As the sun went down and the lights began to illuminate the dusk casting over Joseph F. Pappano Stadium, Coach David Flegal heard the final whistle of his coaching career. As his co-worker listed off his accolades, countless players of his both current and former cheered him on. The impact of a man on a community culminated in a celebration over beating the cross-town rival.
Coaches have the ability to impact lives, not just teach a sport. Student-athletes show their character through more than their accomplishments on the field or court, and one coach at Revere has spent his years instilling values into all of his players. David Flegal is retiring from coaching football after making a lasting impact on many.
Flegal’s journey started when he was in high school where he was inspired by a role model to follow in his footsteps.
“I got the idea of becoming a teacher and coach from my high school coach. He was somebody that I looked up to,” Flegal said.
The result of his inspiration was a positive impact on hundreds of student-athletes that were coached by Flegal.
“There is no substitute for hard work… your attitude has more impact than any of your physical attributes,” Flegal said.
That attitude has stuck with Flegal for over forty years, despite the changes that football has endured.
“Back in the day very few teams would throw the ball more than they run it. The game has really evolved,” Flegal said.
All these changes have followed the changes in Flegal’s career as a coach. Flegal coached at the University of Akron, Marshall University, Kansas State University, Windham High School, and West Geauga High School, before getting hired at Revere. Throughout that time, he focused on teaching his players the value of hard work to help them in their life outside of the sport.
“I always told [my players], there is one thing in life you can always control, and that is [their] effort,” Flegal said.
One of Flegal’s players who has experienced Flegal’s coaching style is junior Toby Mullen, who explained that Flegal’s hard coaching made all his players better.
“Flegal was very blunt with you… if you kept making a mistake you were not going to keep your spot,” Mullen said.
Mullen also said Flegal has developed him as a player and person.
“He directly worked with me, and I definitely saw an increase in my skills… he taught us how to persevere through things,” Mullen said.
Mullen is not the only one who appreciates Flegal’s efforts, as the rest of the team remembers Flegal fondly.
“If you go to the team now, everybody loves Flegal… he brings a lot of energy to the team at times,” Mullen said.
Mullen believes the energy and enthusiasm Flegal carries in practice sets him apart from many other coaches.
“A lot of the coaches we have on staff currently aren’t quite as loud as Flegal… it’s definitely effective,” Mullen said.
Flegal is also remembered for his use of various phrases that convey messages to the team in a memorable way.
“‘Geez-o-pete’ he uses whenever he’s angry… ‘Frick and Frack’ are two individuals who aren’t behaving… ‘Don’t go around eating Bon-Bons’ means to not lounge or be lazy and to do something,” Mullen said.
Mullen said that these phrases, combined with Flegal’s lessons, has made a large impact on the players, which Mullen observed at Flegal’s last game where they embraced him.
“To see what he meant to so many people was a really great thing to see,” Mullen said.
Flegal’s coaching partner Phil Heyn also said the phrases that Flegal used ring a bell in the head of his former players.
“The catch-phrases are the thing that when you see people that were coached by Flegal that ring a bell in their mind,” Heyn said.
Heyn said having Flegal next to him has not just affected their players, but him as well.
“If I’m not prepared I feel inadequate… the way he approaches freshman football the same way he approached varsity football has rubbed off on me,” Heyn said.
Heyn said he observed the way Flegal holds himself to the same standard as his players. This attitude has helped foster a culture of accountability in the program.
“He is accountable. If he puts the players in a bad situation, he’s the first one to call out himself,” Heyn said.
Heyn and Mullen both felt the impact of Flegal, along with others who were present for his last career game.
Flegal’s career created an impact on many players who were under his wing. Players and coaches who had the pleasure of sharing the field with Flegal remember him for his tough love style of coaching and appreciation for his players.
