James “Tommy” Clagett was a family man and talented coach who led by example, loved ones said.

Clagett, 43, was one of 67 people killed Wednesday night when an American Airlines jet collided with an Army helicopter over the Potomac River. He and six friends who also lived in Southern Maryland were flying back from a duck-hunting trip in Kansas.

In a statement Saturday, Clagett’s family said he was a “devoted husband and girl dad who built a life most dream of with his wife and two daughters.” They lived in Newburg, but Clagett still called his hometown of Accokeek “the promised land.”

“Tommy was a well-loved, hardworking, avid outdoorsman who was thoughtful and respectful at home and work,” the statement reads. “He was an inspirational youth soccer coach and standout soccer dad to every player and parent on the field.”

The family thanked officials who are working on recovery efforts and those who have helped passengers’ families navigate the tragedy. They also thanked “the hunting excursion that helped these men enjoy their final days.”

Clagett and his friends had been in Kansas for days hunting with the outfitter Fowl Plains, based out of Great Bend. The city is a little over 100 miles northwest of Wichita, where the downed American Airlines plane departed Wednesday.

“We’ve spent this past week sharing the blind, laughing, talking about our families and sharing memories,” Fowl Plains wrote in a social media post. “We are completely heartbroken.”

Seven of the hunters were on the flight, while another three members of the party drove home. Some of the men had been friends since childhood, victims’ loved ones said.

Clagett was a 2000 graduate of St. Mary’s Ryken in Leonardtown. He played sports there with Reed Sothoron, one of his best friends.

Sothoron called Clagett a “natural leader” in a Facebook post.

During their freshman year, Clagett was a star player on the school’s soccer team, Sothoron recalled. After one of their games, Sothoron’s father, who coached lacrosse, approached Clagett and asked if he’d ever considered playing that sport.

“Tommy replied that he had not, but he was open to trying it,” Sothoron wrote. “Fast forward to our senior year, and Tommy was one of the best players on our team, consistently in the running for the team’s ‘Groundball Award.’”

St. Mary’s Ryken, in a social media post remembering Clagett and another alumnus who died in the crash, said Clagett had grown into a strong family man who also excelled in his career.

Clagett earned a bachelor’s degree in construction management from East Carolina University. He had served as executive vice president of Gaghan Mechanical Inc., a construction services company, for the past five years, according to his professional biography.

Gaghan Mechanical has launched a GoFundMe for Clagett’s family. Clagett worked there for 16 years and was a “valued asset,” the company wrote.

“His kindness and unwavering support created a strong network of family and friends,” the GoFundMe states. “The impact he had on those around him was profound, and his legacy of love and friendship will continue to be felt by so many.”

Sports were also still a big part of his life. Clagett was a coach associated with the La Plata Youth Soccer Association and FC Charles 1658. His two daughters also played the sport, the clubs wrote in a social media post.

“He was a constant supporter, always cheering his teams on and his daughters,” the organizations wrote. “The entire Charles County community, including our soccer clubs, will rally around his family and everyone impacted by this terrible event.”

Clagett is survived by his wife of nine years, Jill, and daughters Zoey and Alaina.