LYNN — Building continuity when it comes to hiring coaches for high school sports teams is no easy task. The Lynn English baseball team stands out as a rare example, as the Bulldogs have seen just two coaches over the past 42 years in Ron Bennett (1975-2003) and Joe Caponigro (2004-2017).
But after Caponigro stepped down from the position in June, following the season’s conclusion, English Athletic Director Dick Newton found himself in need of a baseball coach. Needless to say, Newton’s looking to continue the track of keeping a leader in the program for the long run.
“Joe did a great job,” Newton, a former English baseball player himself, said. “He was there for 14 years. Since 1975, we’ve had two coaches in him and Ron. We’re looking to keep the stability in the program. We’re looking for a coach that’s looking to be there for a long time and invest himself in Lynn English athletics. There’s a long tradition at Lynn English and we’re looking to continue that.”
In searching for a new baseball coach, Newton’s making it a priority to consider the off-the-field factors that come with leading a program. High school coaches aren’t only tasked with investing themselves in the performances of their players on the field but also in the classroom. It’ll be no different at English.
“We’re looking for a guy that wants to be more than a coach,” Newton said. “We’re looking for a guy that might want to be an assistant in multiple sports but also insert himself in the academics of his own players. We’re looking for a guy that wants to see his players move onto college and a guy that doesn’t want to use this job as a stepping stone but really be the coach of Lynn English baseball.”
“Coaching baseball, or any sport, in the end, is the easy part,” Newton added. “The hard part is all the off the field aspects that you have to monitor. We’re looking for a guy that can do everything.”
Thus far, Newton has received a good amount of interest in the job opening. He mentioned that he’s fielded calls about the opening and has made clear what he’s looking for.
“I feel that we’ve gotten a lot of phone calls and I’ve talked to a lot of people,” Newton said. “They ask me what we’re looking for and I tell them that we’re looking for somebody that’s going to be here for a long time and be more than a baseball coach. I’ve had guys inquire and express interest. It’s just a question of, with any job, the right fit with the kids and the school.”
Newton’s optimistic the Bulldogs can have a successful season next spring with the right coach at the helm. English returns a strong class of soon-to-be seniors with varsity experience under their belts.
“We have a couple great pitchers coming back, two catchers coming back and a few great infielders coming back,” Newton said. “Whoever comes in will certainly have some talent to work with in his first season.”
“We have a very good junior class and those guys will be seniors,” Newton added. “There’s talent that’s coming back. The new coach will certainly have talent to work with.”
Newton’s plan moving forward is to post the job opening in early September, with hopes of making a hire by the end of October. Anyone interested in inquiring about the job can reach English High School at 781-477-7366.
