May | Blue KC Coaches with Character
Preston Steinhoff, basketball & baseball coach, Creighton, Mo.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) and the “C” You in the Major Leagues Foundation (CYITML) have announced Sherwood High School basketball and baseball coach Preston Steinhoff as the April Blue KC Coaches with Character honoree.
“It is humbling to be honored by Blue KC and the “C” You in the Major Leagues Foundation as a Blue KC Coach with Character,” said Steinhoff, now in his third year of teaching and coaching at Sherwood, since graduating from Hannibal-LaGrange University in 2015. “To receive this recognition as a young coach, knowing that there are a lot of other great coaches in our area who have many more years of experience means a lot to me. I want to thank Blue KC and CYITML for their recognition of coaches in the area.”
A joint venture for Blue KC and CYITML, which was founded by Royals General Manager Dayton Moore, the Blue KC Coaches with Character program spotlights amateur coaches who, through their leadership on and off the field, are helping to grow youth sports in the Kansas City area, and making the community a better place to live, work and play.
“Teachers and coaches should be among our heroes in life because of the lifelong impact they make on all of us,” Moore said. “That was ingrained in Preston at a young age, and the positive impact he’s now making on young men and young women, particularly through the way he’s teaching them to serve others, will influence generations.”
Coming from a family of teachers and coaches, Steinhoff knew from a young age that he wanted to do the same. For Steinhoff, coaching is a chance to teach not only athletic skills but also invaluable life lessons.
“I try to apply life lessons to almost everything we do as a team,” said Steinhoff, whose teams have participated in a number of community service projects in his three years such as working youth sport camps, volunteering at the local elementary school’s Trunk or Treat, helping nearby farmers, moving community members and more. “Character traits such as responsibility, respect, teamwork, integrity, sportsmanship, citizenship and perseverance are ones I demand of my players. It’s important to my players and me that we give back to the community and help in anyway needed.”
Nominated by former school board member George Wade, who recognized Steinhoff’s value to the district, Steinhoff already has earned a reputation for making a positive influence on the students and student-athletes at Sherwood.
“We are so lucky to have this young man in our community and our school,” said Wade. “He is a great coach who teaches students how to behave on and off the field. He inspires others to give of themselves by giving time and helping others less fortunate. He sets a great example of what a teacher and coach should be and is.”
Throughout the Major League Baseball season, Blue KC and CYITML recognize six area coaches as Blue KC Coaches with Character. All honorees are chosen based on nominations from the public, which will be accepted until early September.
“Coach Steinhoff is making a wonderful impact on the students at Sherwood High School,” said Christina Lively, Department Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Blue KC. “It’s exciting to see a young coach who already knows the value of influencing his athletes to be better both on and off the field. We are honored to recognize Coach Steinhoff as a Blue KC Coach with Character.”
Selected from nominations submitted by fans, with one honoree announced each month throughout the 2018 MLB season, each Blue KC Coaches with Character honoree will be interviewed on 810 WHB, receive a VIP gift package from Blue KC and CYITML, and will be invited to meet Moore at an event in September at Kauffman Stadium. Additionally, Blue KC will make a $2,000 donation to CYITML in honor of each selected coach.
Those who would like to nominate an amateur coach from the KC area for Blue KC Coaches with Character are encouraged to visit CYouInTheMajorLeagues.org/bluekc.