From playing football since the fifth grade, John Bastin has utilized the lessons and discipline learned in the sport in real-life scenarios.
Bastin attended Thomas A. Edison Junior Senior High School in Lake Station and gained a varsity letter his freshman year. Shortly after graduating from high school, he joined a semi-professional football team which he said didn’t last long.
“Long story short, a coach told me I was off his team because I didn't know football,” said Bastin. “I was on defense and acted like I was going to blitz, and his offensive lineman jumped. The coaches told me it was my fault.”
After leaving the team, Bastin sought out for sponsors to create his own team which was called The Indiana Hitmen.
“With help from sponsors, we acquired Lake Station football field and practice fields,” said Bastin. “A lot of players from the team I left joined my team and we went on to win second four years in a row.”
Bastin also loves to help others and volunteered numerous times to help his younger brothers train.
“I have always been a coach. I've coached my younger brothers in Pop Warner and in wrestling. This year, I was asked to be a coach for River Forest Middle School for football,” said Bastin. “Coaching a lot of young middle school kids is a big responsibility with trying to teach them morals and values and making sure they're keeping their grades up. From my own experience, the biggest part of coaching that is most difficult is not being able to be on that field to run the plays for them or to be that leader in that huddle.”
Bastin studied electrical engineering at Prairie State College and also attended Indiana University Northwest to work for the Lake Station Community Schools. He said that he and his wife wanted to be involved and help out the school community.
“My wife has been a special education teacher for over 20 years and before we were married I ran for school board,” said Bastin.
Bastin worked as an electrician but developed heart problems that prevented him from continuing to work in that craft, so he retired. Coaching football and spending time with his family is how he spends his retirement.
“One of my biggest thrills is spending time with family," said Bastin. "They’re all unbelievable. We have our nine-year-old daughter that keeps us extremely busy with basketball, softball, spell bowl, everything you can think of. She’s amazing."