Berkshire County has been fortunate when it comes to high school coaches. There have been a number of coaches who start and never give up.
Pittsfield High baseball coach Bob Moynihan is beginning his 24th season as the Generals' mentor. He has coached against Hall of Famers and against former players who are now at rival schools.
The players change from Rocky Daley to Matt Torra to Ant Marano to Joe Sondrini (just to name a few). But one thing has always remained the same.
"He's dedicated 100 percent to every single player on his team from his 'stars' on down," said St. Joseph's High coach John Goodnow. "He treats each kid the same way."
Goodnow should know, as he played shortstop for Moynihan from 1990-93. And he's now in his fourth year of battling his former coach.
"I love coaching against Bobby," Goodnow said, "and not just because he was my coach. (Pittsfield is) usually one of the elite programs in the county."
Taconic High coach Kevin Stannard, who is now in his 15th year at the Valentine Road school, remembers a Braves team he played on beat Moynihan's PHS club in the last game of the 1983 season.
"Bobby's a competitor when he's on that field," said Stannard. "The two games we play them every year are great. Those games, as much as we're friends and colleagues,
Moynihan embodies Pittsfield as much as any coach can reflect a school. He's a 1970 PHS graduate and played two years of varsity baseball back when the school was only Grades 10-12. He played baseball at Berkshire Community College and Westfield State.
The PHS coach has actually been part of the Generals' coaching staff for 28 years — four of those as the assistant to Hall of Fame coach Buddy Pellerin before taking over as head coach in 1983.
"I really didn't think so," said Moynihan when asked if he thought he'd be there this long. "Buddy was there for 19 years. He said to me 'I was shooting for 20, but it didn't happen.'
"I don't even think about the years now."
The Moynihan résumé is outstanding. He's won four Western Massachusetts championships at Pittsfield High, the last one coming in 2004. The Generals have been a perennial Berkshire County and Northern Division contender, and once won six consecutive Berkshire County titles between 1984 and 1990. Of course, there are no more county championship games, so that streak will never be topped.
At 24 years, Moynihan is up there with the likes of former Drury High baseball coach Tom McGrath, who spent 31 years in the dugout at Joe Wolfe Field. And Moynihan is in a rare category with Wahconah Regional boys' basketball coach Ed Ladley who has spent more than 30 years coaching that one team.
"He loves baseball," said Stannard. "I wish kids would understand how much he loves the game. He's put a lot of kids in school and he's had a lot of great talent."
So, what does Bob Moynihan like the most about coaching? Is it the practice or the game?
"The whole game, I just enjoy everything about it," he said, but added that the added fundraising aspect of his coaching position isn't as much fun.
"But you're teaching all the time," Moynihan continued. "Yesterday, Clayton (Pierce) is playing first base for the first time ever, and after one inning, I had to tell him about a certain play and to keep it in mind."
The teaching of the game is what Goodnow remembers from his PHS days.
"Practice was very regimented," he recalled. "There were times we practiced two hours, there were times we practiced longer. It depended on us.
"The one thing he never put up with is if we disrespected the game," Goodnow added, "we paid for it."
Once you're a General, you're always a General. It's a feeling that has been fostered over the years.
"I think so. I have several guys on the (vintage baseball Pittsfield) Elms who I coached and now we're playing together," Moynihan said. "It's fun. It's great to see the kids."
Some long-time coaches, be they professional, college or high school, might step down after winning a major championship like a state title. Pittsfield High got close in 2004, so would Moynihan entertain stepping aside after winning a state crown? He said he wouldn't know.
"I've never been one to predict," he said, "That's why we play the 20 games."
The other question is "How long would you coach?"
"As long as I can go, as long as they'll let me," said Moynihan. "There are some guys who are retired (from school) who are still working. There's no time limit."
While it might not always be fun to be on the other bench from a Moynihan-coached team, nobody is shying away from the challenge.
"Bobby's drive is still there," said Taconic's Stannard. "Twenty-four years into his career and the drive to win is still there. It's a respect you have because his team is always prepared."
Font Resize
