'Frankie' recipients Steve Messina, left, Hilary Greene, Hiram Greene and Blair Dils. They were introduced by, behind, Matt Voisin, John Benzinger and Paul Barrett.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — From December through February, Hiram and Hilary Greene have no trouble coordinating one of the best high school cross country ski teams in Massachusetts.
But on Sunday evening, they had a little trouble getting their story straight.
"Cross country skiing came into my life 27 years ago, mostly because of my daughter," Hiram told a crowd gathered at Waubeeka Golf Links' Parsley's Restaurant.
"She's my mentor, if you can believe that."
Hilary was quick to disabuse the audience of that idea.
"He set this program up 27 years ago," the younger Greene said. "He established a culture of a committed, fun and, yes, winning team, and I was able to come and slip into that."
The father-daughter coaching duo were among four coaches from Mount Greylock Regional School honored with the 2015 Frank Zoltek Passion for Coaching Award.
Boys soccer coach Blair Dils and baseball coach Steve Messina also were recognized with the "Frankie," established in 2007 to honor the North County coaching legend.
Among the four of them, they have more than 80 years of high school coaching experience and 24 state championships going into the 2015-16 academic year.
The bulk of the state title were won in skiing (Dils' booters brought home one, in 2008), but Hiram Greene's former standout and now assistant coach Matt Voisin said Sunday that winning is only part of the story.
Voisin noted that when Hiram Greene started coaching the Mounties, the Nordic ski team drew 30 kids. Last year, it had 92 — at a school that has dropped in enrollment in the interim.
"Yes, success breeds success," Voisin said. "And kids want to be part of a winning tradition. But that is not why they join the Mount Greylock ski team exclusively.
"The values and character they learn will last with them the rest of their lives. As Hiram says in his speech every year: He teaches them the two most important words in the language, 'Thank you.' "
All four of the coaches honored were appreciative of the contributions of former athletes, assistant coaches and their own families to their accomplishments on the field. And they thanked the Frankie selection committee for adding their names to the roll of coaches permanently tied to Coach Z, who served at the former St. Joseph's School, Drury High School, MCLA an Williams College.
Messina, who graduated from Taconic High School in 1981 and who did not play high school basketball, nevertheless remembered the name Frank Zoltek from his own youth.
"I can tell you Coach Zoltek was one coach I could recall from way back then," Messina said. "He was a fierce competitor, and it was intimidating for the kids at Taconic.
"For me to have a memory of that is pretty impressive. To be recognized like this is humbling."
Messina was introduced on Sunday by his assistant coach, John Benzinger, the father of 2015 Mount Greylock grad Jake Benzinger, who helped the Mounties this spring reach the state final. John Benzinger noted that the 2016 season will be Messina's 25th, and he needs just three wins to earn the 300th of his career.
"He's an excellent baseball coach and very good with the kids," Benzinger said. "I couldn't ask for a better experience for my son."
Paul Barrett, who introduced Dils, said that unlike the fiery Zoltek, Dils has a more reserved demeanor.
"Coach Dils is very quiet on the sidelines," Barrett said. "But he is very demanding. He expects a lot from his players."
And Dils' passion for coaching is not limited to soccer, Barrett said, noting that Dils also serves as an assistan with the Williams College men's and women's squash teams.
"I love to coach all age groups," Dils said. "From U8 girls to college men and women."
And, he said, he loves to coach at Mount Greylock.
"We as coaches get along really well," Dils said. "We have tremendous long-term coaches. Everyone is so committed to the classroom and to the fields outside. It's a special place to coach."
Dils said he hopes to pass along a little of his love of coaching to his players.
"What I strive to do is mentor the next generation of coaches," Dils said. "It's wonderful to have players go on an play in college. But what I'd really like to see is former and future players go on to coach other young kids."
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'Frankie' recipients Steve Messina, left, Hilary Greene, Hiram Greene and Blair Dils. They were introduced by, behind, Matt Voisin, John Benzinger and Paul Barrett.
