Chad Young will always been a coach at heart, but he is a family man first and foremost. With hopes of being able to see more of his daughter’s games over the years, Young has made the decision to resign as WCMS baseball coach after eight years.

Young presided over some incredible stretches of Pioneer baseball, including going 34-5 in his first two seasons. He’s helped keep WCMS around .500 or better most seasons, with his final year ending at 12-8 this spring.

“I really count it as a blessing to be able to coach for the past eight years. I thank the Good Lord for the opportunity that was given to me,” said Young. “I had the chance to work with some great young men during that time. It’s pretty neat to hear ‘hey coach’ when you’re walking in somewhere and look up and it’s a former player that you have not seen in a long time.”

Young has overseen many star athletes over the years, but now he’s focused on seeing the stars in his own household. His older daughter, Jessie, will be attending Cumberland University on a volleyball scholarship starting this fall and his youngest daughter, Ali, was a standout member of WCMS volleyball and softball teams this year. She’ll be entering her freshman year at WCHS this fall.

“My goal is for my wife Tara and me to watch as many games the girls play as possible. I reached a time in my life where I needed to step away from this position and spend more time with my family,” said Young.

While the many wins and memories of mentoring young Pioneers on the diamond will always be dear to Young’s heart, it was the preparation that was special to the dedicated family man.

“My fondest memory was the opportunity that I had to be able to work with my dad on the field. He took care of the field for me. That meant the world to me. We got to spend time on the field together before each home game,” said Young.

And for his message to those who have been a part of the journey, Young left them with the same message he preached for the last eight years. “I hope my players will always remember what we taught them between those lines,” said Young. “(But) It’s not all about winning. There are more important things in life.”