Catching Up With ...
        Gymnast-turned circus performer Kai Tindall (June 12)
 
SEATTLE – With one son in college and the other getting ready for his freshman year in high school, Mark Collings has two decades of fatherhood experience.
 
Jimmy Ward, one of Collings' assistants on the Seattle Pacific men's soccer coaching staff, has not quite two months of it.
 
Either way, Collings and Ward – and several others among the school's numerous coaches – are looking forward to their special day on Sunday.
 
That would be Father's Day.
 
"I've had so many amazing experiences and times with them, and I love being able to look back on each of those times … for the most part," Collings said.

 

Ward, whose wife gave birth to twin girls on April 30, is still growing into the being-a-dad thing. But he made clear that he is enjoying it and is eagerly anticipating Sunday.

"My first Father's Day is coming up, so not a ton of experience to look back on, but I'm just looking forward to spending time with my wife and our two girls," he said.
 
The sports information team reached out all SPU's coaching dads asking them two questions:    

• What's the best part of being a dad?
• What is your idea of a perfect Father's Day?

The e-mail inbox filled up with responses from eight of them. Some even included photos. So this week, instead of "Catching Up With" a former Falcon athlete, we're catching up with these Falcon fathers.
 
 
WHAT'S THE BEST PART OF BEING A DAD?
Mark  Collings, men's soccer head coach
Sons Jeffrey (20), Tyler (14)
 

"The best thing about being a dad is the joy that Jeffrey and Tyler bring to my life. Of course, making sure that they understand the importance of Red Sox nation has been an important part of my fatherhood that has been passed down to the Collings family. There is nothing (besides my wife Leslie) that brings me more happiness in my life than my boys."
 
Keith  Jefferson, men's and women's rowing head coach
Son Randall (28), daughter Emma (11)
"The best part is, of course, the constant challenge of modeling "the Father." Though somewhat contrarily, I have also always liked the paternal role one author called "the imp of fun." When it's convenient, we dads commonly use play as an excuse not to grow up. But the kids love it, and so do we."

 Grant  Leep, men's basketball assistant coach
Daughters Avery (4), Harper (2)

"I love being a dad to my two girls. At the ages they are, there are so many things they're learning, seeing, and doing for the first time. They approach so many of those new things with a sense of excitement and awe, and that perspective becomes infectious. I can't help but approach things in my life with that childlike perspective. I love watching them grow and become independent. It's a lot of fun to see the characteristics of their personalities and see things that remind me of my wife, Allison, or of myself. Plus, I've learned every song from the movie "Frozen" and it has given me an excuse to play with Legos again, even though most of them are pink and purple now."
 
Ryan  Looney, men's basketball head coach
Daughter Peyton (7), son Micah (5)
"The best part of being a dad is that I sometimes get to act like a kid at home. My wife Julianna has three of us to look after. The last seven years have allowed me to refine my skills in hide-and-seek, singing toddler songs, the bouncy house, swimming, and follow-the-leader. I feel like I am now a very well-rounded 39-year-old man. Watching both of our children grow has been a blessing every day."

Dan  Pingrey, men's soccer assistant coach
Son Carson (22), daughter Brooke (19)
"My favorite part about being a dad is being able to watch my kids laugh. Seeing them enjoy life and hopefully creating some of those belly laughs makes everything else seem like not a big deal. I look forward to many more smiles in our future."

Erik  Skipper, men's soccer assistant coach
Sons Kaidin (6) and Declan (3)
 

"My favorite part about being a dad is seeing the smile on my kids' faces each morning when they wake up and are excited for what the day has in store."
 
Steve  Steele, women's basketball assistant coach
Son Jake (13), daughter Evan (10)
"My favorite part about being a dad is just playing with my kids – having fun with them and seeing them laugh."
 
Jimmy  Ward, men's soccer assistant coach
Twins Nora and Hazel (2 months)
 "As of now, I really enjoy the mornings when I'm able to let my wife (Kim) get her much-deserved sleep, and the twins fall asleep on the couch with me after I feed them, maybe watching soccer if it's on."
 
 
WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF A PERFECT FATHER'S DAY?
Mark  Collings
"My ideal Father's Day is having all of us together. Unfortunately, with how busy we are with all of our activities, it's rare that we get a full day together. So, assuming that we do, it probably would start with the boys sleeping in, heading to Dim Sum, a day out on the boat, a barbecue, and of course dessert to finish off the night."

 

Keith  Jefferson
"A perfect Father's Day is a big breakfast and a water park or similarly fun place with the little one (11-year-old Emma). A nap is often a treat; pie is a bonus. With a 17-year-gap between our offspring, the big one (28-year-old Randall) is out of the house already, but he was fun, too."
 
Grant  Leep
"A perfect Father's Day for me includes enjoying as much time with Allison, Avery, and Harper as I can, preferably outside (weather permitting) and also putting some meat on the grill."
 
Ryan  Looney
"A perfect Father's Day for me is simple: A full day with my family and no interruptions would be great."

 

Dan  Pingrey
"The best Dad's Day is just hanging out together. A family hike, family games, and a big barbecue to finish the day … perfect!"
 
Erik  Skipper
"My idea of the perfect Father's Day would be playing sports with my family at the beach in the sun."







Steve  Steele
 

"My perfect Father's Day would include doing something active with my wife and kids in the morning, something outdoors like hiking or attending a sporting event. Then I'd finish it off with a barbecue and a Coke (and probably watching another sporting event on TV).
 
Jimmy  Ward
"I would just enjoy a relaxing day with a walk down to our neighborhood restaurant for a good brunch."