Tippecanoe Valley golf coach Roger Moriarty offers some advice to one of his players earlier this season. Moriarty will retired at season’s end after three decades of coaching.

AKRON – Roger Moriarty loves to laugh.

He also loves to coach the game of golf.

The Tippecanoe Valley mentor has combined those two things into a long and lasting career making a difference in the lives of hundreds of young people.

Moriarty has been a fixture around the Valley golf program for three decades. He began coaching at the junior high level in 1985 and has been the man in charge of both the girls and boys high school programs since 1989.

Moriarty will conclude his coaching career when the boys high school season comes to a close in a few weeks with the state tournament series in June.

“I love the game of golf and coaching is my No. 1 love,” related Moriarty. “My nickname is Arnie because Arnold Palmer is my hero. This was a tough decision for me. The kids keep me young and I know that I’m going to miss it.”

The 66-year old Moriarty, who graduated from triton High School, has slowed down the last several years since having surgery back in 2007 to have a valve replaced in his heart.

“I have not been able to play since 2007 and physically now I just can’t demonstrate things the way I once did,” said Moriarty. “I feel great, but the kids deserve better when it comes to someone who can get out there and show them things.”

Duane Burkhart, who has been at Valley for the last 32 years, says the school will miss Moriarty.

“Roger just has a great personality,”  said Burkhart, who has been the Valley Athletic Director for the past two decades. “He’s very jovial and has a good sense of humor. He’s always loved coaching here. I know that all of us here, including our kids, have enjoyed having him here.”

“He’s just always been good with our kids. He has a knack for dealing with things in a light-hearted way. I appreciate the fact that he was always able to get his point across as a coach, but do it in a positive way where he did not show that he was upset with a kid.”

Moriarty’s resume includes nearly 500 wins to go with nine Three Rivers Conference championships. He has also had eight teams qualify for the regional and his 2000 boys team advanced to the State Finals. His current Valley team is led by senior standout Bryce Zimpelman, who is Moriarty’s nephew.

“The thing I think about is I can’t believe how many friends I have made coaching,” related Moriarty. “To see the kids that I have taught to have success is something I’ll always remember. Our 2000 team that was a special season.”

Moriarty was inducted into the Triton Hall of Fame earlier this year and was also honored, along with longtime Valley swim coach Buddy Busby, at Valley during the boys basketball season.

Moriarty, who always seems to have a smile on his face, will not be too far away from the links.

“I feel great and still feel young at heart,” noted Moriarty. “It’s just that my knees are old.

“I plan to do a little more traveling with my wife (Sandy) and spend more time with our three grandkids. But I told our players that I will still be at matches.”

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