Foul Ball Claims Life of Beloved Baseball Coach

You may have read or heard by now about Mike Coolbaugh, a coach killed during a minor league baseball game on Sunday night. He was struck in the head by a foul ball during a game in Arkansas. Talk about a freak accident.

Coolbaugh, a batting coach for the Tulsa Drillers, was standing in the first base box. He was only 35. Mike was from San Antonio, and attended Roosevelt High School with a good friend of mine. David Flores of the San Antonio Express-News reminds us of another incident that occured nearly 18 years ago.

Another accident in a memorable locker-room incident 18 years ago this fall tarnished Coolbaugh’s senior football season and ended the late John Ferrara’s career as a public-school coach.

With his team trailing Judson 21-0 at halftime of a key district game on Oct. 28, 1989, an angry Ferrara hurled a clipboard at a wall in frustration.

Unfortunately, the object hit Coolbaugh in the face and cut him badly. He had to be taken to the hospital and Ferrara was fired as the Rough Riders’ coach a few days later.

Even though he went on to a long pro baseball career after graduating, Coolbaugh never escaped his association with that infamous incident. But he handled the unwanted attention with the dignity that defined his life.

Needless to say everyone is heartbroken over this recent tragedy. Mike Coolbaugh was held in high regard by those he met throughout his life…coaches, friends, fans, teammates. Coolbaugh is survived by his wife, Mandy, and two sons, Joseph, 5, and Jacob, 3, all of San Antonio. Mandy Coolbaugh is expecting another child in October.

UPDATE: Removed mailing address for donations.

You can read the rest of David Flores’ article at MySA.com.

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