Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
The belief
for great things starts with the head coach.
New
Highlands Ladybirds Head Softball Coach Rob Coffey has high expectations for
the program and the search committee saw that enthusiasm. The committee
consisted of Principal Brian Robinson, Director of Athletics Dale Mueller and
Head Baseball Coach Jeremy Baioni. The hiring became official Monday.
“We think we’re in position to not only win the
(Ninth) Region, but battle for state championships,” Mueller said. “There’s
a lot of young girls who are fired up in Fort Thomas and are excellent,
college-scholarship players. Rob is looking to have a year-round softball
program so the girls can develop their skills all year. He’s looking to step up
every aspect of the program to another level.”
Robinson
said the committee reached out to teachers in the Fort Thomas Independent
School District first, but none showed interest. They had several applicants
before naming two finalists.
Coffey, 44,
has 20 years of coaching experience that includes basketball and soccer in
addition to softball. That may not include any high school experience. But
Coffey started the Amateur Athletic Union organization called Gametime that he
currently directs. Coffey played baseball, basketball and football during his
high school years. He graduated from Highlands in 1986.
“I think with the young group we have right now, we
have a chance to compete and start winning real soon,” Coffey said. “We
have several talented players already in the pipeline. I’m not naive enough to
think we’ll win the (Ninth) Region within the next two years. But with some
training and creating some depth in the program, we should be able to compete
with some of the top teams in the Ninth Region. Going forward, the biggest
challenge I think we’ll have is keeping the pipeline wet.”
