🏆 Coach of the Year – Kyle Argall 🏆
Selected as the 8U Fargo Youth Baseball Coach of the Year!

Team:
Men's Hair Co

Years of Experience Coaching Baseball:
3 Years

About Kyle:
Kyle Argall was born and raised in Fargo, where his love for baseball began as far back as he can remember. From front yard and sandlot games to Park Board leagues, and later Bambino, Babe Ruth, and high school baseball, the game has always been a central theme in his life. He is proud to have been part of the 2002 Fargo North State Championship team, graduating that same year. After high school, he spent summers umpiring at Mickelson for the Fargo Park Board program—still one of the best jobs he’s ever had. Kyle currently works at KMA Storage Solutions, where he also coaches the 7U KMA Storage Solutions team.
 
Now, as a parent, Kyle is doing his best to pass along what he has learned from some incredible coaches to both his kids and their friends. Coaching isn’t always easy, and Kyle often feels like he’s learning just as much as the kids, but he tries to keep things fun. Water balloon batting practice, for example, is always a big hit! Kyle has been fortunate to work with great co-coaches, players, and families, making each new season something to look forward to.

Balancing Winning and Player Development:
At this level, Kyle’s focus is entirely on development, not winning. He is more concerned with individual growth—making sure each player improves their fundamentals—so they’re prepared when winning starts to matter. While the kids might pay more attention to the score than the coaches do, he uses it to teach game situations. At the end of the day, as long as the kids are smiling, Kyle considers it a win!

Building Team Chemistry and Fostering Positive Culture:
At the start of each season, Kyle talks with the team about expectations for attitudes and behaviors, emphasizing positivity toward teammates and opponents. Kyle also incorporates fun activities into practices, hitting close to the outfield fence—because hitting a ball over the fence is fun at any age! Last year, the season ended with a backyard wiffle ball game where hitting the house was a home run, and 3rd to home was a slip n slide—the kids loved it! He also makes sure to have an end-of-year party, whether it’s a post-game pizza party, a trip to Thunder Road, or a backyard BBQ with a wiffle ball game.

Challenges and Learning as a Coach:
One of the ongoing challenges Kyle faces is managing the excitement and frustration of seeing kids show advanced skills one moment and then struggle the next. It’s a constant “one step forward, sometimes six steps back” process. Kyle reminds himself how young they are and how much they’re being asked to handle, and instead focuses on the glimpses of potential they show. It’s a quick moment of reflection, but an important one to ensure the kids aren’t affected by his emotions.

Coaching Legacy:
Kyle hopes that the players he has had the chance to coach walk away with a solid foundation in baseball fundamentals that will serve them well, no matter how far they go in the game. He wants them to remember the seasons he coached as being fun, hopefully successful, and as experiences that helped ignite a lifelong love for baseball.

Final Thoughts:
Kyle is honored by this recognition, though he’s not sure he deserves it more than anyone else. He extends a big thank you to whoever nominated him and another to the incredible co-coaches he has had the privilege of working with each summer!

Honorable Mentions (8U):
Isaac Olson (Northern Plains Steel), Nick Gard (Northern Plains Steel), Shane Reed (Custom Cinema & Sound), Robert Fyre (R&R Inc)

Schedule of Announcements:
5/6U - Joey & Leslie Dawson (Dawson Contracting LLC)
7U - Ryan Birney (Fit Body)
8U - Kyle Argall (Men's Hair Co)
9U - Thursday, August 29
10U - Tuesday, September 3
11U - No Nominations
12U - Wednesday, September 4
13u - Thursday, September 5
14/15u - Friday, September 6
Program Coaching Staff of the Year - Monday, September 9