Izaryk is a beloved baseball alumnus who
also was presented with the 'M Club' Dean Smith Award, which highlights a senior athlete who managed to excel both in the classroom andin their sport. This award is something that Izaryk is still proud of today and it stands on his desk at home among his other accolades. He talked about what the 'M Club' Dean Smith
Award means to him.
"One of the coolest awards to get. It's one of those things that's always there and you can always look back and be included in it and you can never forget."
Izaryk graduated from UMaine in 2005 but stayed on the baseball coaching staff until 2010 where he also was continuing his education at UMaine, completing his Master's degree in
2008. In these nine years all together of being in Maine as a student athlete and coaching, Izaryk got a perfect sense of what it means to be a BlackBear and how special the
community is. From here, Izaryk moved onto Bridgton Academy in western Maine where he still works today. He not only gets to continue the passion of his sport by being the head
baseball coach but he is also the athlete director. Izaryk talked about how managing different sports this past year has been with the covid -19 pandemic.
"Every sport has had its challenges. It's certainly been a hard year but we have also learned things that we can hold onto even after covid, such as new cleaning methods. There are
not many good things about covid but there are little pieces that we can hold onto."
Coaching is something Izaryk was always sure he wanted to do. He was grateful he had the opportunity to begin at Maine and then finding his new home at Bridgton Academy is
something he enjoys.
"I love being around the game. It's no different than any student athlete. You love the game you love and try to stay around it as long as you can."
Baseball has been a part of Izaryk's life ever since he can remember and as it continues to be a part of his life now, the UMaine baseball community still holds a meaningful place in
his heart. The memories and experiences that a person makes at the University are so special that they become impossible to forget and they've helped shape him into the person he
is today. Izaryk described his first visit to UMaine and what made him choose this school.
"Walking around campus felt really good. I went to a basketball game and two hockey games in the Alfond. Aside from baseball this was great! It was a perfect fit for me and I ended
up canceling the rest of the tours I had with other schools."
Being a student-athlete was so memorable for Izaryk that he can remember most games and venues that they had played in. All of these good times lead to things Izaryk misses
about being a student athlete in Orono.
"There was some pressure to it, it mattered and was visible. You couldn't hide from having your name on a roster and a stat sheet where if you weren't having a good year it showed. I
think I fed off that. I enjoyed that everything mattered, the year-long aspect of it, and the support system of the people who really cared a whole lot."
Now, not only was playing memorable but coaching at UMaine is something that taught Izaryk many skills and practices that has helped him with where he is today. There was
something unique for Izaryk that he got to see the other side of the field that he once was playing on. He learned to truly appreciate all the people that go into helping student athletes
at UMaine.
"For five years after I got to see and appreciate what happens behind the scenes. The student athletes are so lucky with the support system, development office, facilities, and
grounds crew… there are so many people feeding into the student athlete experience and it's second to none."
The UMaine community helped set the path for Izaryk to Bridgton Academy where he still experiences that love of baseball as coach and athletic director where he sees all sports and
knows how important those roles are. Bridgton is all about getting players ready for college placement and creating opportunities for student athletes where that player development is
what's important. Izaryk explained something that the UMaine community taught him that he now teaches his boys at Bridgton.
"You represent something bigger than yourself. Being anywhere and wearing that UMaine travel suit you're representing a lot of people and it's not just you, the team or the bus you're
riding. It's an entire school, staff, and alumni."
That is not the only thing UMaine taught Izaryk. Student athletes learn skills that help them out in the professional world. Izaryk earning the 'M Club' Dean Smith Award proves he
knew how to balance his academics as well as athletes. This skill alone takes practice but it is something that needs to happen to shine as a student athlete. These skills Izaryk
learned are ones that he still uses today.
"Structure, time management, and accountability are huge. Dealing with things such as, having a lot of homework this weekend and four games and we're on the road but there's no
excuse to have games and not get your stuff done."
The appreciation in Izaryk's heart could not be any bigger as he understands just how many people at UMaine care about all their students so they have all they need to be able to
thrive.
"I am always as appreciative and grateful as I can be to the people behind the scenes. Maine has a lot of people who value the community and not just one thing but care about
academics and athletics as a whole."
Now, this loving community that Izaryk found he still has with him to this day. His college teammates have turned into some of his best friends.
"Social media is a great thing. People checking back in who you knew from being 21 and wild to now us all being settled down with families and have a different view on life. But when you talk to them it feels just like we're back in Orono."
The final thing Izaryk has learned throughout all of his experiences so far is the importance of those formative college years. UMaine was his perfect fit and he wants all children to
have the chance to find their perfect fit when the time comes. Once they make it to whatever school suits them, Izaryk has some advice that he hopes others can take with them as
they head into some of the best years of their lives.
"Appreciate it all the time. Make sure you create some lasting relationships and know that it is okay to branch out and make time for a social life, athletics, and professors."
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The 'M' Club Dean Smith award is the most prestigious award presented annually to the top male and female student-athletes at the University of Maine. To be considered for this award, athletes are nominated by their coaches and must have demonstrated outstanding academic and athletic achievement, be of outstanding character and a contributor and leader within their community.
Since 102 University of Maine varsity letter winners gathered for the first meeting of the Graduate M Club in 1932, more than 13,000 recipients of the coveted "M" have joined the club. In the ensuing nine decades, each year hundreds of "M" winners pay their dues to become active members of the M Club and to help support current Black Bears.
For questions or to get involved in M Club activities, please contact Ashley Twombly '10, '12G, the Alumni Association liaison with the M Club, at (207) 581-1144.
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'M Club' Dean Smith Award Winners - Where Are They Now? - Aaron Izaryk - University of Maine Athletics
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