Spend 40 years at the same job and most people are ready to grab a Road Atlas, climb aboard the RV and take off to see the country.
Not Leroy Marsh. He can't wait until football practice starts.
This marks his 40th year in Munster football, 33 as its head coach. If Marsh has his way, he'll still be coaching through the next Summer Olympics, at least.
The student-athletes at Munster are very fortunate.
"He's the best coach I can hope for. Great guy. He'd give you the clothes off his back," senior linebacker Marko Popovich said. "He's always pushing us; one of the most mentally tough people I've ever been around."
Marsh, 62, has always embraced the Munster program, his players and their parents, as family. If he held a reunion, they'd have to rent out U.S. Cellular Field.
"It's still a passion of mine," Marsh said. "I go to clinics all over the country, talk to coaches, break down video, read tons of magazines.
"If it wasn't still a passion of mine, then I would turn it over to somebody else because the kids deserve to have someone who cares about them."
Marsh and wife Jamie, the love of his life and biggest fan, have both overcome health scares and family tragedies through the years, losing a young son and then a daughter-in-law.
But their deep faith and resilience are largely due to an enormous support group of fans, administrators, rival coaches and former players throughout the state.
"It's still fun for me," he said. "I like my staff. I like my guys. A lot of them have played for me. This is what I want to do.
"If I retired tomorrow from Munster High School, I'd still be out here in some capacity coaching kids. I love the game."
Marsh begins this season three wins shy of 200 and as important as won-lost records are to him, the futures of his players remain a priority.
"We love to win, hate to lose, but the process is the important thing. We really care about our kids in a lot of other ways than just football," Marsh said. "Their character, how they do in the classroom, how they do in the community.
"The best satisfaction I get is five, 10 years down the road when they're here with their family. What type of human being did they become? Great father. Great husband. Those are the things that make me proud."
Jamie is cut from the same cloth serving as the Mustangs' press box hostess, making everyone feel as welcome as Thanksgiving at the grandparents.
"Jamie and I figured out the other day that last Monday (opening practice) was our 48th two-a-days either as a player or a coach since we've been together," said Marsh, adding this is a way of life for them.
Former players often phone and email Leroy Marsh and the man he succeeded, John Friend, to show their support and pride in the program.
"We needed a new weight room last year and we needed funds," Marsh recalled. "We raised almost $230,000 -- a big portion of that came from football alumni.
"We had guys sending us $5,000 and $10,000 that cared about the program, cared about the kids, cared about Munster."
He won't admit it, but Leroy Marsh tops their list as well.
This column solely represents the writer's opinion. Reach him at al.hamnik@nwi.com.
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