Logan Phillips
Reporter
For the first time since 1991, there is a new man at the helm of our baseball program. Announced as the new coach last November, previous Assistant Varsity Head Coach Mitch Hoffman will take over the reins from Mark Rearic as head varsity coach going into the 2010 season. Mr. Hoffman brings with him an established baseball resume. As the baseball coach and Athletic Director for St. Lukes, Hoffman piloted the Crusaders to several state championships and a winning record until 2005, when he left St. Luke’s High School to found the Bobby Valentine Sports Academy in Stamford.
Coach Hoffman is adopting a philosophy of commitment and dedication with the baseball team. “There will be a standard of discipline that these kids need to understand,” he said. “I think it will enhance their play and their level. They will work very hard, harder than they’ve ever worked before, and I believe the hard work will pay off.”
Senior Co-Captain Nick Bamatter looks forward to working with Coach Hoffman. “I think he’s been pretty helpful for our baseball team,” he said. “I’m excited to work with him. I think he’s doing a great job getting us prepared, and we’ll definitely be ready by the time the season starts.”
The selection of the new baseball coach was an arduous process in that began last year in July. Athletic Director Jay Egan interviewed a wide variety of candidates from across the country in order to select the right candidate.
“It’s called screening the paper,” Mr. Egan said. “You screen all the papers and resumes that come through and try to pick the strongest candidates. If they’re not in a geographic location and you’re interested in them, you have to call them and figure out what their life situation is and whether or not they are viable candidates to relocate to New Canaan given their situation.”
In selecting a coach, Mr. Eagan looked for a candidate who fulfilled four major qualifications. “We were looking for someone who had demonstrated the ability to teach baseball, someone who had an awareness of a community like New Canaan, and someone who would not only work with the high school but the entire baseball community,” he said. “We also needed someone who had collegiate connections so as to help interested players continue their career after New Canaan High School.”
While the transition between coaches can often be difficult, returning Starter, senior Jeff Spindel doesn’t think it will be a setback. “It’s not a big adjustment because he was our assistant coach last year,” he said. “Also Officer Bentley is the new Assistant Coach and everyone already knows him.”
Nick Bamatter agrees. “I think the transitions been pretty smooth,” he said. “He was our Assistant Coach last year. We know that he’s very serious and has great expectations for our team. We’re all looking forward to accomplishing…goals.”
From Coach Hoffman’s perspective, it’s all about understanding the fundamentals. “My philosophy is that you need to play fundamentally mistake-free defense,” he said. “If you put the ball in play and have your pitchers throw strikes, then you’ll win more games than you lose. The season is not long enough to have a defensive or offensive minded team. You have to have a framework that will fit into most teams settings. Then, if you get a kid that shines above the rest every once in a while, you’ll do really well.”
Nick is also optimistic about the upcoming season. “We’ll definitely have better success this year,” he said. “We have a lot more experience now, where last year we only had a couple of seniors. I’m definitely exciting for the season to start.”
Mr. Egan believes that ultimately it’s most important that student athletes have the opportunity for success. “If a young man walks into NCHS as a freshman and baseball is one of the most important things in his life, we want there to be as many opportunities for him in baseball as there will be in any sport, be it basketball, football, or lacrosse,” he said. “We hope these young men will develop their abilities to the fullest and feel like they’re in something important in the baseball program.”
