34-year-old football coach — a dad of 4 — dies after collapsing at game, KY family says
A youth football coach died after suffering a medical incident during a game, according to his Kentucky family and school officials.
Loved ones said in an obituary 34-year-old Michael Kean, of Eubank, Kentucky, died Saturday, Sept. 16, “doing something he loved.”
“While coaching his son’s peewee football game Saturday he collapsed on the field,” according to a GoFundMe. “He ended up suffering a massive heart attack and we were unable to get him back.”
An ambulance arrived within 10 minutes, but Kean died after being taken to a hospital, according to the Commonwealth Journal.
Kean was the coach of the Eubank Bulldogs, which is a part of the Pulaski County Youth Football League. His last moments, according to an obituary, were spent celebrating his team’s win.
He also coached youth league baseball, said PCYFL President Don Baker, who told the Commonwealth Journal that Kean was “an all-around awesome guy.”
“A lot of people like to say they’re there for the kids, and we appreciate the volunteers, but you know the ones who are the real deal and he was one of them,” Baker told the newspaper. ”He was one of the good ones. He was a dandy.”
Cara Spears, whose husband coached with Kean, told WKYT no coach was able to “motivate, encourage and inspire kids like Coach Michael.”
Kean served in Afghanistan from 2009-2010 in the 82nd Airbone Division, according to his obituary. He married his wife, Leah, in 2011, and they had four children together.
He was described by those close to him as “a great friend and an even better coach” and “every child’s biggest supporter.”
“Michael was a godly man and being a husband and father was the most important title he held. His other favorite title was coach,” according to the obituary. “He spent many hours encouraging kids and teaching good sportsmanship on both the baseball and football field.”
Funeral services will be held Friday, Sept. 22, at Southern Oakes Funeral Home in Pulaski County, about 85 miles south of Lexington.
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