Academy was.

Liz Malinowski ‘05

By: Sean_Hef

Sean_Hef — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:27:16 +0000

Great piece brother. A reminder of what a wonderful man Coach was. I’ve never met anyone quite like Coach Hoerster. I remember going to a team mass Freshmen year and I was nervous about something and didn’t quite look him in the eye. He squeezed my hand so tight that I thought he broke it and hollered at me to never look past someone while your shaking their hand. That’s a simple lesson I’ll take the grave. He truly lived outside of himself.

I think one of the most common faults people have is being too interested in one self when truly the best way to live is to try to think outside of yourself as much as possible. I think Coach was the embodiment of that. People my age, in their twenties, we tend to be way too self absorbed as we start our careers, get in serious relationships, and find our way into adulthood. Thinking back to John Hoerster makes you want to take stock of who you are, and think of how you can be a better person.

The last time I really balled my eyes out was at Coach’s funeral. He had been a figure in my life since I was a fifth grader going to Loyola to watch my brother play. My mother loved him for his outlook on football as a way of building character in young men not as some battlefield where he and his players could seek glory at all costs. When parents complained about things going on the field my Mom always backed him without question. As I’ve grown older I can see why.

Thanks Billy for the beautiful omage to Coach. I think if we can remember to raise a glass to Coach every year on August 25th and think of the man who gave us so much then we might not turn out so bad in the end.

Here’s to Coach

Cheers

Sean Heffernan ‘03