Coaching is an incredibly emotional profession. From the adrenaline rush of a walk-off win to the frustration of a losing streak, mentoring athletes can both be rewarding and taxing.

The emotional strain impacts not only the coach but also his or her family. Take it from Maureen Cooper, the wife of Cotuit coach Rob Cooper.

Before Maureen married Rob in 1998, she lived with a coach. Her father, Rick Lantz, coached college and professional football. Due to her dad’s job, Maureen and her family moved a lot.

Lantz worked at the University of Buffalo when Maureen was born, and she recalls his stints at the Naval Academy, University of Miami, New England (Patriots), Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Louisville and Virginia.

“The longest I lived anywhere growing up was six years,” Maureen said.

Despite the constant movement, she loved her life. Maureen particularly enjoyed her years in South Bend, Indiana, where she found joy and success playing soccer in high school.

Even though she was no “rock star” by her own admission, she later played at the University of Dayton. An injury she sustained during her freshman season cut her college career short, but she found a way to keep sports in her life.

Maureen met Rob in 1995. At the time, she worked as an assistant athletic director at Wake Forest, while he served as an assistant coach. They became friends, only dating after he left to go work at Tulane University and she found herself at the University of Miami. They had a long-distance relationship for two years before getting engaged.

“It's funny; when Rob asked me to marry him, he did the very traditional thing (and) asked my parents for my hand in marriage,” Maureen said. “After he proposed, my mom pulled me to the side, and she's like, 'Are you sure you want to marry a coach?’ And I was like, 'Absolutely.’ It's what I know.”

The lifestyle that comes with being married to a coach isn’t always easy, as coaching is an extremely time-consuming job. The hustle doesn’t stop during the summer in Cotuit, as the Kettleers play nearly every day. Even on off days, there’s still work that needs to be done.

“I tell (Rob) he's lucky that I understand the lifestyle,” Maureen said. “I don't get frustrated that he's gone all the time. I support it.”

Maureen’s attitude is certainly acknowledged and appreciated by Rob, who finds value in using her as a sounding board.

“She keeps me in check,” Rob said. “When I am struggling or if I have questions on how I should handle stuff, she's the one I go to.”

Maureen’s support extends beyond Rob to their two sons, Tyson and Jake, who both coach baseball. Tyson works with the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, while Jake is currently working in the Cape Cod Baseball League with Falmouth.

When they’re not at Kettleers games, Maureen and Rob try to spend time with Jake. They have also enjoyed walking their two dogs, exploring the Cape and getting to know the community.

“I can't tell you how many people's homes we've been invited to for dinner,” Maureen said. “For the first two weeks that we were here, I didn't cook once. People invited us to dinner just to get to know us and welcome us and make sure that we were doing okay.”

Maureen has experienced the benefits of being married to a coach, including community support. It’s been especially meaningful in hard times, such as in 2019, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“We were at Penn State, and the community rallied around me, and it was all because of the position that we were in,” Maureen said. “I think for sure a perk is 99% of the time having the community be supportive of you. There's also that 1% that’s like, ‘Oh, win more games.’ But that's sports, so that's okay.”

Even though Cotuit’s season is short, Maureen still hopes to build connections in the community, which Rob admires.

“I've always thought my wife was beautiful and gorgeous, but the way she interacts with people (is) the thing that attracts me to her the most,” Rob said. “For her to be able to come up here and experience this and have this as something to look forward to, she deserves it.”

It’s been a fun summer for Maureen in Cotuit. She can continue working remotely as the director of Commonwealth Campus Athletics at Penn State while engaging in her three favorite hobbies — reading, spending time with friends and family and, of course, watching baseball.

Maureen can be found at Lowell Park for every Kettleers home game. Maybe she’s surrounded by members of the community, chatting with the locals, or maybe she’s alone, enjoying the action on the field. Either way, she’s guaranteed to be wearing Cotuit gear and a smile as she cheers on not just the Kettleers but her husband.