Getting to know some local dads, and their passion for athletics and coaching.
Athlete dads are happy to share their passion for sports with children, and grow as fathers along the way. Los Angeles Angels left fielder Taylor Ward is father to Camryn, 18 months old, and is soon to be father to a new baby. While he says he’d like to see his kids get into sports, he admits his own career has come with valuable life lessons as well as some challenges.
“It’s tough being away from my family,” he said. “I’m now realizing how much time we get taken away from our family.”
Los Angeles Angels third base coach Eric Young Sr. says he treats children he coaches the way he’s been treating his now-adult kids, Eric Young Jr., 38, and Dallas, 18. He sees where they’re coming from and adjusts his approach to help them overcome challenges and succeed.
Get to know some other local dads who share their love of sports with their kids.
Dad: Ryan Sheckler
City: San Juan Capistrano
Family: Wife, Abigail, 27; daughter, Olive, 14 months
Sports connection: “I’ve been a professional skateboarder for 21 years. I also coach skateboarding and I’ll be a mentor at Woodward Camps this summer. I work closely with Woodward, designing courses and providing input. I get to go to camp a couple times a summer and love hanging with the kids there, and teaching them how to land their next trick.”
How did you get into it? “I was about 18 months old when I started skateboarding. My parents were very open-minded about us trying to figure out what we like to do. What I love about skateboarding is its complete freedom. When I get on the board I can skate the way I want to skate, I can try the tricks I want to try and no one really can tell me what to do on my board.”
How does it impact you as a dad? “Skateboarding is hard, and I’ve learned how to push through the challenges of skateboarding to get to the other side, and I think being a dad is the same way. Skateboarding helped me a lot with the way I look at being a dad. As a proud dad, seeing my daughter take an interest in any sport is a joy. And we’ve had her up on a skateboard a bit, which is awesome. I think she’ll nail a kick flip at least before she’s 3.”
Dad: Dave Boehne
City: Dana Point
Family: Wife, Mary, 46; son, Stryder, 11, daughter, Ember, 14
Sports connection: “I’m a professional surfer and SUP paddler. I have been the coach for USA Surfing at the ISA World Paddle Games and currently coach for Performance Paddling.”
How did you get into it? “I grew up in the family surfboard business and was introduced to the ocean for surfing, paddling and sailing at a very young age. I’m a fan of sport and a student of competition so coaching came pretty naturally for me. I love breaking down technique, strategy and influencing others to exceed their expectations for themselves.”
How does it impact you as a dad? “Life is busy, it’s important to separate work from play and from family time. Balance is the key.”
Dad: Blair Liggatt
City: Laguna Beach
Family: Wife, Michelle, 50; daughter, London, 15
Sports connection: “I’m a coach for the Laguna Canyon Riders Youth MTB race team for ages 10-18 with more than 32 athletes. They are the 2023 and 2024 SoCal Enduro Team Champions.”
How did you get into it? “I have always had a passion for bicycles since the age of 2 years old. I started mountain biking in the early 1990s and have been mountain biking since.”
How does it impact you as a dad? “My wife and daughter love MTB and we ride as a family on Sundays. As a father, it helps me in life both physically and mentally and keeps me young at heart.”
Dad: Saul Barragan
City: Aliso Viejo
Family: Wife, Leonie, 35; daughters, Luma, 11, Ruby, 8, Rhea, 4
Sports connection: “I’m a soccer coach.”
How did you get into it? “Soccer has been a big part of my life thanks to my dad. He used to play in the Sunday soccer league in Mexico, and I’d join him to collect balls. We kept our love for soccer alive, after moving to the US by watching games together all day on weekends. My love for soccer isn’t just about the sport, it’s also about the bond I share with my dad, the memories we’ve made together and now being able to do the same with my daughters.”
How does it impact you as a dad? “Being a part of my three daughters’ soccer journey is incredibly fulfilling. From the highs of victory to the challenges of defeat, sharing these moments together strengthens our bond. Witnessing their growth and development firsthand is truly inspiring. Since I’m usually busy with work until I get home, our time together revolves around soccer training and weekend games.”
Dad: Bryan Fournier
City: Irvine
Family: Wife, Kristin, 41; Pierce, 15, Gia 12, Shaw, 7
Sports connection: “I grew up in Irvine and played tackle football for Woodbridge High School and continued to play in college at Tufts. Now I coach all my kids and others. I’m the freshman tackle football coach for University High School, as well as the Irvine director and coach for the Conquer Chargers girls flag football league. I also coach my son’s first-grade boys and my daughter’s sixth-grade girls flag football teams in the Matt Leinart league, plus a six to eighth-grade boys’ team for 4Vert.”
How did you get into it? “I spent most of my childhood playing everything from soccer, basketball, karate, swimming and football.”
How does it impact you as a dad? “It gives me the chance to teach life lessons that help my kids learn and grow. I want my kids to learn how to work as a team, how to push themselves towards a goal and learn to deal with the emotions of defeat and disappointment.”
Dad: Andrew Uchida
City: Irvine
Family: Wife, Chantel, 42; Brynn, 12, Lia, 9
Sports connection: “I played baseball as a kid and was a four-year varsity starter in high school at Brentwood School and played a year at Claremont McKenna College. Now as a dad, I’ve coached my daughters in flag football for the Matt Leinart League, softball for Irvine Girls Softball Association and basketball for the Orange County Optimist Club. For the past four years, I’ve also played adult softball in the City of Irvine league.”
How did you get into it? “My dad was my coach for most of my childhood, and playing baseball and going to Dodger games with my dad and grandpa were some of my favorite childhood memories.”
How does it impact you as a dad? “Being a present sports dad allows me to teach my kids about the effort that goes into every goal and the importance of perseverance through ups and downs. I get to be around for all of it, and I wouldn’t miss a moment of any of it.”
Dad: Michael Terry
City: Irvine
Family: Allison; Daniella, 11, and Lexi, 9
Sports connection: “I immersed myself in a variety of sports, from soccer to beach volleyball. By the time I attended El Modena High School, I focused on cross country, basketball and track, achieving recognized success. Some of my most cherished memories were earning the title of league MVP in basketball and securing a victory in the 800 meters at the California State Track and Field Championships. At UCLA, I was a key contributor to the track and field team’s success in winning four consecutive Pac-10 Championships. My athletic career reached its peak when I competed in the Olympics in Atlanta. I now coach flag football, basketball and soccer recreationally.”
How did you get into it? “My coaching journey began in college as a middle-school flag football coach. My teams won consecutive league championships, with the first victory clinched by a dramatic last-second Hail Mary pass in the championship game. This opened the door to coaching the high school JV basketball team at the same school. John Wooden once said, ‘A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life.’ This philosophy has deeply resonated with me. It is profoundly fulfilling to impact someone’s life by helping them surpass their perceived limits.”
How does it impact you as a dad? “I encourage my children to engage in a variety of activities, emphasizing the importance of dedication, effort and learning from setbacks.”
Dad: Audie Attar
City: Irvine
Family: Kristin, 44; Ava, 11, Layla, 8
Sports connection: “I played college football at UCLA.”
How did you get into it? “I did everything from soccer and baseball to martial arts and gymnastics. I started coaching my oldest daughter, Ava, when she wanted to try out flag football and her school was participating in the Irvine Winter Bowl Tournament. I now help out with coaching my daughter’s recreational flag football team.”
How does it impact you as a dad? “I love to see my kids happy, but I am also proud to see them set goals and conquer all the challenges along the way.”
Dad: Chris Wyman
City: San Clemente
Family: Daughter, Rainy, 14, son, Malik, 12
Sports connection: “Athlete and coach for mountain biking or anything the kids want to learn.”
How did you get into it? “My parents started me skiing, biking, backpacking, sailing and the love of outdoor life. I got into windsurfing, and spent 10 years on the world tour, which eventually brought me to Southern California from Hawaii throughout my late teens and 20s. Later, I rekindled my love of mountain biking and passed that along to Rainy and Malik, who have excelled at it. Sports, in my mind, is freedom and self-inflicted happiness. I couldn’t live without sports.”
How does it impact you as a dad? “Mountain biking, surfing and ski/snowboarding is something my kids and I love to do. It is a very special time we get to spend together.”
By Magda Hernandez
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