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Home > Blogs > Springfield, Ohio High School Sports > Archives > 2010 > May > 09 > Entry
On this date in area sports history …
Ten years ago, on this date, the News-Sun published a story about longtime Cedarville baseball coach Dennis Vaugn stepping down.
Published: 05/09/2000
VAUGHN HANGING UP CLEATS.
CEDARVILLE COACH TO STEP DOWN AFTER 18 SEASONS
By Ron Ware, News-Sun Sports Writer
In a low-key yet earnest way that has endeared him to his players and to opponents alike, Dennis Vaughn has coached Cedarville’s baseball team for 18 seasons, winning three Kenton Trace Conference titles and making three regional appearances.
So, when it came time to announce he was stepping down, the 50-year-old Vaughn simply mentioned it to a few longtime coaching rivals, then finally broke the news to his players late last month.
“This has sort of run its course,” the easy-going Vaughn said. “And, of course, Robbie (his son, a starting outfielder) is a senior now. I’ve been doing something — either football or basketball or baseball or golf — for 28 years. I just sort of decided this was going to be it.”
Vaughn’s career record, which was above .500 until two seasons ago, is 163-178. But at Cedarville, perhaps more so than at some schools, coaching isn’t only about wins and losses. Athletic director Jim Villinger — for whom Vaughn once roamed the outfield — knows how difficult it will be to replace a dedicated coach who has always conducted himself beyond reproach and is respected throughout the KTC.
“Dennis has been a good, hard-working coach,” Villinger said, handing him his ultimate compliment. “He’s a no-nonsense guy and he coaches that way.
“I thought maybe I could talk him out of it, but I was unsuccessful.”
Vaughn says he’ll especially miss his friendships with fellow coaches.
“Most of the coaches I’ve dealt with have been great, especially in the league,” he said. “I can’t remember anybody I ever had a problem with.”
And that also goes for his players.
“We’ve never had any problem at all,” he said. “I teach in the elementary (fifth and sixth grade) and most of them come through me, so they already know me.”
Vaughn’s best team may have been the 1990 group, which won 21 straight, captured his first KTC title and reached the regional final. The Indians repeated as league champions and regional finalists the following year, won another KTC crown in 1995 and made it back to the regional in 1997, falling in the semifinals.
He’s also proud that in 341 career games, he was thrown out only once.
While Vaughn doesn’t want any fanfare, he wouldn’t mind going out with a bang. The Indians, 9-11, are at second-seeded Bethel at 5 p.m. Wednesday in a Division IV sectional semifinal — knowing every game could be their last.
“We’re just trying to win it for the school and ourselves,” said Vaughn, who plans to continue as Cedarville’s golf coach. “We played pretty tough against Bethel the other day (in an 11-7 non-league loss on Thursday). … We had their top two pitchers in trouble.”
Villinger said the search for a replacement is wide open. Vaughn’s reserve coach, Josh Mandel, is leaving after one season to take a job in Oregon.
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