Dave Stevens, an athlete and a 7-time Emmy Award-winning sports broadcasting professional, has three sons, Luke, Brady, and Tate Stevens.
He has been separated from the mother of his three kids and is dating Kim Cianelli Coppola.
Stevens has been the only athlete ever to play college football or minor league baseball without legs.
He played football, baseball, and wrestled at Wickenburg High School and then attended Augsburg College.
Afterwards, he began playing independent league baseball for the St. Paul Saints in 1996. He became one of the few players to ever pinch-hit for Darryl Strawberry in his professional career.
Stevens joined the WWAFT Amputee Football Team as a Quarterback and Defensive Lineman in November 2013 and played 19 games.
He tried out for the Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, and Dallas Cowboys. Similarly, he worked out with the Tampa Rays, taking batting and fielding practice.
Furthermore, Stevens is a motivational speaker who has worked for ESPN for 20 years. He reports for the Disability Channel and has been a member of the Disability Dream & Do Foundation since 2016.
Dave Stevens Found Love in Kim Coppola
Dave Stevens found a woman of incredible strength and resilience in Kim Coppola. They write a new, brighter chapter together, focused on family, joy, and creating peaceful memories.
Their life is a conscious shift from the tension of the dispatch console to the unbridled excitement of family adventures.
Stevens and Coppola often take a vacation with their family members.
They spent a week at Disney World in the summer of 2013, and their trip was filled with magic, laughter, and the simple, profound joy of being together.
It was a different kind of call to action for Coppola, which involved Mickey Mouse, thrill rides, and seeing the world through the wonder-filled eyes of her children.
As a veteran dispatcher, her world was defined by the police radio for over 23 years. She was the calm, steady voice in the chaos, the first line of hope in countless emergencies.
Her work was a tapestry of unfathomable stress and deep camaraderie of the funerals and retirements of coworkers, the happy chaos of a humorous call, the heartbreaking screams, the piercing anguish of shootings, and suicides.
She guided officers to scenes of accidents, domestic disputes, and robberies, and assisted civilians through childbirths and medical crises.
Even though her career left her with PTSD, anxiety, triggers, and nightmares, she identifies herself as a great dispatcher.
Furthermore, Coppola is a mother of two who found love in Dave Stevens. She found a partner who offers stability and understanding, a safe harbor after a long career navigating storms.
Dave Stevens is a Proud Father of 3 Kids
The title of a father is one of life’s most significant roles for many, and for Dave Stevens, it is his proudest achievement.
He has embraced the role with unwavering dedication and love.
Stevens planned for the unique challenges of raising three boys, Luke, Brady, and Tate, as a single father. His fatherhood is the power of parental love and commitment.
Moreover, his most significant undertaking was providing his sons with a stable, happy, and everyday life. He was there for every scraped knee, every homework question, and every vital life lesson.
He didn’t just watch his kids play from the sidelines but jumped right into the action. He was often found on the tee-ball field, coaching his youngest son’s team and sharing in the simple, joyful chaos of childhood sports.
His hard work and devotion paid off. He is immensely proud of the men his sons have become.
One college grad and 2 prom dates! My guys are studs!
Dave Stevens
Stevens is their biggest cheerleader, frequently sharing proud glimpses into their personal and professional milestones on social media.
His posts are a digital scrapbook of a father’s love, from family gatherings to individual accomplishments.
Stevens’ story isn’t about the grand gestures but about the consistent, everyday efforts that define great parenting. His sons carry on his love and lessons.
Nonetheless, his family is his greatest accomplishment, and the love his children have for him makes everything worthwhile. His sons don’t care that their father has no legs and love him for who he is.
I’m so proud not only to receive this amazing award from The Denise D’Ascenzo Foundation, but that my sons took the night off from work to join me and my friends from Easterseals Capital Region and Eastern Connecticut also came to support this amazing night!
Dave Stevens
In Case You Didn’t Know
- 60-year-old Dave Stevens was born on January 12, 1966, in Wickenburg, Arizona.
- He was put up for adoption, and two supportive parents raised him, instilling core values that helped make him the man he is today.
- Wickenburg High School renamed its Most Valuable Player award to the Dave Stevens Hustle Award in 2012.
- He stands 3’2″ tall and runs using his hands.
