Watch: Luke Bryan Surprises Elementary School Coach
Luke Bryan was so inspired by an elementary school coach in California that he wanted to meet him virtually on Good Morning America.
GMA recently ran a story about a special elementary school coach named Matthew Bailey in California who works with Playworks, a nonprofit group that operates in lower-income communities, getting kids involved in recess and other hands-on activities to make school fun.
The story of Bailey giving back and inspiring his hometown kids with a role model at the very same school that he grew up in comes with a hard twist as the pandemic threatens his dream job.
Luke saw the story on GMA and found out that Bailey is a fan of country music, so he wanted to meet him.
Bryan surprised the coach via video after GMA ran a followup story that Dick’s Sporting Goods was donating $65,000 so Bailey could keep his job a bit longer.
Luke said to the surprised coach, “I’ve been following your story. Every morning my wife (Caroline) and I watch GMA as we’re getting the kids going, and I remember seeing your story originally and to find out you are a fan of mine is amazing. Thank you so much for all your contributions to these kids, it’s so important,” Bryan continues. “I had teachers and coaches that still have lasting advice and life lessons burned into my brain.”
In addition, Bryan hopes to get to meet the coach in person someday when things get back to normal. He offered, “To be associated with positive people like yourself is so inspiring. Watching everything you’ve overcome and still have the attitude to continue to get up and continue to give, to give back tenfold, [it’s] very inspiring.”
Coach Bailey responded with, “I am so blessed. I really appreciate you all.”
