MILWAUKEE - Brian Bassett not only got a chance to see the Chicago Cubs complete a sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers, but he also received a personal honor at Sunday's game at Miller Park.
Officials gave the Monroe man the U.S. Cellular Community Coaches Award for his spirit of giving back to his community through coaching in Monroe Parks and Recreation Department programs during a special on-field ceremony.
"When I got out there, I felt honored," Bassett said who coached an 8- to 9-year-old baseball team, coached flag football through the Green County YMCA, was the coach for the kindergarten through third-grade YMCA's Dribbling Dinosaurs and helps coach a basketball skills clinic.
Bassett also serves as an assistant coach for the Monroe High School boys basketball team.
"I have never done it for an award," Bassett said. "I have always done it for the kids. It was absolutely amazing on the field with the team warming up behind us. I felt bad for the baseball players. It was really hot. It was hotter on the field than in the stands."
Bassett was selected for the award through Monroe Parks and Recreation participation in the U.S. Cellular On Deck program. Each participating league was asked to nominate one coach whose commitment goes above and beyond normal coaching duties and shows exemplary support for the youth in their community.
Bassett sat in the U.S. Cellular booth along with his father, Vernon Bassett, of Janesville, and his son, Brandon.
"I'm a big Cubs fan and my dad is a big Cubs fan," he said. "This is the first time my dad has seen the Cubs play in Miller Park."
Bassett worked with both the Monroe Parks and Recreation Department in addition to the YMCA to ensure that the basketball skills children were practicing were consistent between programs so they could develop better players.
"U.S. Cellular is proud to recognize those who are committed to making a positive impact on their community by giving back their time and supporting local youth," said Laurie Poellinger, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Wisconsin. "Brian and the other Community Coaches Award recipients have exemplified this commitment through their outstanding work with youth baseball players in their communities."
The other winners of the U.S. Cellular Community Coaches Award are Mike Mikalsen, Kennedy Little League; Jamie Guerrero, Middleton Youth Baseball and Softball; Heith Dey, Verona Little League; Coreay A. Williams, Sun Prairie Little League; and Duaine Pixler, Portage Little League.
As part of the On Deck program, each team in Monroe Parks and Recreation received a Coaches Kit that included a rolling cooler, baseballs and scorebook as well sweat wristbands, Brewers rally towels and cinch bags for the entire team. In total, U.S. Cellular supported about 350 teams and provided more than $100,000 worth of new baseball equipment for various leagues this summer.
"The appreciation I got was not only from the Monroe community, but from everyone that knows how much time it takes," Bassett said.
Officials gave the Monroe man the U.S. Cellular Community Coaches Award for his spirit of giving back to his community through coaching in Monroe Parks and Recreation Department programs during a special on-field ceremony.
"When I got out there, I felt honored," Bassett said who coached an 8- to 9-year-old baseball team, coached flag football through the Green County YMCA, was the coach for the kindergarten through third-grade YMCA's Dribbling Dinosaurs and helps coach a basketball skills clinic.
Bassett also serves as an assistant coach for the Monroe High School boys basketball team.
"I have never done it for an award," Bassett said. "I have always done it for the kids. It was absolutely amazing on the field with the team warming up behind us. I felt bad for the baseball players. It was really hot. It was hotter on the field than in the stands."
Bassett was selected for the award through Monroe Parks and Recreation participation in the U.S. Cellular On Deck program. Each participating league was asked to nominate one coach whose commitment goes above and beyond normal coaching duties and shows exemplary support for the youth in their community.
Bassett sat in the U.S. Cellular booth along with his father, Vernon Bassett, of Janesville, and his son, Brandon.
"I'm a big Cubs fan and my dad is a big Cubs fan," he said. "This is the first time my dad has seen the Cubs play in Miller Park."
Bassett worked with both the Monroe Parks and Recreation Department in addition to the YMCA to ensure that the basketball skills children were practicing were consistent between programs so they could develop better players.
"U.S. Cellular is proud to recognize those who are committed to making a positive impact on their community by giving back their time and supporting local youth," said Laurie Poellinger, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Wisconsin. "Brian and the other Community Coaches Award recipients have exemplified this commitment through their outstanding work with youth baseball players in their communities."
The other winners of the U.S. Cellular Community Coaches Award are Mike Mikalsen, Kennedy Little League; Jamie Guerrero, Middleton Youth Baseball and Softball; Heith Dey, Verona Little League; Coreay A. Williams, Sun Prairie Little League; and Duaine Pixler, Portage Little League.
As part of the On Deck program, each team in Monroe Parks and Recreation received a Coaches Kit that included a rolling cooler, baseballs and scorebook as well sweat wristbands, Brewers rally towels and cinch bags for the entire team. In total, U.S. Cellular supported about 350 teams and provided more than $100,000 worth of new baseball equipment for various leagues this summer.
"The appreciation I got was not only from the Monroe community, but from everyone that knows how much time it takes," Bassett said.
