By John Orrell, Contributing Writer
Northborough – Those devotees of the football gridiron that are of the opinion that “Xs” and “Os” are what the game is all about likely have never met Justin McKay.
The fourth-year Algonquin Regional High School varsity football head coach is as well-versed as they come in the intricacies and strategies of the game, but there is another aspect of the much-loved fall sport that sets him aside from a number of his peers; the human side.
On March 24 in the ARHS auditorium with family and players at his side, McKay was formally recognized as a winner of a prestigious national coaching award from California-based Positive Coaching Alliance, a nationally-accredited coaching organization that specializes in being a positive influence in players’ lives. McKay was one of 50 winners nationwide out of 2,400 nominees and will represent New England at a PCA coaching summit in April.
“This is all very humbling,” said McKay upon receipt of his award. “It’s humbling because you want to do what’s best for kids and you want to be there for them and sometimes you don’t know what impact you have on kids until further down the road. For the kids to do something like this and put you up for an award, it just blows your mind because you know that you made an impact on their lives. Wins and losses in games are important but they’re not as important as the impact on the lives of kids that we work with.”
Perhaps the most notable example of McKay’s dedication to his players comes from senior Brendan Earley, whose 2015 season was cut short after just one play into the season when he tore his ACL ending his final year of competition before it really began. The injury and loss of his senior year was devastating, Earley admits, but McKay was there to help assuage the pain, physically and emotionally, when it was needed most.
“He was very caring from the moment I told him I tore my ACL,” explained Earley. “We were both really down and it was really sad because we had both been looking forward to my senior season. But he was there for me more than just a coach would be. He was caring. He called me and we talked about it. We talked about how we were going to go forward with it and plan for my future because I was planning on playing college ball. He really helped me with that and I can’t thank him enough for the places he’s gotten me now. He’s given me a lot of guidance and he’s someone I can always turn to.”
It was Earley and teammates who initiated the longshot bid for their coach’s recognition. Players wrote impactful testimonials that were submitted in January. McKay was then asked to submit a background check in February and shortly thereafter was informed that he was a New England Chapter winner. But on March 11, it all came through. McKay was named a national winner, one of only three coaches selected in New England.
“I felt like he was someone who deserves this,” said Earley of his motivation to nominate his coach. “He came in my freshman year which was his first year so I think this class has a special bond with him. He’s seen us through and seen us go from the 2-9 team to the 3-8 team to the 8-3 team that we had this year. I think we owe it all to him because he’s changed so many kids’ lives around here and taken the culture of this team that used to be a joke and made us somebody who people were afraid to play.”
“The testimonials we got from his players were outstanding,” said PCA executive director Beth O’Neill Mahoney, who presented the award. “They very much impressed us. We’re trying to get people to understand that sports are important, but also to recognize its importance in building good character. Learning from adversity and developing resiliency is very important.”
O’Neill Mahoney also presented the athletic department with a banner of recognition that will be on display inside ARHS.