Coach B and Austin Hatch's Special Bond per Mlive
Guess it is Austin Hatch day today. In depth story over at mlive detailing the relationship between coach and player! Awesome-ness.
In a coma, Hatch wasn't cognizant for Beilein's first visit. But Beilein's second trip is one he says Hatch will never forget. "He came to visit me in (Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago), before I really knew how to walk -- before I re-learned how to walk," Hatch recalled Tuesday inside the William Davidson Player Development Center. "You talk about a man of loyalty, coach Beilein is the most loyal man I know."
and
Hatch and Beilein's next goal is to eventually get him to the point where he's fully able to participate with the team in practice without any limitations. Hatch will travel to Italy later this week for the Wolverines' 10-day, four-game exhibition trip overseas -- and while Hatch isn't full-go just yet, Beilein didn't rule out the possibility of him appearing in a game at some point.
and
His development in the weight room continues as well. Before the plane crash in 2011, the 6-foot-6 Hatch weighed about 215 pounds. When he woke up from his coma, he had dropped to 160. Working with Michigan strength and conditioning coach Jon Sanderson, Hatch is now listed on the team's official roster at his old weight, 215.and
"(He brings) a lot of maturity and integrity. We get all the love in the world from that guy," fellow freshman Aubrey Dawkins said. "He just makes things better. He makes you feel better. He knows how to push you, how to make you better. "He's the perfect teammate."
LINK.
August 13th, 2014 at 3:52 PM ^
"Hatch walks through the Crisler Center every day and reminds himself where he was three years ago. With that comes the realization of where his work ethic might take him down the road."
There is no doubt in my mind that Hatch is headed places, and if not at the next level of basketball, then someone with that much determination and inner strength will go far in the business world and probably become a skilled leader. In the near-term, I am simply excited to see him get a chance to finally be here in Ann Arbor and playing basketball after all that he has gone through.
August 13th, 2014 at 3:54 PM ^
and for those who have followed this incredible story, the accompanying picture is almost beyond belief.
August 13th, 2014 at 4:09 PM ^
What I am boggled by is for someone who lost ability to walk how you can regain those specialized basketball skills in a very short amount of time. I would think you'd have to relearn jump shooting from scratch as your muscle memory is gone.
I have no idea his current skill set but if he has even MAC level outside shooting skill, to rebuild that from scratch in what - 2 years (I assume year 1 was just learning to walk and run) - is something that just doesn't seem possible. It is one thing to rebuild a basketball skill set to say "open gym" level in a 24 months (which would be amazing to me) but if it's anything resembling NCAA level skill set - just seems like a near miracle.
August 13th, 2014 at 5:28 PM ^
August 13th, 2014 at 4:09 PM ^
His Twitter photo is pretty good, too:
August 13th, 2014 at 4:01 PM ^
When you think about him coming back from not being able to walk or talk and listen to the interview on the other article, you can't help but get choked up. He has come back so far. I wish we could see what he can do on the court now but it will be a special day when he walks on the court the first time much less when he hits that first three.
I always hoped he could get there but I'm beginning to really feel that the day will come. He's one special kid.
August 13th, 2014 at 4:01 PM ^
August 13th, 2014 at 4:25 PM ^
August 13th, 2014 at 4:39 PM ^
Damn... Might make his first on-court appearance a little more difficult to predict. I'm just gonna have to go to every M Hoops game to make sure I'm part of that amazing standing ovation.
August 13th, 2014 at 4:49 PM ^
Bless you, Austin Hatch. You've got a hell of a lot of guts, young man. Here's wishing you nothing but success both on the court and, more importantly, off it.
And it's something like this - more than just the Big Ten titles, the tourney appearances, or the success of the program - that make me proud to look at John Beilein and say, "That's the basketball coach at my university."
The Leaders and Best, indeed.
August 13th, 2014 at 6:22 PM ^
Can't wait until he drains his first shot. That'll be a program highlight.
Stories like this and the recent Make a Wish special are what make Michigan athletics so special. They aren't acts of charity designed to draw publicity, but acts of genuine kindness, motivated by true integrity. The fact that Hatch may actually play at some point is just icing on the cake.
August 13th, 2014 at 9:56 PM ^
August 13th, 2014 at 6:49 PM ^
does anyone really doubt that Austin Hatch will be a signficant contributor to the MBB program before he graduates?? I don't know if it will be this year, but I'm certain it will happen eventually. He makes me proud to be a U of M fan...Good Luck, Austin!!
August 13th, 2014 at 7:49 PM ^
that we're seeing unfold as Austin Hatch continues to outperform the expectations of so many. As was the case with Brock, Austin has refused to accept defeat despite long odds against anything close to full and complete recovery.
How can anyone not find inspiration in seeing that level of determination and achievement in both Mealer and Hatch?
August 13th, 2014 at 11:03 PM ^
Can you imagine how positive it would be for a team to have a player like Hatch in their program? It would build such solid work ethic, team work, true support for one another, and that abilty to move outside of oneselves and see the bigger picture. This is great for the team.
Yeah, as mentioned above, when Hatch one day drains his first shot, it will be lengendary. I hope I'm in the stadium when that happens.