The call went directly to voice mail. “This is Ryan Baldock, Cornwall’s head football coach,” the message said. It was Tuesday morning. Mr. Baldock had been on the job for less than 24 hours. But he assimilates quickly.
The Dragons’ new leader introduced himself to the team on Tuesday afternoon. But he knew some of the players and coaches before he got here. He met them during 7-on-7 competitions and at All Star banquets. He has talked football with line coach Jack Cassel and offensive coordinator Eric Holzapple.
As the team’s interim leader last season, Coach Holzapple led the Dragons to seven straight wins and a state championship. But at the end of the year, he opted to return to his former position.
His successor comes to Cornwall with impressive credentials — having worked with players in North Carolina, Liberty and Johnstown, N.Y. before taking over the reins at Monroe-Woodbury.
He will continue to teach gym classes at Monroe-Woodbury until the end of the semester, and then will join the Cornwall faculty at the start of the next term.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for the last three years at Monroe,” he told us. “But I’m truly blessed to have this opportunity to be in a premier district with a premier team. I’m excited to come over. I think this will be right for my family.”
Mr. Baldock, who started his career as a defensive coordinator, inherits a team that includes Player of the Year Amin Woods and all star quarterback Aidan Semo. As a friend of the Semo family, the coach knew Aidan before he was throwing touchdown passes.
The coach was at the Feb. 25 Cornwall school board meeting. He addressed the board with enthusiasm and at the end of his remarks, he shouted “Go Dragons!” As we told you, he assimilates quickly.
