About


 Joe Patzelt

I have experienced one dog pile as a player and it was with the Bellarmine Knights in 2013 as we won the GLVC Tournament Championship.

During this moment, nobody cared who got the credit. Nobody was thinking about their next move...whether they were off to a high paying job after college, whether they were going pro, or whether they would continue with school. This photo shows the aftermath of what a hard fought team victory looks like. Months of commitment, sacrifice, and dedication paying off. School pride. You name it. A memory like this lasts forever.

Whether I'm coaching a team or even working with a kid one-on-one, I always come back to: Teamwork. Do what's best for the team, kid. Find a way to contribute. If you're that far down on the depth chart, get creative. I know all about that life too.

It's so much fun when a team becomes a family. Just because you are assigned the same jersey doesn't automatically make you a family. Every player and coach needs to buy in and actually create that bond. It takes effort. It takes sacrifice. And once you get it, it's powerful.

It's funny how it works. When you focus on playing as a collective unit, you will actually end up with better individual stats. That's because you'll have extra confidence every time you step up to the plate knowing that you're not alone. A teammate has your back and you have theirs.

This game can be demoralizing if you try to do it alone.