Coach Nick Engleman now heads Bulldog baseball

Q. So you’re the new baseball coach?

Yes, sir, and assistant boys’ basketball coach.

Q. Where do you come here from?

I have spent the last four years at Greenfield as the head baseball coach, assistant basketball and football coach, Athletic Director, and History teacher. Prior to that I was the head basketball coach for boys at Pleasant Hope High School.

I graduated from Evangel University in 2013 and Stockton in 2009.

Q. Did you play sports in high school?

Yes, I played four years of baseball and basketball. After high school, I played three years of baseball at Evangel University.

Q. How did you do in your coaching career?

I had some success. With Pleasant Hope basketball, we were really young and played in the Mid-Lakes Conference. It was around the time that Strafford played in the state championship game and there were several talented teams in the conference.

My second year was the best year. We were about .500 as one of the smaller schools in the Mid-Lakes.

At Greenfield, we made a quarterfinal run in my third year and lost to Walnut Grove, as well as playing in a couple of district championship games.

I was really blessed with several talented, hard-working kids.

It’s an excellent opportunity to come here.

Q. Is Stockton your hometown?

I was born and raised there, and my parents graduated from Stockton.

Q. So it will be dejavue when you go back and play them in baseball?

A little bit. Being at Pleasant Hope, we played them in the Mid-Lakes Conference. Also, I coached against Stockton in baseball the last four years while at Greenfield.

The old rivalry for Stockton was Greenfield back in the 60s and 70s, even up into the 80s and 90s. It somewhat went away when Stockton became much bigger than Greenfield. The new rivalry for Stockton is El Dorado.

Q, What’s your style of baseball or your theory?

It varies. You do what is best for what you have kid-wise. Sometimes you have a line-up that can really swing it, so you don’t have to worry about playing small ball. I like to be aggressive when running the bases. We will bunt and move guys over.

I kind of want to play an older style. I don’t really buy into the launch angle that is being talked about in baseball right now. I’m all about hitting the ball hard on the ground and hitting line drives. We will look to play good solid defense, have good pitching, and putting pressure on the other team.

I come from a family of baseball people. I think it is ingrained in me to play the game the right way, to play it hard, and to put pressure on the other team both defensively and offensively.

Q. What position did you play?

I was a shortstop and pitcher in high school. When I went to college I started out as a shortstop but ended up settling in as a catcher.

Q. Sounds like you know the game.

I would like to think I am knowledgeable, but I still have a lot to learn from listening to different types of baseball people.

Q. Well, you have some good people who know baseball. You’ve got Walt Anderson.

I’ve already had some conversations with Coach Anderson.  I look forward to visiting with him. He will be up here at the school. I’ll probably reach out to him and see what he thinks about the game.

Q. Have you met Jarrod Mays?

I have not, but I know he is a hometown legend for sure. I’ll have to get to know him.

I’m always willing to talk baseball with a lot of different people. I like talking the game. There are so many people who can add to your knowledge.

Q. When’s the season start?

We play in the spring. Our first practice won’t be until the first part of March.

Q. Any idea yet how many players are interested?

It looks like we will be around the 25 to 30 range. We have talented kids in a lot of different classes. It seems like we will be pretty talented group.

Q. Do you have a family?

Yes, my wife, Morgan, is the new Middle School Counselor.