The sun begins to fight through the clouds. The smell of freshly mowed grass pairs with the sight of crisp white lines of chalk on the dirt. The sound of metal bats ping with every hit. To most, this signals the beginning of baseball season. To the Van Laanens however, this marks the start of quality family time.
Chad Van Laanen, assistant coach of the varsity baseball team, is the father to senior captain and center fielder Will Van Laanen. When asked about their dynamic, Kaite Van Laanen, wife to Chad and mother to Will, stated “I am so happy that Will and Chad had this time together over the last four years; it is very special to have your dad and best friend coach you at this high of a level of play.”
The father-son duo have been able to work together for all four years of Will’s high school career. Chad was even the coach of most of Will’s youth baseball teams.
When asked about this time with his father, Will explained, “It’s a really good experience, I like it a lot. It kinda feels like I have some support there on the field from my family, obviously because he’s in the actual dugout with me.” Will also made sure to specify that there was no special treatment from his dad, “at the same time, he does a really good job of staying hard on me and making sure that he’s telling me what I need to hear even if I’m not doing so great. He’ll still give me the tips and tricks he would if he were coaching anyone other than me on our team.”
Kaite Van Laanen reminisced about her favorite moments from the two’s journey so far, “When Chad coached Will as a freshman on JV and he was the head coach, he would coach third base. I loved it when I saw Will on third and Chad coaching third as they stood together ready to make something happen.” She expressed, “It was great to see them have those chances to interact on the field together as the game was in progress.”
However, this coach and player dynamic is nearing its end. Will is graduating in the summer and will no longer get to play Highlander baseball under his father. Chad expanded on his emotions going into this final season with Will. “I really have tried very hard to stay in the moment because whenever I allow myself to start thinking about this being our last season together, I feel a sense of sadness that one of the things I have looked forward to most over the last 8-10 years will be coming to an end.”
When asked about the nearing end and what he would miss most, Will admitted it was a hard question to answer. “I’m just gonna miss him as a person. Will stated, “I love him as a coach. Apart from being my dad, he’s just a great guy.”
Luckily for the Van Laanens, the family ties will continue. Will committed to play baseball at St. Norbert College in Green Bay. This is the same place that Chad played collegiate baseball and Kaite played collegiate basketball.
As for choosing St. Norbert, Will stated, “One of the big reasons I’m going there is because both of my parents did play sports there in college and they had nothing but nothing but good things to say about the college.”
“The thought of watching Will play baseball at St. Norbert is one of those things that puts an immediate smile on my face. I am most proud that he will get to experience what was so special for me when I attended and played at St. Norbert,” Chad addressed.
Kaite added, “It will be so exciting to see Will put on the Green Knight uniform next year when we cheer him on!” She also expanded on her return to the school in order to see her son, “I can’t wait to be back on campus regularly and have a chance to maybe also take some time to reconnect with the women’s basketball team and coaches after all these years!”
Though St. Norbert College is the next stop for Will as he continues on in his parent’s footsteps, eventually, baseball will have to come to an end. Above anything else, they have their strong bond. “He’s the biggest role model in my life;without him I really don’t know what I would do.”
Will added, “There’s so many things he’s taught me over the years and he will continue to teach me as I grow into a young man that without them I don’t think I would ever be the same person and I am ever grateful for him.”
Chad explained, “Having the opportunity to coach my son in my eyes is truly one of the greatest things I get to do as a father. While I know it is just a sport in the grand scheme of things, the bond that is developed with your child when you spend all the time we have both on the field and off the field, on car rides, etcetera, can not be put into words just how special it really is.”
What some may consider just another baseball season is the last ride for the Van Laanen father-son duo.
