areacode337
05-27-2008, 12:57 PM
Kerlin named new Tiger baseball coach
WEST COLUMBIA – Columbia assistant
baseball coach Kelly Kerlin was
pleasantly surprised last week when he
got a phone call from former Wharton
coach Floyd Ciruti.
He was selected the new Tiger coach
at Monday’s regular
May school board
meeting.
“I’m still in shock
and pinching myself,”
said Kerlin who was a
catcher at Taylor High
School.
“I’ve always had
my eye on the job in
Wharton and respected
coach Ciruti. I was
quite honored that he would remotely
recommend me for it. He approached
me about it and turned out to be a good
fit.”
“It’s a totally humble experience
when somebody with that many wins
approaches you.’
Ciruti announced his retirement after
33 years earlier in the month.
Kerlin, a 1995 graduate of Taylor
High School played baseball University
of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton.
He’s been an assistant at Columbia,
under head coach Jeff Swank, for seven
years.
Before that he was coach at a middle
school in Temple. He also coached
at his alma mater.
“I’ve always wanted to be a head
baseball coach and I’ve had opportunities
in the past but have been real
picky,” said Kerlin
“I wanted some place to have an established
and successful program.
One of Kerlin’s strengths is being a
player’s coach.
“I feel I get along good with the kids
and I demand discipline.” said Kerlin
As far as knowledge of the game,
Kerlin said, “I’m very pitching and defense
oriented.”
Kerlin agreed that he’ll be involved
in the community.
“I’m very hands on and I want to
be active in the community and I plan
on having some summer camps for the
youth,” the coach said.
He’ll also be an assistant football
coach and teach science.
Kerlin also has distant connection to
new Wharton Superintendent James
Bartosh.
“He was a (high school) assistant
principal when I was in junior high
school at Taylor,” said Kerlin.
Kerlin likes the new district 26-3A
alignment the Tigers will be playing in
starting next year. The new district includes,
Sweeny, Needville, Royal, Stafford
and the Roughnecks.
His dad, Kelby, played for the 1969
Taylor team that won the state 3A title.
“That’s one of the things that’s really
intrigued me about this job,” said
Kerlin.
“I love the coaches in this district
and I know what it takes to get to the
playoffs. I have a good chance to do that
at Wharton.”
Kerlin will be joined by his wife
Stephanie and daughters Ella and
Chloe. Under a new residency policy
adopted by the district this Spring,
the athletic director is required to live
within the district’s attendance zone.
WEST COLUMBIA – Columbia assistant
baseball coach Kelly Kerlin was
pleasantly surprised last week when he
got a phone call from former Wharton
coach Floyd Ciruti.
He was selected the new Tiger coach
at Monday’s regular
May school board
meeting.
“I’m still in shock
and pinching myself,”
said Kerlin who was a
catcher at Taylor High
School.
“I’ve always had
my eye on the job in
Wharton and respected
coach Ciruti. I was
quite honored that he would remotely
recommend me for it. He approached
me about it and turned out to be a good
fit.”
“It’s a totally humble experience
when somebody with that many wins
approaches you.’
Ciruti announced his retirement after
33 years earlier in the month.
Kerlin, a 1995 graduate of Taylor
High School played baseball University
of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton.
He’s been an assistant at Columbia,
under head coach Jeff Swank, for seven
years.
Before that he was coach at a middle
school in Temple. He also coached
at his alma mater.
“I’ve always wanted to be a head
baseball coach and I’ve had opportunities
in the past but have been real
picky,” said Kerlin
“I wanted some place to have an established
and successful program.
One of Kerlin’s strengths is being a
player’s coach.
“I feel I get along good with the kids
and I demand discipline.” said Kerlin
As far as knowledge of the game,
Kerlin said, “I’m very pitching and defense
oriented.”
Kerlin agreed that he’ll be involved
in the community.
“I’m very hands on and I want to
be active in the community and I plan
on having some summer camps for the
youth,” the coach said.
He’ll also be an assistant football
coach and teach science.
Kerlin also has distant connection to
new Wharton Superintendent James
Bartosh.
“He was a (high school) assistant
principal when I was in junior high
school at Taylor,” said Kerlin.
Kerlin likes the new district 26-3A
alignment the Tigers will be playing in
starting next year. The new district includes,
Sweeny, Needville, Royal, Stafford
and the Roughnecks.
His dad, Kelby, played for the 1969
Taylor team that won the state 3A title.
“That’s one of the things that’s really
intrigued me about this job,” said
Kerlin.
“I love the coaches in this district
and I know what it takes to get to the
playoffs. I have a good chance to do that
at Wharton.”
Kerlin will be joined by his wife
Stephanie and daughters Ella and
Chloe. Under a new residency policy
adopted by the district this Spring,
the athletic director is required to live
within the district’s attendance zone.