Rob deGrandpre, head coach of the Hilbert College men's basketball program, participated in the Big Tree Elementary school's First Annual Celebration of Reading night which was created by the Big Tree Elementary School Parent Teacher Association and held on March 14. 
 
Coach deGrandpre read to students in Lisa Sutton's first grade classroom and talked about his path to the collegiate coaching profession which led to many questions.
 
The book he chose to read, Be a Good Teammate was written and illustrated by former Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference and Mount Aloysius College head men's basketball coach, Lance Loya. 
 
The children's book teaches kids the importance of teamwork and explains the three undisputable characteristics of what it takes to be a good teammate.
 
Good teammates care.
Good teammates share.
Good teammates listen.
 
The story shares meaningful life advice, and explains the belief that everybody is part of a team in some capacity and that you don't have to play sports to be on a team.   

Big Tree Elementary's Celebration of Reading program aims to promote literacy through the Pick-a-Reading Partner initiative. Celebrity readers are paired with a classroom teacher in an effort to raise career awareness among the elementary students.