Elizabeth Bitting, the newest inductee into the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame. (Jackie Saia photo)
There are many different types of coaches.
The screamer. The silent leader. Captain gung-ho. The passive-aggressive prodder.
It goes on and on, but the rarest of the bunch may be the fountain of joy.
That’s a coach who really, truly loves their athletes, one who seeks out superstars and marginal role players alike, making each and every one feel important and treasured.
With no disrespect meant to other Coupeville coaches, past or present, one woman stands alone in best exemplifying those traits for Wolf Nation.
Whether working with middle school athletes, or high school competitors, whether guiding track teams or cross country squads, Elizabeth Bitting is our fountain of joy.
Having worked with her for several years now, I can attest to the level of her commitment, which is extraordinary.
Bitting has helped guide champions to their destiny, and exulted in her athlete’s achievement.
But she is also always there when the last runner crawls across the finish line — genuinely thrilled in a two-second improvement for that young girl or boy.
A stellar athlete in high school and college, Bitting continues to compete in running events, from 5K’s to endurance-level tests of the human soul.
She loves running, and it shows in her words and action.
Never more so than when she takes the lessons she’s learned while pounding away on backwoods trails, finds that 12-year-old kid who has never been an athlete, and lights a fire inside of them that they never expected to find.
When you look at Bitting during races, she is a tsunami of joy, and it touches her own athletes and rivals from other schools.
The running guru nimbly installs confidence and joy into each of her young athletes. (Elizabeth Bitting photo)
And that explosion of joy soon filters across the faces of virtually all of her young charges.
Trace the line of photos during a Coupeville Middle School track or cross country season, and you see the growth.
Athletes who looked shy and anxious in the early going have a new confidence as the season plays out.
Half-smiles widen into huge grins, and the interplay between the young Wolves and their exuberant coach becomes a two-way street.
Cross country is often a lonely sport, with runners navigating trails and underbrush off on their own, but it is also a perfect launching pad.
You don’t have to learn intricate team plays, or find your spot in a five or 11-player lineup. You just have to put one foot in front of the other, then celebrate each “win” against your personal clock.
It’s a beautiful entry sport for girls and boys of all sizes, shapes, and athletic backgrounds (or lack thereof).
And how blessed then are the young Wolves, who find the coach awaiting them to be a hardy mix of sunshine and love — a woman who makes their time on the trails a truly positive experience?
Bitting is a joy to work with as a writer, as well.
She’s quick to send info, goes into great detail, and often shoots photos of her young stars which provide a behind-the-scenes look rarely captured by those clicking away from the outside.
Toss in the fact she birthed what we now know as Race the Reserve, and her positive impact on our schools and our community just continues to grow.
Celebrating at Race the Reserve. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
So, while we could wait until retirement to induct her into the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame, the answer to that would be a simple, why?
For one thing, we all hope Bitting keeps at it for years (decades?) to come.
And secondly, inducting her now gives us a chance to reflect a bit of that shine back on to her, to let her know how much we all respect her.
So, after this, when you look up at the top of the blog, under the Legends tab, that’s where you’ll find Bitting hanging out.
Over the years we’ve had a lot of good coaches in Coupeville, and we’ve had a few bad ones. It would be the same in any town.
But no other community has Elizabeth Bitting, which truly sets us apart from the pack.
She is joy unleashed, and we all benefit from being a part of her universe.
A freakin’ fountain of joy, I said. (Morgan White photo)
