For the past 18 springs Brandon High School Varsity Baseball Coach Ron Wagner would lace up his cleats, gather a bag of bats, and step onto the diamond.
Not this season.
‘It’s going to be tough,? said Wagner, 56.
After leading the Blackhawk Varsity Baseball team since 1991, Wagner’s contract with the district was not renewed for another season.
Wagner said that on June 23, 2009 he met with current Brandon Athletic Director Wayne Thompson for his yearly evaluation and was asked how many more years he was planning to coach.
‘I told him one more,? said Wagner. ‘If I won 16 more games in the 2010 season, that would give me 300 wins at Brandon High School’which also qualifies me for the status to become a Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame member. At that time I was told my contract was being reviewed. On June 25, 2009 I met with Wayne and he asked me to resign. I said, ‘No.? I was then told my contract for 2010 wasn’t going to be renewed, but I should just reapply.?
‘I’d like to have had my 300th win at Brandon High School,? he said. ‘If I can’t get it here, I’m open to other schools. Still, it’s disappointing to not get those wins at Brandon. The head coach job is an 11 months out of the year job’we need a strong feeder program for baseball. The students of Brandon who play sports here need to walk with pride and have the chance to play on winning teams. Hiring coaches that are teachers may be fine, but are they the most qualified for the job? For that matter, teachers should be given the first opportunity to coach, but if no one is at the school to do so, then the administration should look elsewhere. The success rate over the years will show.?
‘In leaving ‘thank you to all the parents and players that I have coached over the past 18 years’the winningest boys sport ever at Brandon High School. I’m most proud of helping more than 30 Brandon baseball players to reach the college level.?
Brandon Schools Superintendent Lorrie McMahon declined comment on personnel issues. However, McMahon did say that it is not the policy or the intent of Brandon Schools to hire only teachers for coach positions within the district.
‘We will hire the most qualified individual for the job,? she said. ‘We’ll go outside (the district) if necessary. We have coaches that are not teachers.?
Over the years Wagner compiled 284 wins and 245 losses, two district championships, 10 district finals, two regional finals, three league championships, and many invitational championships. In addition, the Blackhawks were ranked as one of the top 10 teams in the state a total of ten times. In 2004, the Blackhawks were recognized in the High School Sports Magazine as one of Michigan’s top teams.
‘I wanted to play tough baseball teams’Clarkston, Davison, Flint Catholic Powers’I went after teams that had good, strong baseball programs. It makes us that much better,? he said. ‘I could have won more games playing lesser programs.?
Wagner’s roots have been with the Blackhawks.
A 1971 Brandon High School graduate, Wagner accumulated 11 varsity letters from baseball, basketball and football. His career also included part of league high school basketball championships in 1970 and 1971.
While several colleges were interested in Wagner’s athletic abilities, he chose to work in construction in his father’s business. Wagner stayed in the area and was employed at General Motors Truck and Coach Plant until his retirement in 2003.
‘I enjoyed coaching the high school age students. That age is a critical time in the life of young men? girls, college. I really enjoy that age group, giving them some guidance and helping them set their goals.?