MFL/Mar-Mac's Moon doesn't let paralysis prevent him from coaching

DES MOINES - Mychal Moon has his sights set on being MFL/Mar-Mac's head boys' basketball coach some day. The current coach knows that.“He's been after me for years,” Eric Dettbarn kidded.Seven years, to be specific. That's how long Moon has been a part of Dettbarn's staff for a program he also participated in as a player.The 2004 MFL/Mar-Mac graduate helps out as a full-fledged assistant despite being confined to a wheelchair. An auto accident in 2005 left him unable to feel or move below his chest.It hasn't taken away his desire and ability to help teach a game he loves.“There are times when I tell the kids ‘You don't know how good you have it,'” said Moon, 24. “I tell them I wish I could be out there playing basketball and scrimmaging with them, but I can't. I'm still doing what I can to help them out.”Moon's cousin was an assistant at MFL a few years back and relayed a message from Dettbarn to visit a scrimmage over Thanksgiving break. Moon agreed, and that was all it took.“Dettbarn asked me after the scrimmage if I ever wanted to help out, get my coaching degree and help out as a volunteer,” Moon said. “That next fall, I got my coaching certificate and came out as a volunteer coach.”Eventually he was “promoted” to official assistant status. He's a busy dude, helping his father farm 1,300 acres just outside Monona and running a woodworking business in which he crafts customized beanbag game boards.MFL/Mar-Mac (22-3) plays West Fork (25-0) in a Class 2A state tournament semifinal Thursday afternoon at 2 at Wells Fargo Arena. It's the second year in a row the Bulldogs have advanced that far.“It helps that I played for Dettbarn, I know the system,” Moon said. “We've run the same system for a long time. I know what he likes to do. It's kind of nice to coach at my old school, coach with my old coach.”Moon sits in his wheelchair next to Dettbarn for games.“It's great to be a part of this group. I remember seeing these kids when they were this big,” Moon said, pushing his hand toward the ground. “Kind of reminds me of when I was that small, and my dad had me out there playing and all that. Seemed like it was a lot tougher back when I played. But it's just as tough coaching, too.”