Coach Elwood hangs it up
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Mount Ayr Community Schools will be in search of another head coach this season after Raider baseball head coach, Chris Elwood, resigned from the position at Monday night’s school board meeting.
“Last year was my 25th year as an educator and for 20 of those years, I’ve coached high school baseball,” said Elwood. “I’ve really enjoyed coaching baseball over the years, but I have decided that I want to get away from the baseball field and not be quite as busy during the summer.”
Elwood has coached the Raiders for the past five years, leading successful teams throughout those years, boasting a 57-23 record, highlighted by a postseason run to the substate final last summer.
Coach Elwood stated he will miss the players during practices and games but there are things he won’t miss.
“I’ll miss being around the players during practices and games,” said Elwood. “I also know that I won’t miss taking care of the baseball field and the bus rides.”
When coach Elwood took over, the field was not in good shape and credits the school board, athletic boosters and fundraising by players as reasons to the improvements over the last few years.
“I’m very proud of the improvements to our baseball facility and equipment over the last five years,” said Elwood. “When Kelly and I took over the program, we had one of the worst, if not the worst baseball facility in the conference. Our baseball facility is now the best in the conference.”
Coach Elwood believes he is leaving the program with a loaded team will be a force in the Pride of Iowa.
Elwood will still be on retainer, however, if a new head coach cannot be found and will be required to coach for one more year, though he is ready to hang up the uniform for the time being.
