More than a Coach

Little by little I've been shooting photos and video as well as writing a story about Jack Eaves, a boxing coach from Fort Madison. Here's The finished product. Thanks for checking it out!

More than a Coach

Cameron Kempker was hit with heavy, clumsy punches over and over and delivered his solid hooks in return. After three rounds the bell tolled the end of the match, and the 75-pound boxer from Fort Madison walked back to his corner. His trainer, Jack Eaves, was there waiting with a  smile and words of encouragement for the 11-year-old pugilist. Even though he lost the fight Jack gave him his signature hug and another to Kempkers opponent. Though Eaves still questions the outcome of the fight in Hannibal, Mo., he accepted the loss with grace, as did his fighter.

Coach, friend, and father are words boxers use to describe Jack Eaves.

The former Iowa State Penitentiary woodshop trainer is retired but still operates the Lee County Boxing Club located at 2004 Avenue M. The 71-year-old father and grandfather has coached numerous boxers around Southeast Iowa and continues to operate four days a week for young athletes.

Eaves started coaching amateur boxers out of his backyard 46 years ago. It began when a high school student walked by Eaves’ home and saw him boxing in his backyard with his brothers. The youngster needed help with a bully at school.  A few days later, another student walked past, needing help with his own bully. Eventually Eaves found out that the two children they were coaching had been bullying each other. Even though he laughs at that story now, bullying is the reason Jack started coaching kids seriously.

“I think the good Lord gave me this to start with when I’ve seen kids being bullied so bad...I just wanted to be able to help kids stand up for themselves and go against these bullies,” Eaves said.

Eaves never boxed professionally, but has a natural talent for coaching. His boxers understand and respect his straightforward approach. Jake Bailey, a 26-year-old boxer from Burlington was a former mixed martial arts fighter who sustained a serious knee injury and believed he could never fight again. Now Eaves coaches him,

“He expects things done the right way and he explains things very well. He used to wail on my punches when I came in here and now everything is tight and I feel more confident. Everything is more crisp.”

Most of his boxers’ success comes from Eaves’ encouraging attitude.

“He’s very straightforward and honest and he’ll tell you how it is. As long as you’re good to him, he’s good to you. He’s the type of coach you want to make happy,” Bailey said. “ It makes me feel good to see the smile on his face when you do something good...It makes you want to do more for him and work harder for him. I guess he’s the type of coach that I’ve ever had, that I want to do more for.”

Eaves teaches self-defense, and lets boxers know that fighting is only to be used as a last resort. In fact, if Jack hears about illegitimate fights outside of the ring he will ban that boxer from

his gym.

That’s not the only rule Eaves has for fighters: theres no cursing or acting inappropriately; each fighter must be respectful of the other; all drama from fights stay in the gym; and no missed practices without a valid excuse. Most importantly, each student must keep his or her grades at a C average.

“We have a standard for kids. Most gyms, they don't care if a kid is failing at school or if a teenager is on the street,” Eaves said. “That's the main thing I try to do is to make sure their education is before their boxing.”

Each student comes in with a clean slate, ready to learn and work. However, not all those who start training at the gym are successful. Eaves has a large drawer of paperwork from the students who didn’t stick to his rules or couldn’t work at it. Eaves will help them however he can, but they have to be willing to work at the sport he holds in such high regard.

Eaves has proven time and time again to be an exemplary coach and mentor, but most of all he’s a friend. He makes a connection with every boxer he works with.

“If I didn’t have fighting I would be lost and it’s just nice to be able to find a gym where I feel so at home and I feel so in touch with the trainer. I’ve never had a relationship like that with a coach before,” said Bailey. “You’re in a combat sport where it can be violent and the trainer is the person in the corner and you really confide in them. If you look up to your trainer and really appreciate your trainer then things will go well for you.”

Mike Wellendorf of Fort Madison boxed for Jack in the late 90s and early 2000s and has returned to the gym to help out as a sparring partner for Bailey. Wellendorf still sees Eaves as a positive and crucial influence in his life.

“He makes you feel like you mean something, like you’re important. Everybody’s got a purpose and everybody’s got their path,” said Wellendorf. “I think Jack helps you find your path. And if it’s not boxing it’s something else and he can usually help you find that path.”  

Eaves makes each boxer feel special and loved when they come through the doors of his gym.

“I have a great relationship with him. I give him a hug every time I come in and give him a hug every time I leave. I tell him I love him. It comes from the heart,” Bailey said. “I’m able to talk to him about my son that recently passed away which is difficult for me to talk to people about. He’s a good listener and he’s been there for me. This is kind of like my second home.”

Outside of the gym Eaves has been available to his boxers whenever they need him.

“People don’t realize what a friend is I don’t think,” said Eaves. “A friend is there when you call him...that’s why I told any of these kids, I don’t care what time, or when it is. If you need me, call me. I’ll be there. And I hope and pray to God that I can keep that word.”

The boxing coach has advice for all of his boxers and emphasizes what he finds most important in life to those who fight in the gym.

“He reminds me that there’s always tomorrow and you can look forward and count your blessings and thank the Lord for everything that you do have and he reminds me to always put God first,” says Bailey, a fellow devout Christian.

When Eaves is not teaching up-and-coming amatuer and professional boxers, he spends time working with his church. Every Wednesday and Sunday he takes the day off from boxing to go to service or Bible study at Joy Baptist Church in Fort Madison. Some days he also visits homes around the community to spread the word of God. Faith is the most important part of Eaves’ life.

“If God wasn’t in my life, I don’t think I would’ve done as good a job.”

Eaves plans to maintain the gym as long as possible. Though he has enough funds to get by for now, he’s worried about his financial future.  He hopes that more people will start caring for the gym that he believes has made such an impact on the community.  With more funding he would invest in more equipment and opportunities for his current boxers. Most of all, he would like to reach out to more children in southeast Iowa and get them involved in the sport he loves so much.