Long-time community recreation coach hangs up his cleats
Nine consecutive years of coaching are nearly in the record books for Castle Pines resident Jeff DePasse (left) with his 12-year-old son Nick (right).
By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photo
Twelve-year King’s Crossing resident Jeff DePasse has been volunteering his time as an athletic coach for the local sports program Castle Pines Athletics (CPA) for the past nine years. He became involved when his son Nick was just 4 years old. Fast forward and DePasse is now coaching his final season for CPA with the Broncos flag football team since Nick is now 12 and will no longer be eligible to play for the league after this season.
In his coaching career with CPA, DePasse has coached soccer, basketball, coach-pitch baseball and flag football. One of his most memorable seasons was his very first soccer season. With seven kids on his team and three of them being triplets, “It was a train wreck when the triplets didn’t show,” DePasse recalled. “We were really dependent on them!”
Another great memory was last year’s flag football season when his team, the Broncos, won the CPA Super Bowl. The weather was crazy, and the teams were not able to play together for two weeks. But the Broncos pulled it off and played the final series like they had never been apart.
DePasse said, “What we love about Castle Pines Athletics is the convenience. The kids get to play with their classmates, and it’s a league without cut-throat politics. CPA taking on NFL football the past three years was instrumental in us staying with the league.”
What will DePasse take away from the league? “Well, I have a drawer-full of coaches plaques and a ton of t-shirts,” DePasse quipped. “I’m glad I was able to stay involved with Nick through CPA without the major cost and commitment that other leagues can require.”
Residents interested in volunteering as a community coach for CPA, visit www.castlepinesathletics.com.
