Coach Brent Haley is revered as one of the greatest high school distance coaches, ever.  Coach Haley guided the Largo distance squads for many years until his retirement.

Coach Haley turned 74 today.  Former student Chris Palmer's tribute shows Coach Haley was more than just a coach.

Chris Palmer - 74 years ago today, Coach Brent Haley was born. Little did anyone know that this newborn would grow up with an amazing and enduring passion for coaching. He would grow up to influence hundreds of athletes who, in turn, would influence countless others.

On the surface, his legacy appears to be about being one of the winningest coaches ever to touch the sport of cross country. And although the lengthy list of state championships and other honors is historically impressive, there is a greater legacy. You see, he changed our lives.

To prove that, all you had to do was be in that banquet hall in Largo last summer. Or show up early in Taylor Park that one Saturday morning last July. Each of these moments showed a long line of athletes, literally spanning decades, returning to see their coach, mentor, father figure, and friend one more time.

They traveled from Oregon and Minnesota and Arizona. They packed a room and filled a starting line from end to end. The smiles and words and years said it all. One by one, personally and publicly, the tributes rolled in. But almost none of it was about running. The tributes were almost all about what we got in those amazing days with him, so many years ago. We found belief in ourselves. We learned to work together. We learned that being tough through the pain can make you great. And we learned to care about the people you're with, even when things get tough.

So Coach, today I hope you see what you've done for us. You made us great athletes; but, in the end, you helped us be better people. I'll never forget that long row of blue Pack shirts lined up in the park one last time. I'll never forget seeing grown men at the reunion with tears in their eyes. And I'll never forget you. None of us will. Happy Birthday Coach.

And thank you for everything you did for every one of us. There are countless ways to measure a life; but I tend to think the best way is to ask yourself what good you did in the lives of others. That long line of runners in the park--now grown men--every single one of them has a story that relates to you. You made that possible. You put every single bit of who you are into everything you did for us. I hope you take a moment today to just soak that in.

Your life matters. It always has. It matters to all of us. We will always be grateful.

Happy Birthday. And many more.