The countdown continues as we march toward the South Side baseball team’s first game of the season. Opening day is March 4 when the Hawks play host to USJ. Between now and then, Hawk TV is counting down the days based on jersey numbers.

HEAD COACH JEFF WYATT wears No. 33, the sixth highest numbered jersey on his 2024 roster and the same number he wore as a player at South Side from 1995-98. He returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach from 2007-13 and succeeded Johnny Growe as the head coach in 2014.

Coach Wyatt’s dream car is 1998 two-door Tahoe, and his dream job is head baseball coach at South Side. His favorite video game is Tecmo Bowl. His advice to younger players? “Enjoy the ride. It goes by fast.” Here are a few more of Coach Wyatt’s favorite things, as compiled by Hawk TV project manager Trent Stewart:

FAVORITE TEACHER: Coach Johnny Growe

FAVORITE SUBJECT: History

FAVORITE MOVIE: Heart Break Ridge

FAVORITE TV SHOW: Blue Bloods

FAVORITE SONG: All Summer Long

FAVORITE SINGER: Anna Marie Wyatt

FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Notre Dame

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Ace Wyatt

FAVORITE VIDEO GAME: Tecmo Bowl

DREAM VACATION: Ireland

FAVORITE COLOR: Blank

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN WHEN NOT PLAYING BASEBALL: Spend time with family

FAVORITE MEAL YOUR PARENTS MAKE: Spaghetti

FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY (NOT BASEBALL): Camping trips

FAVORITE ANIMAL: Dog

BEST PLACE TO TAKE A DATE: Rafferty’s

NICKNAME: Wyatt

AT WHICH STORE WOULD YOU MAX OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD: Lowe’s

FAVORITE CARTOON CHARACTER: Chip n Dale

WHAT CHORE DO YOU DREAD MOST: Dishes

DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING? IF YES, WHAT DO YOU COLLECT? Old Baseball Gloves

[COVER PHOTO: South Side head baseball coach Jeff Wyatt and his family. (Photo by Erin Hornsby)]

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