Mansey R. Billiot
June 21, 2011
Eugene Valentine Sr.
June 23, 2011
The new Vandebilt Catholic baseball coach won’t exactly be a stranger to the program.
Veteran coach Calvin Buxton is ready for his third stint as the Terriers coach.
The school hired Buxton after his predecessor (whom Buxton hired when he was the school’s athletic director) David Constant resigned.
Back in the saddle, the 20-year veteran says he’s ready to give it a go one last time.
‘Baseball’s the greatest game in America, Buxton said. ‘And I’m glad Vandebilt asked me to get back into it.
Joining the new head coach will be assistant coach Keith Richard and Erik Peterson. Like Buxton, Richard is on a comeback tour of his own.
‘He’s going to come back and will coach with me, Buxton said of Richard. ‘He’s actually been out of baseball for a while, too.
Buxton served as Vandebilt’s baseball coach for 18 years in his first stint, before returning to the team and coaching for two and a half seasons.
Under his tutelage, the coach compiled more than 500 wins and Vandebilt was regularly in the mix for state championships, even finishing as state runners-up twice.
While baseball is familiar to the new coach, the team’s current roster is not.
Buxton said he kept a close eye on the Terriers in recent years as a spectator.
‘I watched probably every other home game, Buxton said.
He was quick to add he was just that, a spectator saying that there’s a huge difference between watching the game and living it.
‘Being on the field and just watching from the fences is different, Buxton said. ‘It’s totally different. You can be mindless on the fence, but when you’re inside the fence, you have to know who’s coming up, who’s on deck, who’s in the hole and stuff like that.
Several weeks into his return to the dugout, the coach said he is grinding it out in the Swampland league, trying to get acclimated to his players.
‘I don’t know any of these young men and they don’t know me, Buxton said. ‘We’re going to have to get on the same page and it’s going to take this summer to be able to do that.
Because of that transition, the coach said he urges people to not judge Vandebilt’s 2012 squad by what happens this summer.
‘These kids need to learn how I react in different situations, the coach said. ‘I shouldn’t say this, but winning in summer league is not important to us. We’re going to try and win, but it’s more about continuity and getting to know your teammates and getting to know your new coaches and stuff like that. We’re going to do the best that we can this summer. But when we walk back in January, I promise you we’ll be ready to go.
The team the coach inherits is a group that has reached the postseason for each of the past four seasons under Constant.
A young roster sparked struggles for the Terriers in 2011 and the team finished just 16-13 and was mercy-ruled in the opening round of the playoffs.
Buxton said Constant is a good friend of his and, despite the 2011 struggles and the resignation, he knows the program is left in good shape.
‘I had no idea he was thinking of stepping back, Buxton said. ‘He’s a good friend of mine and I didn’t have a clue. I really didn’t. He’s a good coach.
With one man out, another man had to step in and Buxton is ready for his third tour of duty.
Who knows. The third just might be the charm and the Terriers might get that ever-elusive state title.
‘The future’s bright. I can’t promise you I’ll be here long, but I can tell you, the future’s bright for Vandebilt Catholic baseball, Buxton said. ‘I love the game. I don’t love the weed eating and grass cutting, but other than that, I love the game. Baseball’s a great sport and I’m happy to be back involved.
Vandebilt Catholic baseball coach Calvin Buxton gives encouragement to his players during last week’s summer camp. Buxton is ready for his third stint as the Terriers’ coach. CASEY GISCLAIR
