Call Him Coach

Karla Wall Thursday, December 15, 2016 Comments Off on Call Him Coach
Call Him Coach

ST. LOUIS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WILL MALONE INSPIRES, UPLIFTS COACHES, PLAYERS

BY KARLA WALL

He’s Coach Malone, and players on the St. Louis High School football team forget that at their peril.

St. Louis Catholic High School senior Will Malone, who has been diagnosed with autism, roams the sidelines with head coach Charlie Cryer and defensive coach Stephen Wren during most St. Louis football games. He’s not wearing a football helmet and pads, however. He’s wearing a headset.

And he doesn’t hesitate to fulfill his coaching duties, including discipline, when necessary.

St. Louis Catholic head football coach Charlie Cryer with Will Malone

St. Louis Catholic head football coach Charlie Cryer with Will Malone

“Once, one of the players called me Will (and not Coach),” Will says. “I told Coach Cryer we needed to run him after practice. We run them two laps.”

“The players call him coach,” agrees Coach Cryer, “and if they don’t, we run ‘em.”

The players, says Cryer, treat Malone as a friend and coach.

“They don’t always do what he tells them to,” admits Cryer.  “But,” he says, looking at Malone for confirmation, “they don’t always do what I tell them to do either, do they?”

Malone says he loves being part of things on the sidelines.

“I love the players, and the excitement,” he says. But, he says, he definitely gets nervous before games.

Malone began attending games a few years ago, and later began attending practices, as well. He’s now an integral part of the St. Louis staff. He wears his coach’s shirt on Fridays. He gives the team a pep talk before each game. He participates in pep rallies with the team. He rides the bus with the team. He begins most weekdays meeting with Coach Cryer to plan the day’s workout.

“He’s my hired gun,” says Cryer. “He takes care of me.”

Coach Malone in action on the sidelines

Coach Malone in action on the sidelines

Malone’s father, Wade, says Will keeps everyone on the field in line — even referees. In fact, Malone’s sense of duty to the team once came close to getting him in trouble. Wade relates the story of a game in which a referee didn’t call a foul against an opposing team when he should have. Will let the referee know about it.

“I was afraid they were going to call Will on a foul,” Wade says.

And Will is just as intense at practices, says Cryer.

“He’s out there on the field,” says Cryer. “So much so that I sometimes worry about him getting hit.”

The relationship between Cryer and Malone goes far beyond student/teacher, coach/staff member. The two are true friends, and have been since Cryer began coaching at St. Louis three years ago.

“(Malone) has been at my side for three years,” says Cryer. “It’s been a pleasure.”

malone-on-sidelines-at-slhs-girls-bball-game Malone even chose Cryer to give him his senior ring last year, something Cryer calls an honor and privilege.

“(Malone is) an inspiration to everyone. Nothing holds him back,” Cryer says.

Indeed, Malone leads an extremely active life.

He participates in the Special Olympics, competing in the Italian game of bocce, and in bowling, which Cryer says is Malone’s specialty.

“I love to watch him bowl,” Cryer quips, “but I’d hate to bowl against him.”

He’s also an avid fisherman. “He yells ‘Hookup!’ to let everyone know he has a fish on the line,” Wade says.  Malone loves crabbing, as well. He also loves horses, and enjoys attending races at Delta Downs and cheering on his favorite horses. He enjoys riding on ATVs.

And his involvement with sports at St. Louis High isn’t limited to the football team. He works with the basketball, baseball and volleyball teams, as well.

will-with-st-louis-band “He’s an action-oriented person,” his father says.

He’s also a people person.

“He’s not shy,” says Cryer. “Makes friends wherever he goes.”

“He knows Mayor Roach, and most of the sports coaches in the area,” says Wade.

Malone’s plans after graduation are to work at CARC, he says. But you can bet he’ll still be involved with the Saints football team, and will continue to be Coach Cryer’s right hand man.

“He’s more than a coach. He’s a friend. He’s an inspiration,” says Cryer. “He lifts everyone up. And he’s a great representative of St. Louis High.”

Comments are closed.