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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
Beginning of a new era
HUNTINGTON -- When news spread about veteran coach Toby Holbrook retiring after the 2008 season, some people thought Huntington High baseball would take on a completely different look.
It turns out Huntington High baseball will look almost the same as it has for the last few decades.
Greg Rowsey, who served as an assistant for Holbrook, was approved as the successor by the Cabell County Board of Education on Tuesday.
"It's very gratifying, but you feel like you have some big shoes to fill," Rowsey said. "I feel like I've come full circle. To follow in the footsteps of the guy you not only coached with, but also played for and coach the same school you played for -- those are things that are very special."
While Holbrook's announcement came as a surprise to some people, Rowsey wasn't surprised. In fact, Rowsey said he talked Holbrook out of retirement after the 2007 season.
Therefore, when Holbrook let Rowsey know he was definitely retiring at season's end, Rowsey saw his role with the team's day-to-day duties increase.
"There was no question who was in control, but he delegated some of the behind-the-scenes stuff -- scheduling games and umpires, game management, submitting paperwork -- to me," Rowsey said. "There are a lot of things other than the game that people aren't aware of. He trusted me to do some of those things."
Even though Rowsey was selected as the new coach, he isn't ruling out a return to the dugout for Holbrook.
To add a little irony, Rowsey said Holbrook and Huntington High and Marshall University coaching legend Jack Cook might join the staff as assistants. Rowsey played for Holbrook in high school and Cook in college and said the baseball triangle does not end there.
"It's an interesting lineage," Rowsey said. "I've coached Coach Holbrook's kids and Coach Cook's kids, I've played for both of them and my kids have played for both of them. Coach Holbrook also played for Coach Cook."
Rowsey is a member of the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame, elected after pitching for the Thundering Herd from 1975 to 1978. He also operates Dan's Sport Shop on Fourth Avenue.
Like the generations before that learned from Cook and Holbrook, Rowsey hopes to bring a hard-nosed, traditional game to the diamond. He is also excited about the talent pool the Highlanders return for next season.
He hopes the players will make a year-round commitment to improving their techniques so the team can be successful in his first season as head coach.
"You can see a real good nucleus of guys. I'm really optimistic as to how good they can be," Rowsey said. "When you start getting into February and start talking about the season, you have a pretty good idea of who is taking it serious and who you can count on."
Rowsey said he is ready to get started with the job he always wanted and knows that the expectations for Huntington baseball are high. Like those before him, Rowsey said he hopes he can start and end his head coaching career at Huntington High.
"I'm in pretty significant company," Rowsey said. "I don't have aspirations to do anything else. I just want to lead a hard-nosed baseball team the best I can."
