Chatfield baseball has promoted Matt Johnson from interim to head baseball coach. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)
It had been a few seasons of change for Chatfield baseball. Four coaches in four years.
And then, with the Chargers sitting at 1-7 last spring, there was another coaching change. Matt Johnson, who had been an assistant for five seasons, became the interim coach. Chatfield lost its next game to move to 1-8 — and then went on a tear, finishing the regular season 8-2, winning the Jeffco League, and eventually advancing the state tournament.
Once there, they continued to do damage, and became the darlings of the state. Chatfield reached the Class 5A title game, eventually losing to Rock Canyon, but their 2015 season won’t soon be forgotten.
Johnson, for his part, was named the 5A coach of the year by his peers after the season.
On Wednesday, Chatfield hired Johnson as its full-time coach, according to athletic director Jim Hynes.
“We interviewed a strong pool of candidates, but felt the momentum established last year by coach Johnson could not be ignored,” said Chatfield principal and former AD, Chad Broer. “Chatfield baseball is in good hands and looking to make another strong run in 2016.”
Now, Chatfield looks to continue its momentum. Despite the coaching turnover, the Chargers have reached the state tournament each of the past three seasons.
Chatfield will be hit hard by graduation next season, losing four very good bats in their lineup, and three pitchers, but will return a considerable amount of talent in 2016.