ADAMS, Mass. — Talk to Paul Sniezek about his 40 years around youth sports, and it is clear why he does it.

 

"I think when you pick your team and then you put your players in there, I really like how they’re gung-ho about the sport," Sniezek said recently. "I love to see the kids make a nice play. I love to see the smiles.

 

"I don't like to see the negativity that sometimes happens, and that's why I try to teach respect for the game. I teach them to always think of positive things to say to your teammate or your opponent. Don't say anything negative. Respect the game."

 

Sniezek, known as Tito to his friends, and Ron Wojcik on Sunday will be honored with the Frank A. Zoltek Passion for Coaching Award.

 

The 10th annual "Frankie" Award will be bestowed on them at Forest Park Country Club on Sunday evening, in a banquet that follows the Frank A. Zoltek Memorial Golf Tournament.

 

Wojcik, a longtime boys and girls basketball varsity basketball coach at Pittsfield and, currently, Hoosac Valley, and Sniezek, whose resume includes coaching at the youth, high school and collegiate level, agreed that the award carries special meaning because of the man for whom it is named.

 

"I knew coach Zoltek was a motivator of kids, that he could bring kids to the next level. I was like, 'Gee, do I fit that category?' " Sniezek said of his reaction to hearing about his selection. "I've been with kids all my life, so I was happy to hear it."

 

It’s no exaggeration to say Sniezek has been around kids his whole life. He went directly from being one himself to coaching basketball in Adams' Church League at the age of 18.

 

He coached in the league, off and on, for more than a quarter century. He also has coached Babe Ruth baseball and been an assistant baseball coach at Hoosac Valley and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. He has served as an umpire, and, for the last 38 years, he has been a scorekeeper and announcer at Hoosac Valley basketball games.

 

"My wife has been great about all the coaching and the scorekeeping," the husband and father notes, pointing out that it is a team effort on the home front as well. "I can’t imagine how many hours in my lifetime I’ve put in, but I’ve enjoyed it all."

 

While he is a familiar face on the sidelines, it is fair to say that Sniezek is not as well known to the casual fan as Wojcik, who in recent years has led the Hoosac Valley girls to four straight Western Massachusetts championships and three appearances in the state title game.

 

In 2005, Wojcik was the boys coach at PHS when he learned that he and Zoltek, the North Adams coaching legend, shared a love for more than just basketball.

 

"We had talked the basketball season before because I’m into fly fishing like he was," Wojcik said. "We had talked about getting together that upcoming spring."

 

Zoltek died in May 2005.

 

"So I knew him, but I probably would have had an opportunity  to know him even better if that trip had happened," Wojcik said. "I was looking forward to it."

 

This Sunday, Wojcik joins a long list of local coaches who have earned the award created just a year after Zoltek’s passing. Most of the men and women on the list — like Wojcik’s — are well know high school and college head coaches.

 

He is happy to see Sniezek join their company.

 

"There are so many people like Tito," Wojcik said. "Head coaches get a lot of stuff, but there are so many people behind the scenes -- youth coaches and assistant coaches. They’re heroes too.

 

"It’s nice when they can do something like this to honor people like Tito, too."

 

Past recipients:

 

2007 - Bill Robinson

2008 - Ray Miro

2009 - Bob LeClair and Bob Rivard

2010 - Jack Racette, Holly McGovern, Paul Barrett

2011 - Ed Noel and Erika DeSanty

2012 - George Canales and Steve Phaneuf

2013 - Shawn Flaherty

2014 - Al Giorgi and Mike Larabee

2015 - Blair Dils, Hilary and Hiram Greene, Steve Messina