He made a promise to his dad who died on Christmas Day 2021. This year, he fulfilled it.

While December is a merry time for many, the holidays are admittedly bittersweet for Darren Wynne.

This year, though, the Bryant & Stratton College of Rochester men's soccer coach approaches Dec. 25 a touch cheerier. His Bobcats, only a handful of years into the program's existence, captured the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national championship last month. A 2-0 victory over Atlantis University (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) on Nov. 19 completed the title run and a 14-2-2 season.

Amid the shouts of celebration, the championship game's final horn induced an emotional moment for Wynne. That victory fulfilled a promise made to his late father, Christopher, nearly two years ago.

His father was a 'massive influence' on his career

In an era of "overly passionate" sports parents, Christopher Wynne was anything but. When advising his children about soccer, his style was suggestive and analytical.

Darren Wynne adopted his father's love of soccer as youth while growing up in Dublin, Ireland. Thanks to his father's instruction, Wynne had a successful youth career competing internationally for Ireland followed by a six-year professional stint.

"He would talk to me and educate me about the game, and he pushed me as well," Wynne said. "From a younger age he was a massive influence."

Following his playing career, Wynne departed for the United States in 2005 and landed several coaching positions in New York state, including stops with SUNY Brockport, SUNY Oswego and Cayuga Community College.

He accepted the head coaching position at Bryant & Stratton in early 2021.

The promise made to his dying father

While recruiting and building a competitive roster is a challenge in and of itself, Wynne was met with personal tragedy in late 2021: His father Christopher had Stage 4 brain cancer.

Doctors warned that balance issues would likely come, followed by breathing and eyesight difficulties. Christopher was eventually confined to a bed.

During visits, family members "would talk to him for hours and sing songs and whatnot," but conversation would always shift to soccer.

That includes one visit entrenched in Darren's mind.

He was helping his father eat, with soccer on the television, when Christopher began asking questions about the former's playing career.

"Dad, I'm already retired," Wynne said.

"How old are you? How old am I? Did you play (soccer)? You played well?"

"Yes, I always listened to you, so I played well."

Wynne reminded his father his career was over and that his attention had turned to coaching. He told Christopher about a promising class of recruits for Bryant & Stratton's upcoming season.

"Well, just promise me you teach the lads the right way," Christopher said.

Emotions cascaded for Wynne. In response, he offered his own pledge.

"I kinda lost. it. I turned to him and said, 'Dad, we're gonna win you a national championship this year,'" Wynne said.

Christopher Wynne died on Christmas day, Dec. 25, 2021.

How the promise was fulfilled

While Bryant & Stratton qualified for the 2022 USCAA national championship, the Bobcats went 0-1-1 in pool play. Wynne's hopes for a national title and honoring the promise to his late father required another year of patience.

Afforded another opportunity in 2023, Bryant & Stratton delivered. The Bobcats won both of their games in pool play to advance to the title game. Then against Atlantis, following a passive first half, Bryant & Stratton converted goals in the 72nd and 80th minute to capture the title.

It wasn't until an Instagram post from Wynne in the following days that players learned the secret meaning behind their accomplishment.

"I actually never told them. I just talked to them about the passion and the intensity my dad always had when he was coaching and teaching the kids, and how that rubbed off on me," Wynne said. "But a lot of them turned around and said, 'You did him proud.'"

Monday will mark two years since Christopher Wynne's death. That means at least two years since Darren's last proper soccer conversation with his father.

Those chats now exist only in memory and imagination. While Wynne considers his promise to his father fulfilled, he believes Christopher would have another goal in mind.

"I think he'd be overjoyed ... but I think he'd be like, 'Alright, let's go get No. 2 now. You promised me one, but what else can you do?'

"When it comes to having family members pass, especially around the holidays — obviously the grieving process is never quick. Over the last two years I realized it's OK to grieve. But it was more important to celebrate his life."

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Bryant & Stratton soccer coach Darren Wynne honors promise to late dad