2008 Keynote given by friend, fellow coach, and classmate, Scott Schiller:
Coach Peterson
Here’s what I think is important for you to know about Coach Peterson. Vance was
a strong family man, a great friend, a dedicated coach and athletic director,
and an avid outdoorsman. The impact he left on Encampment, the community he
called home, was a bittersweet reminder of just what kind of impact a coach can
have on their community.
My family and I lived next door to Vance’s family for 11 years. His door was
about 15 of my strides (and only about 5 of his strides) from my door. Before
kids, we had coffee nearly every morning before school and cussed and discussed
school and sports. Our wives were the best of friends, and our children grew up
playing together and calling each other’s parents Uncle Vance, Aunt Janice,
Uncle Scott, and Aunt Kelli. Living that close to Vance let me know him not just
as the coach, but also as a loving and caring husband and father. He took care
of his family with a sense of pride and excellence; he never wavered in his
commitment of love to his family being his #1 priority. All of his friends were
witness to this and this is probably their most enduring memory of Vance.
He was a great friend. Examples of his loyal friendship could be seen in two
events that transpired during his illness and after his passing. If you’ve ever
seen the movie or read the book Lonesome Dove, I liken this first instance of
friendship to the part of the story where Gus has passed away and Captain Call
lives up to his promise to take Gus back home. Vance’s best friend, Sean,
displayed that kind of unwavering loyalty to Vance. The miles he drove, the long
periods of time spent away from his own family, and the special times he
provided Vance and his family, in my mind, are unparalleled. Coach Hofland’s own
special contribution to Vance’s legacy and Vance’s family is this coaches
clinic. Lance’s countless hours of work to accomplish something in memoriam of
his dear friend has been nothing short of amazing. It’s been very special to see
this clinic come together and watch the generosity of Lance and the coaches who
are presenting and attending.
Vance was a dedicated and successful coach. A little known fact is that as an
AD, I’ve only fired one coach and that was so Vance could replace him. That
coach happened to be me. He was very popular as a coach because he led his team
by his rock solid principles and not by popular vote. His players knew that
coach was always going to act or react based on his principles:
Only be here if you really want to be here, no one is going to beg you;
Give your all in practice;
Represent your family, school, and community with pride in your play and
appearance;
After every game, be able to honestly say you left it all on the floor
And never compromise your sportsmanship... conduct yourself as a good person
in all aspects of the game and life.
Vance loved to fish and hunt as much as he liked to coach, probably more.
Fishing and hunting was his passion and a release from teaching and coaching. He
lived in a sportsman’s paradise in Encampment, Wyoming, having close proximity
to great hunting and fishing although it may have been a little too far from his
walleye waters. He always volunteered to be on the school calendar committee so
he could change the schedule and he could attend ALL of the summer walleye
tournaments (they didn’t accept his self-nomination!) Even some of the summer
camps for basketball were “inappropriately scheduled” as they conflicted with
the Governor’s Cup for Walleye fishing.
Many of Vance’s closest friends, most of them coaches, shared the outdoors with
him either 3 across in a 4 wheel drive or piled in the walleye fishing boat
departing from skunk bay each morning for several days each summer. Again, as an
outdoorsman, he lived up to certain principles and never varied; these should
sound familiar:
only be here if you want to be here, no one is going to beg you;
give it your all and fish all day (“don’t be a sally”),
no trips back to shore to pee; (Kelli thought I should include this)
represent yourself and your family with pride…bring enough beer for the rest
of us!
and when you leave hunting or walleye camp remember the golden rule, “what
happens in camp, stays in camp,” (unless, of course, you’re bragging to your
buddies).
The impact Vance left on Encampment, Wyoming, was immeasurable. Often, when you
leave a community or school, your impact slowly (or rapidly) fades from the
memories of the community, not so for Vance. He left his legacy: his wife
Janice, and children Dalton and Noelle. They, of course, are still an integral
part of the community, school, and athletics. His team, coached by his former
assistant, Clint Bromley, finally won the state championship this year in his
honor, and you should know that the seat between the players and coach Bromley
remained empty so Vance had a place to sit and coach the game. Of course, like
always, Janice and the kids were there to watch the game. The community of
Encampment loved and embraced Vance because he embodied their free spirit and
independence and he modeled his own principles:
nobody begged him to live and coach in Encampment, he wanted to be there;
he gave it his all in school and life;
he represented Encampment with pride;
he always conducted himself as a great husband, father, teacher, coach,
athletic director, and friend;
And, when the battle was over, they knew he had left it all on the floor,
mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Thank you, and again, welcome to the second annual VP clinic. As you have fun
tonight in Deadwood, remember:
We know you are here because you want to be here,
Give it your all;
represent yourself with pride (don’t be a sally!)
and last, but not least, leave it all on the floor.
Thank you.