HOMETOWN — Marian High School didn’t have to look far for its next head baseball coach.
Tony Radocha, a former all-star player at Marian and a Colts assistant coach since 2009, was named Tuesday as the successor to longtime head man Jeff Nietz, who resigned in May after 21 successful seasons.
“I’m at a loss for words,’’ said Radocha, a four-year letterwinner, including two as a Schuylkill League all-star catcher and outfielder, from 1997-2000.
“I’m extremely honored, extremely humbled and extremely excited to be Marian’s head baseball coach,’’ he added. “Being a Marian alumnus and a former Marian player, I love the school (and) I love the program. I love everything about it.’’
Radocha, 32, said he would keep Nietz’s coaching staff — including his father, Pete — intact.
“My father taught me so much about the game, about understanding kids, about understanding situations,’’ Tony Radocha said.
He also plans to lean on Nietz, his former coach, for any advice.
“We’ve said we want to keep the band together,’’ he said. “And we will.’’
The younger Radocha said he experienced the thrill of winning two Schuylkill League division championships during his playing days. That, of course, was before the league introduced playoffs to determine an overall champion.
“I feel we should compete for league and district championships every year,’’ he said. “I’d love to get a shot a winning the school’s first (overall) Schuylkill League championship. I would love to have a crack at Pottsville, Blue Mountain and the other big schools in our league.’’
First, however, the Colts will have to butt heads with the likes of small-school powers Tri-Valley and Williams Valley.
“That’s what Schuylkill League baseball is all about,’’ said Radocha, a project manager in his family’s home heating business. “The competition is excellent.’’
To get his Colts ready for that competition, Radocha said he will meet with his players once school starts later this month.
There he will outline his offseason plans for them, which might include workouts, fall leagues and even intra-squad scrimmages.
A lot of what the Colts do from now until next March will be a continuation of what Nietz started.
“Jeff left the program in great shape,’’ Marian athletic director Stan Dakosty said. “Tony’s the right guy to keep it going forward.’’