Ryan Nuppnau takes over the North Montgomery baseball program from Matt Merica. After focusing on his head coaching duties for girls basketball the last handful of years, Nuppnau returned to the diamond this past spring as a varsity assistant for the Chargers.
Tristain Hall will take over the boys soccer program this fall.
LINDEN — Matt Merica stepped down as the North Montgomery baseball coach at the conclusion of this season and it only took a couple of weeks for the Chargers to name a new coach.
Pending approval at Monday’s school board meeting, Ryan Nuppnau will be the new Chargers baseball coach.
Nuppnau has spent the last five seasons as the Chargers girls varsity coach and was formerly a varsity assistant under former North Montgomery baseball coach Matt Voorhees, before returning to the diamond this spring as an assistant under Merica.
“Being able to work under two successful coaches like Voorhees and Merica, and two coaches who have a slightly different coach approach,” Nuppnau said. “I was able to pick and choose from each one traits that would work best with my personality and coaching philosophy.”
Nuppnau hopes to use his head coaching experience to make the transition seamless.
“Having been the head girls for a few years has definitely better prepared me for another head coaching position,” he said. Even though someone has been an assistant and has work beside a varsity coach for some time, you never know what it’s really like until you hold and operate that position. There are so many behind the scenes tasks that you can’t foresee as a new head coach. So already being a head coach for five years, will allow me to better juggle both jobs.”
Nuppnau takes over a program that has only had two losing seasons in the last two years and just won their first sectional title since 2001 last spring. The Chargers only won seven games this past season, but Nuppnau hopes to carry on a rich history of winning.
“Baseball is a very simple game,” he said. “It’s all about the fundamentals. Our focus and emphasis will be about doing things right, doing the little things well, and let the outcomes fall as they may.”
Hall takes over boys soccer program
After a long tenure by Mike Margeson, North Montgomery has a new boys soccer coach. Tristain Hall will take over as the new coach this fall, with Margeson staying on staff as an assistant.
Hall played for Margeson for four seasons before graduating in 2014.
“North Montgomery soccer program runs deep in my roots. I played soccer all four years of my high school career in this program and my two brothers have played in this program as well. Soccer has always been a sport I have been passionate about. My goal for this year for the North Montgomery program is to build the team numbers and build an interest in the soccer program. Coach Margeson has been a great mentor in teaching me all the aspects of coaching. I’m really excited to get the season started,” Hall said.
New XC coach named
Pending school board approval Monday, Cassie Hicks will be the new cross country coach at North Montgomery.
