The search for North Union’s new baseball coach has come to a close.
At the most recent North Union School Board meeting, members approved the hiring of Nick Blakeley.
He comes to the Wildcats from Fairbanks, where he was an assistant coach for the Panthers’ baseball team for six years.
Blakeley helped FHS to a 30-24 record over the past three seasons in the Ohio Heritage Conference. Before assisting the Panthers, Blakeley helped with the varsity baseball team at Delaware Hayes.
The new coach said he wants to bring those experiences with him to help lead the Cats.
“I am grateful for having the opportunity to be around two great programs and two great coaches,” Blakeley said. “I will take the things I learned at each place as well as the things that I learned as a player to create my own successful program at North Union.”
Blakeley, who is employed by North Union, has strong ties to the Richwood community and has been waiting for his opportunity to take the head baseball coach position.
“The North Union baseball position has always intrigued me,” he said. “There is a lot of potential with a very supportive community, which are all necessary to build a reputable baseball program.”
Blakeley is taking over a program that has had some ups and downs over the past three seasons under former head coach Klarke Ransome, who took the Cats to a 27-23 record.
Blakeley believes there is a lot to build off of what Ransome left behind.
“Coach Ransome did a wonderful job the last couple of years helping to lay the foundation for a good program,” Blakely said. “I want to continue to implement good fundamental baseball. I want to help encourage growth in student-athletes from the baseball field to the classroom.”
Outside of coaching his current student-athletes, Blakely also wants to start focusing on the future of the program.
“There is a good foundation for youth sports and a love for the game of baseball in the community,” he said. “I hope to be able to serve as a resource for those summer coaches so we can get good fundamental baseball starting at a younger age.”
Blakeley, a 2003 graduate of Marysville High School, played for the Monarchs.
He continued his baseball career at Urbana University before moving into the coaching aspect of the sport.