BEAUMONT, Texas — Parents, friends, and players around Southeast Texas are holding onto each other, remembering a soccer coach who died suddenly.
Rico Keeling, 29, was found unresponsive inside his home in Nederland Sunday night.
The cause of his death has not been released.
Keeling leaves behind his wife and a newborn baby girl.
Within 24 hours of hearing the news, hundreds from the Southeast Texas soccer community made it a goal to honor their fallen coach.
A symbol of remembrance filled the Beaumont sky Monday evening with the release of balloons.
It took place where Keeling spent most of his life...the soccer field.
"This is how great people, who show love and kindness are remembered," says Christopher Williams, whose son plays on the youth Dynamo club. "Not with grief nor hatred, but with solidarity."
Keeling grew up in Nederland and graduated from Nederland High School in 2007, before earning a BBA in Business Management at Lamar University.
Soccer was in his blood; playing in high school, college (club) and professionally with the Texas Strikers/Oxford City FC for three years in Beaumont.
In the summer of 2016, Keeling created his own private soccer training organization called GAP.
As a head trainer, he taught many kids through private lessons.
"He was serious, but at the same time made things fun," says 10-year-old Katherine Lopez who plays for Team Havoc. "It was fun at the same time."
"Just him doing soccer really," says 11-year-old Katy Brown who trained with Keeling. "Soccer is a big part of my life and him just being able to do that is just really special."
Keeling was also a trainer with The Houston Dynamo's youth soccer club as well as coaching other teams.
Despite the heavy sadness during Monday's gathering, some of his athletes remembered the fun times coach would create..
"I remember him calling us really funny names," says 11-year-old Addison Stewart. "He would call a lot of us 'egghead' and he called Gracelyn 'Peppa Pig.'"
"He always called us funny names, like 'egghead,' 'Mickey Mouse' and 'Peppa Pig'....mine was 'Peppa Pig'".
Keeling's death came as a shock to everyone.
His young age and the recent birth of his daughter, make the loss even tougher.
His Facebook page is now a memorial filled with memories and prayers.
The Cris Quinn Soccer Complex served as the original site for GAP's training before moving to Lumberton.
Along with balloons and prayers, those in attendance also created a vigil that contained pictures, flowers, and messages.
It sat just outside the indoor complex in an effort to keep his memory alive.
"All of these people are here today are here because of love and love that was shown toward them," says Williams. "No matter what the skill level, the talent, Coach Rico took out time for everybody and that's what everybody remembers."