Sauk Centre High School has a long tradition of long serving baseball coaches.
Charlie Warring resigned last season after 18 years, having replaced Joe Sczublewski, who led the team to a state title in 1982.
Last week Sauk Centre Activities Director Rick Fischer announced Sauk Centre Herald Sports Editor and Co-Publisher Bryan Zollman will become the new head coach.
Zollman, 35, comes to the position with a long history of his own in baseball.
A 1992 graduate of Hill-Murray High School in St. Paul, Zollman was part of the Minnesota Twins' 1992 June Amateur Draft. He attended Mankato State University and played baseball under Hall of Fame coach Dean Bowyer, where he was an All-Region selection in 1996 and 1997. After his senior year he served as an assistant coach under Bowyer for two years.
Zollman moved to Sauk Centre in 2003 with his wife and son and since have added a daughter. He has coached Sauk Centre's Babe Ruth team of 13- to 15-year-olds, taking them to place third at state in 2007. He is also currently involved with the Sauk Centre youth baseball program.
His goal is to build a strong high school program by building a strong youth program, believing youngsters need to learn proper fundamentals and to have fun as well.
"I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the Sauk Centre baseball tradition," said Zollman. "I'm excited about this year's squad and can't wait to get started this spring."
Zollman said he has been fortunate to play for great coaches such as Bowyer at Mankato, John Mauer at Hill-Murray and former minor league manager for the Minnesota Twins Ken Staples in Osceola Wisc.
"I've been really lucky to play for some of the very best coaches ever to come out of Minnesota," said Zollman. "Hopefully I can pass on the best of what they taught me to the young ballplayers of Sauk Centre."
