SJS News

By Steve Lachut, Director of Athletics
Saint James Chapel

Good evening, and congratulations to the Class of 2024.

Let me start with a little preface—I likely would have been asked to leave Saint James if I went here as a student, and I applied to two colleges, and only got into one, so this is not intended to be a talk about how to be great, or succeed in high school or college, but rather how to get the most out of those experiences and more as you transition into full-blown “adulting.”

During my thirteen years at Saint James, I have been able to do things that I never thought of doing, let alone thought I would do. 
At different points in time, I have been the head coach of two varsity sports—boys’ lacrosse and wrestling. I also for a few years helped with varsity field hockey. That ended the year that Mrs. Lachut became head coach, for some reason.

I traveled to Iceland on a spring break trip with students and my colleagues.

I traveled to various cities in Virginia and North Carolina with the choir.

I became Dean of Students, an ironic twist for someone who spent as much time in the principal’s office as I did during my childhood.
I got confirmed in this chapel.

I got married in this chapel.

Mrs. Lachut and I were able to take a group of students on the Camino de Santiago to walk a hundred miles through Portugal and Spain over the course of a week during spring break of 2020, only to return days before the world shut down due to the COVID pandemic.
I gave a baccalaureate address in 2021.

I became Athletic Director.

I became a father.

This is just a 30,000-foot view of some of the great experiences that have happened in my life that would not have occurred if it wasn’t for Saint James.

When Father Dunnan asked (or told?) me to give this address, I wasn’t sure what to talk about or how to pinpoint one of these seminal moments as somehow uniquely life-altering and worthy of being the focal point of this awe-inspiring speech that you will endlessly revisit on YouTube and someday tell your children about.

As far back as I can remember, I have had an enthusiasm for the words of people either more experienced or wiser than me, to the point where 95 percent of the screenshots and notes on my phone are of some pseudo-inspirational quote or phrase I have stumbled upon while doom scrolling. I have also dabbled in creating my own pithy or witty phrases, some of which must have been so impressive that one of my college teammates created a Facebook page entitled “Lachutisms.” The page was dedicated to preserving these words of wisdom shelled out on the bus, in the locker room, or on the field. I am eternally thankful that this page seems to no longer exist. 

Those of you whom I have had the pleasure to coach know that I still absolutely love quotes, phrases, or sayings. In fact, I have asked some of you, as well as some alumni and coaches, to offer up some of your favorites. So, for the sake of nostalgia, and the benefit of those of you who have not been coached by me, here are some of the responses: 

• It’s not rocket surgery.
• Attitude is contagious.
• What you permit, you promote.
• That was my nickname in college.
• Be the change you wish to see in the world.
• Many hands make light work.
• I don’t care what your mom says, I think you’re great.
• Find work.
• A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.
• Wrestle Here.
• Don’t let circumstance dictate how you behave.
• Do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do.

These are just a small sample of things you might hear while in the wrestling room, on the lacrosse field or at my advisee table. However, I am going to focus my attention on one that I think is perhaps the most valuable for everyday life.

It’s cool to care.

I generally deploy this quip in an attempt to combat the pandemic of apathy that can be found in teenagers, and express that it is okay for one to show that they actually care about the outcome of something, rather than just chalking up failure or a poor performance to “not trying” or “not caring,” as the perception of many is that it is easier to endure the pain of struggle or failure if we pretend that it does not exist or does not impact us. 

But really, when I say the words—it’s cool to care—I hope to encourage the practice and expression of love. The love of one another, the love of trying, the love of doing, the love of being a part of something bigger than oneself.

As a sidebar, this is something I’ve come to believe more recently in life, as my family is certainly more about practicing love than expressing it. To this day when I tell my mother I love her on the phone she either says “okay” or “thanks” and then ends the conversation.
If you have learned one thing at Saint James, it is love. Even if you may not recognize or acknowledge it just yet. 

I know, however, that love is the greatest gift I have received in my time here; not just being loved but living and practicing love. 

Everything we have the chance to do at Saint James offers us opportunities to practice and express love. 

Coaching here has offered me an opportunity to share my love of athletics, and the transformational character aspects of sport, with hundreds of athletes in my time. When people ask if I teach, I usually respond with the canned line of, “I teach life lessons on the playing fields of Saint James.” I say it in jest, but coaching here has allowed me to impart classic character virtues disguised as sharing my love and passion for wrestling and lacrosse. I have loved, in individual and unique ways, all the athletes I have had the pleasure to coach.

I love the refectory, and even seated meals (especially when they end prior to 7:00). The ability to have no distractions—no phones, no tv, no music, and just be able converse with people you wouldn’t normally sit with, or catch up with others that you have strong relationships with. I think I have laughed the hardest in my life while sitting at one of those tables. Sometimes at you, but more often with you. 
I love dorm duty, with all its smells, sounds, and general chaos. “Goodnight my princes of C2.”

I love my colleagues, as they have chosen to commit part, if not all, of their lives to this institution that I love, but more importantly, they have committed to sharing their own love and passion with their students.

I love that Mrs. Regan shares her passion for singing and performing with students.

I love how Mr. J Brown shares his enthusiasm for physical fitness with the soccer, basketball and lacrosse teams, although I'm not sure all the players share my appreciation.

I love how Mrs. Lachut shares her love for Kenyon College, the college process or how “geography impacts…culture.”
I love how Father Montgomery loves his “Cool Cats.”

I love the opportunity, support, and love that Father Dunnan has provided me, and so many others.

I love our students. 

I love that I have to ask Shawn to speak up at every advisee lunch, and how he always responds with a smile.

I love Ashish’s resilience—I mean the boy got puked on and bitten during his wrestling career and still likes the sport. 

I love how Abby can make anyone feel like her friend.

I love that Zack Molloy is a three-sport varsity athlete as well as a heck of a pianist. 

I love Caitlyn’s comedic timing, on and off the stage.

I love weighing in on a Teddy Kuser argument. 

I love Olivia’s determination to do what she wants, the way she wants to do it.

I love Osato’s determination to not shave.

I even love Sully’s behind-the-back shots on the lacrosse field. 

I love watching each of you express your passions, whether they are on the field, in the classroom, or on the stage. 

I love that so many of you have acted as big siblings to our son.

I could go on and on about the things I love, or care about, here.

Love, or caring, is an idea or emotion that can often feel abstract, but I challenge you to know that it is an action. Practice love. Practice it by saying I love you. Practice by being openly vulnerable. Most importantly, practice love by caring—by doing as much as you can, as well as you can, because not doing so just leaves too many regrets. In my 39 years on earth, I have found that we more often regret what we have left undone, rather than what we have done. 

In closing, I want to thank all those who have been a part of my journey at Saint James—friends, colleagues, students, and families—you have all had an impact on me, and my family and I will be forever appreciative. But most importantly, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey. I hope you have enjoyed the ride as much as I did.

Thank you, and remember, it is cool to care.