Stuffel named top coach
Published 10:47 pm Wednesday, June 4, 2014
For Nansemond River High School baseball head coach Mark Stuffel, the spoils that came with leading his team to an 18-2 regular season record, 10-0 in the conference, included being named the Ironclad Conference baseball Coach of the Year.
“It’s a great honor,” Stuffel said.
“It’s a good group of players,” he said of his team. “When they need a little motivation, you motivate them, but other than that, this year’s been honestly a fairly easy year of coaching. It’s the last couple of years that you really work hard to get a team playing the way they’re playing now.”
Stuffel was last named Coach of the Year in 2012 by the coaches of the Southeastern District.
One of his star players this year, junior Kieton Rivers, has been around Stuffel and the Warriors for years. He described Stuffel as deserving of the 2014 honor because of how much time he pours into his players, while also treating them well.
“He’s pretty much like a father to us,” Rivers said. “He’s amazing.”
Stuffel deflected the praise.
“I’ve never been big on the Coach of the Year award for the simple fact that it should be Coaches of the Year,” he said. “I’ve got a great coaching staff.”
He highlighted assistant coach Tom Lowe.
“Ninety percent of our pitching is him,” Stuffel said. “He’s the pitching guy, and our pitchers have been lights out this year.”
“And then you’ve got Coach (Brian) Elms, who’s been solid defensively,” Stuffel continued. “He’s the infield guy.”
As for himself, Stuffel said, “I do a lot of the hitting, and I just touch everywhere, but those guys are great coaches on their own, and it should be a staff award. All of us, as a group, have worked really hard to get the guys to where they’re at.”
Stuffel also praised junior varsity coach Jason Reed for helping develop the school’s players before they move up.
The Nansemond River varsity team (21-3) has continued to excel in the postseason, winning the Ironclad Conference tournament and advancing in the regional playoffs. The Warriors lost to Hanover High School in the regional semifinals Wednesday night.