Hernandez, teacher and former player, becomes multi-sport coach

By: Cameron Moser 

Nearly one year after the departure of renowned baseball coach Jim Danley, Eaton has found the replacement coach for the upcoming baseball season. Eaton local, elementary teacher, and girls basketball coach, Todd Hernandez, is set to lead the Reds baseball team this season. Hernandez, an Eaton alumni and former player, spent his high school career playing baseball under Danley from 1986 to 1989.

The recently signed coach said he is looking forward to the upcoming season as he settles in to the high profile position. “I’ve been a part of Eaton baseball since I was a kid,” said Hernandez. “I think the biggest focus this early on, is going to be getting to know the boys on the team.” Hernandez, an active community member, teacher and coach, has had the privilege of watching many of the boys grow throughout the years and  said he will work on building rapport with the players themselves before any actual coaching ensues.

With the signing of his contract, Hernandez will now be a multi-sport coach. Coaching girls basketball, teaching full time, and coaching boys baseball may seem like a load to juggle; however, Hernandez is unintimidated by the work load. “I will still be coaching girls basketball,” Hernandez said. “The season overlap isn’t overwhelming and I plan to devote myself to both.”

“After the year we had, we knew we’d need a coach who had certain productive qualities and that is exactly what he (Hernandez) is.” Athletic director, Steve Longwell said. Longwell was part of the five-member hiring committee, which consisted of two community members, a teacher and principal Mark Nail. Longwell said, “He (Hernandez) was born and raised here, he knows the boys, he knows the program, and he has those qualities myself and the rest of the committee were looking for in the new coach.” Eaton has stayed true to tradition hiring a local and former player as the new coach. With a fresh start and a new season approaching, starting February 27 all eyes will certainly be on Eaton baseball and its new head coach.