Kirk Renegar resigns as Hardin Valley baseball coach
By Jesse Smithey
Monday, June 10, 2013
The Hardin Valley Academy baseball team received news Monday that will test the sturdiness its of five-year foundation.
Kirk Renegar, the only coach in team history, resigned to accept an administrative/athletic director position at Patrick County High School in Stuart, Va.
Renegar graduated from Patrick County in 2001. He will not coach there.
At Hardin Valley, the Hawks authored runs to three consecutive District 3-AAA tournament championships (2011-13) under Renegar’s watch.
But a new coach will usher the team into a new life next season in District 4-AAA, where teams like Farragut, Bearden and Maryville reign.
“In the past week and a half, I just feel like God has opened some doors for me and my family,†said Renegar. “As I told the kids today, this was without a doubt the most difficult decision that I’ve ever had to make.
“I’m going to miss baseball. I’m going to miss teaching. I’m going to miss Hardin Valley. But, the hardest part for me was leaving the kids and the group we got there now.
“You can’t replace those relationships. You can’t replace the bond that you have with those kids. But I feel like, for the betterment of my family in the long term, this was a decision I had to make as a husband and father.â€
Will Neely, a hard-throwing right-hander who has already committed to the University of Tennessee, could make the transition into the 2014 season go smoothly.
Neely went 7-2 as a sophomore this past season with four saves and 58 strikeouts. He walked only 12 and carried a 1.23 ERA.
Monday’s team meeting came as a shock, Neely said via email. He added that the team remains motivated moving forward.
“We have nine starters coming back. We only graduated three pitchers (and) our whole infield will be back,†Neely wrote. “Our team is very motivated to go out and compete every game. We always give it all we’ve got and I don’t think that will change, even though it will be different on the field without Coach Renegar.â€
Renegar didn’t check off all the goals he set for the Hawks but said that Hardin Valley could reach “upper-echelon status†in the next few years.
“I can walk away from this deal feeling good about the program. I feel good about it, where it’s at financially,†he said. “The players, I think this has the opportunity to be the most talented group that our program has ever seen.
“We still weren’t quite able (this past season) to get where we wanted to go — that being the state tournament. But I feel like the group understands that they’re close.â€
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