Backstage guru
Mike "Buddha" Coy plays role of quirky, admired instructor with ease
By Tyler Devereaux
Staff Writer
Placed discreetly in the corner of the Sheffer Music Hall is a small office, away from all of the classrooms, labs and lecture halls of JCC.
It is the office of stagecraft and video productions teacher Mike Coy, 40, who was raised in Jackson. Once inside, it is obvious that this isn't your typical teacher's office. Countless cartoons along the walls, an old black-and-white TV, a work desk that is anything but organized, a random dog toy and the constant noise from a number of whirring computers fill the room. It only takes a few seconds to see the connection between this quirky place and the man who works within it.
Unlike most young people, Coy didn't jump at the first chance to leave Jackson in a cloud of dust, venturing elsewhere with the assumption that there is nothing to do here. He has found comfort staying in his hometown for most of his life and has been teaching at his alma mater for the last 10 years.
When he's not teaching stagecraft or video productions, he plays the lead role in the theater's behind-the-scenes act. His job is to set up the lighting for plays, concerts and various other shows on campus. One of the experiences that this job has given him is the opportunity to meet some of the celebrities who make appearances at the Potter Center.
"The first famous person that I remember meeting was Suzanne Somers," Coy said, smiling. "She was on a book tour. I remember her being much shorter in real life than she is on TV."
More recently, he has met Kenny Rogers and Michael Bolton. He even once had the privilege to get Chinese food for Bill Cosby.
But he said his biggest interest remains in being an instructor.
"What I like about video and theater is the creativity aspect. It's beneficial for students, even if they aren't a video or theater major, to explore their creativity and see a project all the way through. In theater there is a saying 'the show must go on.' . In other classes, students may push off assignments, whereas in theater you can't do that. It teaches you about deadlines and getting things done when you absolutely have to."
Around campus, he is known better to most people as "Buddha," a nickname that he donned back when he was a student at JCC. It originated because of his physical appearance, but also came about because of his interest in philosophy.
His welcoming personality has left a mark on many of his students.
"His classes are laid back," said Stagecraft 2 student Christy Ketner, 20. "It gives you a chance to connect with other students while you're learning."
Ketner has already completed Coy's video productions class as well as Stagecraft 1.
She also said there are challenges throughout the courses, regardless of how "laid back" the atmosphere is.
"The most challenging thing I had to do was make a music video. I wanted to do a good job on it while not making it look cheesy."
Coy is always working on improving his classes.
"No two classes can be the same," he said.