The community of Waldron has been pushing for Tommy Coy to take an administrative role. The Waldron Middle School teacher finally gave in.
Coy started his new role as Waldron High School’s athletic director earlier this month. One of his duties will be to find a new baseball head coach since he had to resign the position to become athletic director.
“I held out a little bit of hope when I interviewed, if I was privileged enough to get the position I would be able to hold on to the baseball position,” said Coy. “But after the spring we had with all the (weather) cancellations, I don’t know how any of our athletic directors in Shelby County did it.”
Inclement weather is the bane of all spring athletic programs in Indiana. Coy had no choice but to prioritize his commitment to all of the Mohawks programs.
“It was tough for them to say no because of the impact I felt I’ve had on the (baseball) program and it’s going in the right direction,” he said. “The time it would take I think was just going to be too much. I won’t be able to coach baseball this year.”
Giving up his coaching position was tough. Surrendering his teaching position proved even more difficult.
“I just finished up my sixth year at Waldron, overall my 14th year as a professional educator,” explained Coy. “The opportunity to become an athletic director came up, it was kind of slow because I love the classroom.
“There is nothing better than being a teacher at the middle school level. My personality is conducive with teaching Social Studies. It will be tough to give up the classroom because I feel that is my sanctuary with the kids. I loved being a part of it.”
Coy’s strength is his love for the Waldron community and the connections that he has established.
“The opportunity to take this position was not one that I looked at at the start when I got here and what I would do but I kind of grew into the love of the community and it kind of morphed from there. I wanted to do a little bit more and Waldron was the perfect place to do it.”
Coy also in invested in the school system. His wife, Stacey, is a Waldron graduate, and they have two sons in the school system. Coy will still coach in the younger levels of the basketball program.
“As long as you put the kids first in every decision you make, then you can do no wrong,” said Coy. “It’s not about the coaches. It’s not about the athletic director. It’s about the kids and making it the best possible experience that they can have in their life.”
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