Long-Time Franklin Little League Coach Bevier Calls It Quits After 30 Years

| June 23, 2022

FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – Doug Bevier stood humbly along the first base infield as an announcement was made that they were delaying the start of the final game for his league-leading Elks team in order to thank him for all his years of service to the kids.

(Photos and article by Richard Sayer of Eight & 322.)

He has been somewhere on a Franklin area diamond in the spring and summer for the last 30 years. He has decided to call it quits, at least for a few years, to watch his youngest son prepare for a varsity career at Rocky Grove High School.

“There is no game that teaches life lessons better, at least none that I’ve found,” said Coach Doug as everyone calls him.

He is known to give his Little League ball players a little homework after practice.

“After each practice, he would give the kids a word like ‘discipline,’” Bevier’s daughter Bria said over the loudspeaker Wednesday night at the Miller-Sibley Complex. “He would tell them the meaning and then quiz them on what it meant the next practice.”

Unbeknownst to Coach Doug, several members of the community and his family arranged to honor him for his 30 years of coaching Little League Wednesday night.

“He enjoyed when a player could make a head-ups play, but he loved when a player received all A’s on a report card or seeing a player get a summer job more,” his daughter continued. “He instilled in them what leadership was and how in everything you do in this life you lead by example, or lead by being vocal and picking your teammates up.”

That homework Bevier would give was the most important thing he could do, he said. He looked at coaching baseball to teach kids to be better people and leaders.

“My kids all have given me the time to help all these other kids,” Coach Doug said, as he got a little emotional. “And they have all come out to help coach, too.”

Bevier’s daughter said her dad has reached over 300 local kids over the years, instilling in them lessons on how to be successful in life.

“Some of his lessons included responsibility, accountability, sportsmanship and that hard work pays off,” she said.

His successful coaching career includes eight league championships, several district titles and state runs in both baseball and softball.

Bevier didn’t rule out a return in the future.

“Who knows, we’ll see if Jodi (his wife) needs me out of the house. Maybe I’ll be back in four years,” he said.

“Doug’s contributions to this league and community will be felt in the hearts of the kids for a long time,” his daughter concluded her speech. “Thank you, Coach Doug. Thank you, Dad.”


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