What does Coach's tattoo say?

Coach has a tattoo on his back that says, "The Good Shepherd." The phrase is taken from the Gospel of John 10:11-18, where Jesus says:

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (KJV).

The tattoo is important as it symbolizes Coach's role in the story. He's not quite a Christlike figure, but he's certainly a good man who sees it as his responsibility to show kids in the neighborhood that there is a world beyond the poverty and crime of the barrio. Coach grew up in the neighborhood himself so he knows all about the struggles that Eddie and his friends encounter on a daily basis. Unlike many in the barrio, Coach has experience of the wider world. His service in Vietnam is an example of this. In fact, Coach had his tattoo done just before he headed overseas; and though the tattoo is a perfect expression of Coach's personality, he still regrets having it done.