Ricky Proehl summed up his decision to step down as the Carolina Panthers’ receivers coach in eight words:
“I’m just trying to be a good dad.”
Being a good dad means different things for different people. But at a minimum, it means being around for your kids and their activities - in Proehl’s case, sports.
Coaching in the NFL doesn’t leave much time for watching other football games, something Proehl learned the hard way the past three seasons while his older son, Austin, was developing into one of North Carolina’s best receivers.
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Proehl told his son when he left for Chapel Hill that if Austin became a starter and impact player for the Tar Heels, he would give up his coaching gig so he could watch him play.