Coach: John Cackowski

High school: Highlands Ranch

Sport: baseball

What made you decide you wanted to become a coach in your present sport?

I love the sport of baseball. Baseball has been my favorite sport as long as I can remember, and many of my coaches growing up made a huge impact in my life. I love the life skills the game teaches people. Since baseball is something I love, and something that has given so much to me, I thought I would be good at using it to give back to others.

Describe one of the best moments you can remember from your coaching career?

I have so many but a few that come to mind would be during my first year as the head coach at Highlands Ranch. I graduated from Highlands Ranch High School, and when I was hired, they were coming off a 5-14 season. My first year, we went 16-3 and won the Continental League.

I had another similar situation when I had an opportunity to be the head softball coach at ThunderRidge High School. I had never coached softball before, and we went 14-5 that year, won the Continental League and made the final eight in state. Last but not least would be serving as an assistant coach on the ThunderRidge baseball team that won the Class 5A state championship in 2002.

What was one of the most heartbreaking moments of your coaching career?

When I left ThunderRidge to come to Highlands Ranch. I had a softball team that made it to state and was returning every player from that team. When I told the girls I wasn't coming back that was hard.

If a young athlete came to you and said he or she was interested in a career as a coach, what advice would you give him/her?

Remember to be in it for the kids, not the trophies. If you are in this profession to teach life skills and build relationships, the win column will take care of itself.

What do you do for fun that isn’t related to the sport you presently coach?

Spend time with my family. Teach history. Jog.

If you could coach for any professional sports team for one year, which would it be and what changes would you make?

If anyone who reads this knows me they know I'm going to say the New York Yankees. The only change/suggestion I would make would be to give Mariano Rivera a contract to pitch until he is 60 years old.

Your present team just won the state championship. What do you (and/or the team) do to celebrate the achievement?

Jump on a pile and remember it for the rest of our lives.

Walt Disney pictures decides to make an inspirational motion picture about your team and its achievements. What celebrity actor/actress would play you in the movie?

I have been told I resemble Tom Hanks from the movie A League of Their Own, so he would be a good choice.