Despite a decorated and accomplished resumé in university baseball, Dan Lang is more than just a coach.
An educator both on and off the field, the former Varsity Blues coach was honoured Sept. 25 when the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus renamed their varsity field the Dan Lang Field.
University of Toronto President David Naylor, UTSC Principal Franco Vaccarino and Professor Ira Jacobs, dean of the Faculty of Physical Education & Health attended the ceremony for the Varsity Blues baseball pioneer.
“Dan showed a passion not only for the athletic pursuits of his athletes but also for their academic and personal goals,” said Beth Ali, director of Intercollegiate & High Performance Sport at the U of T.
“He was truly a player’s coach both on and off the diamond and they knew that he was committed to their success as a ball player and a person.”
The 13-year veteran was not honoured solely on his body of work for the Blues, but also for his contributions to the Scarborough community.
Lang led the project for the Blues to have a permanent baseball facility in Scarborough, accomplished through tireless fundraising in the community.
With the field opening in 2006, the Blues had a place to call home.
This field is not only a varsity facility, but one that is available to the community and the UTSC athletic [departments] various programming including intramurals and camps,” Ali said.
“The legacy of this facility is important to U of T baseball, OUA baseball and community baseball.”
The 2010 U of T Sports Hall of Fame inductee also began free baseball clinics for Toronto Parks and Recreation and the North Toronto Baseball Association, encouraging the game he loves so much.
Lang retired as head coach in 2010, and is now professor in the Department of Theory and Policy Studies at the U of T’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.
He simply fits the role of teacher, whether on the diamond or in the classroom.
“Dan Lang has made huge contributions to the University of Toronto as a professor, administrator, advisor, mentor and coach,” Naylor said in an interview. “I am delighted that we are able to celebrate his legacy by naming the Dan Lang Field at the Varsity Blues permanent baseball facility in his honor.”