Ted Godfrey has been named the new baseball coach at Salesianum.
Godfrey, a 1993 graduate and teacher in the school’s business department, takes over for Doug Nowell, who resigned under pressure and is now an assistant coach at Wilmington University. Godfrey’s quick hire brought closure to the baseball program’s recent controversy.
“Ted strives for excellence in all that he does,” said Rev. William McCandless, the school’s principal. “He has a proven record in coaching and I know he will bring success to Salesianum baseball.”
Godfrey has been involved in the Sallies baseball program in a variety of roles since 2001, most recently serving as the varsity pitching coach on last year’s team which reached the state semifinals for the fourth consecutive year. Stepping up to take charge of the storied baseball program is a role he relishes.
“I’m looking forward to working with such a great group of kids and to hopefully have a positive influence in their lives,” Godfrey said. “Since I have been working in the program since 2001, I think we will have a smooth transition and build on the success we’ve had.”
Godfrey, who also coaches the junior varsity football team, stresses that teaching baseball is just a small part of his job as the team’s head coach.
“The baseball program will develop young men into responsible adults,” he said. “The backbone of the program will be hard work, attitude, responsibility, intensity, desire, commitment, good sportsmanship and placing the team before any individual goals.
“The players will not only become better baseball players but will learn what it is to be successful in life. If an individual approaches any challenge later on in life with the same approach as described above, then that player will learn what it is to be successful.”
Godfrey, who played college baseball at Salisbury State University, plans to address his new team for the first time this fall, and when he does, he wants to send the message that the past is the past, and all focus will now be on the 2010 season.
“The general message will be that we will be moving forward and will focus on future successes,” Godfrey said.
Football: Wrong turn becomes right move for Middletown
It has only been two years since Middletown High won the school’s first Division I state championship, but the Cavaliers refuse to rest on their laurels.
That’s why on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights the team can be found voluntarily participating in conditioning drills on the turf field and pumping iron in the school’s weight room. And then on Tuesday and Thursday nights the team competes in a 7-on-7 passing league.
All this before the team officially opens camp on Aug. 15.
The workouts, named the Middletown Championship Series (MCS), are designed as a mini-competition, which spices up the workouts among the teammates.
Seniors choose teams which then compete against each other on Wednesday nights throughout the summer in creative strength, speed and agility drills. Points are accumulated throughout the offseason workout program with the winning team receiving a trophy, T-shirts and free dinner at a local restaurant.
“We started the MCS (Middletown Championship Series) as a way to provide a competitive atmosphere while doing agilities, plyometrics and speed training,” Middletown coach Mark DelPercio said. “[Assistant coach] Scott Thompson and I developed it on the way back from a coaches clinic at Penn State University. We actually got into it so much that we ended up making a wrong turn and a three-plus hour trip became a six-plus hour trip.”
It turns out that wrong turn, which gave the two coaches time to fine-tune their idea, has developed into a summer tradition as the conditioning program completes its second offseason.
“It has been a tremendous success with our players and coaches,” DelPercio added. “Players love the challenge of the MCS and it's fun for all involved.”
Team Betts — Cherokee Hill, Troy Betts, Matt Lenior, Aaron Brant and Steve Fox — topped Team Adkins to secure bragging rights for the coming season.
Regardless of the final results, like any offseason workout program, no matter how much fun or hard work it is, coaches want to see it results. DelPercio says the MCS has done exactly that for the Cavaliers.
“In the end, it also makes us a better team,” he said.
News and Notes: Lawrence Livingston, a 6-foot-7 center from Caesar Rodney High School, has accepted a basketball scholarship to play at Goldey-Beacom College. Livingston scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the Riders’ state championship game loss to William Penn last season.
Jon Buzby is the Delaware correspondent for MaxPreps.com.
