On second thought, Zine was ready

Strange how fate somehow always finds a way to intervene in people's lives.

That's not to say I'll suddenly transform into a PGA Tour player and live out my dream next year as I tee it up in the Masters at Augusta National.

But the unexpected certainly can -- and does -- happen. If and when it occurs, it's usually at a time when expectations are low, when those once vibrant visions have been pushed to the back of your mind by everyday reality.

And then it hits.

Sounds a lot like the story of Dave Zine, who'd already taken the fork in his career road when he came upon a blind intersection.

He took a right turn. And now he's in the position he once aspired to be in, though he never thought it would materialize -- not due to a lack of motivation or qualifications -- but because of family and time considerations.

Then fate came around, and next thing you know, Zine was named softball coach at West Aurora -- right at a time when he says, "I was trying to wean myself off coaching."

He'd already begun that process last spring. After 10 years as a paid assistant on West High's softball staff as freshman coach, Zine decided to work only as a volunteer coach last season -- part of the "weaning" process. He thought of it as a step down where he could still be involved but not immersed nor obligated.

And then the bomb dropped. Out of nowhere. When legendary coach Donna Proctor announced she was stepping aside as coach after 21 years to focus on departmental duties, it threw things into flux and set the wheels in motion for Zine.

"I'd been trying to separate myself from the program and wean myself off coaching a little because I'd decided it was time to see my kids and family a little more," Zine said. "I had always wanted to be a head coach, but over the years -- especially after I got married and had kids -- the idea of taking over a program as head coach became less and less a part of my thought process.

"And besides, I figured Donna would coach forever. But these opportunities don't come around often, so I sat down with my wife and had to rethink things."

Must have been some pretty good thoughts, because it's been all roses for Zine and the Blackhawks. Off to a 9-0 start, Zine is enjoying baptism by victory, and making the kind of debut every rookie coach -- make that any coach -- would cherish.

Zine had the luxury of starting with two outstanding, college-bound pitchers -- Stephanie Becker and Sam Arenkill. But there was also a lot of uncertainty in inheriting a team that lost eight seniors from last year's regional titlist that won 22 games.

"We knew pitching would be our strength; Steph and Sam give us a great 1-2 punch," Zine said. "To our surprise, we're getting solid contributions throughout the lineup offensively -- so far -- and scoring a lot of runs. We're playing pretty good defense, too."

Coaching could certainly be considered a factor in that. It's what Zine does best. It's what he loves to do the most. It's also what he's been doing less of since taking over the program.

"When I took the job, a coach here at West told me, almost jokingly, that I'd be doing a lot less coaching and a lot more administrative stuff," Zine said. "I said, 'Nah, that's not how it's going to be; I'm a coach first.'

"Well, he was right. The administrative part of the job is a load. It's the biggest adjustment I've had to make. You have to deal with everything that comes up involving 40 players, eight coaches, budgets, scheduling, paperwork, travel arrangements, equipment.

"Juggling everything like that takes you away from coaching a little bit. All those years coaching the freshman teams, I just focused on coaching and teaching my players. The administrative stuff was for somebody else to do. Now that somebody is me."

But his passion for coaching still burns bright as ever under all those other duties -- just as brightly as it did 20 years ago, when he began coaching softball with current University of Tennessee coach Ralph Weekly at Pacific Lutheran University.

He's done a lot and seen a lot since then, including a mountain climbing trip to the top of Mount Rainier with his band of Zine brothers and a couple cycling trips down the Pacific Coast.

In June Dave will join brothers Matt and Charlie for another west coast cycling adventure -- this time from Tacoma, Washington to San Francisco by two wheels.

It will be a long haul -- just like this softball season -- with sunny days and sudden storms, smooth stretches and demanding hills.

It's much the same regarding West Aurora's 9-0 start.

"We're pleased with our start, but we know we have a tough road ahead of us," Zine said.

A rugged schedule looms in the DuPage Valley Conference. The Blackhawks open league play Monday against West Chicago. Bad weather has it to the point where the team plays games just about every day now, all the more time to do what Zine enjoys most (besides mountain climbing and bicycle touring).

"I really enjoy the art of coaching," he said. "I just love to coach."

And these days everything else that goes with it.