Llano High School is now looking for a “diamond in the rough” to lead the young men who play on the diamond. The search is underway to find a head coach for varsity baseball. It appears at least a pair of familiar names are quite interested in sharing their resumes.

Athletic director David Yeager, whose “quiet” late spring has already included coming to terms with a girls’ basketball coach, and then assisting at a University of Arkansas football camp, will lead a yet unnamed committee to bring on board a successor to Chad Krempin. Coach K was in Llano two years; he left for the same job at San Angelo Central.

Is time a problem? “As long as we can make a decision in the month of June,” Yeager said, “we’re good, but if we get into July with no agreement, then it gets scary.”

Candidates, who are currently at other schools, go unidentified, but we have learned there are at least seven men interested. Also, Jackets’ assistant coach, Craig Bauman, is candid about the opening: he’d like to fill it.

“We’ve got a quality group of kids coming back,” Bauman declares, “and they’re going to go out and do good things. We’ve also got some excellent classes coming up, all the way back to the sixth grade.”

Bauman, a 1997 Llano High graduate who was a pitcher and outfielder for coach Ken Barington, thinks the players need stability. The last two coaches (Krempin and James Ward) were here two years each. “The guys should get to know someone and not have to endure so many changes; they deserve to have the pressure off, or at least, reduced.”

It’s believed that Bauman’s fellow assistant coach, Chad Branham, would also like a promotion. He has been out of town and not available for comment.

It has been reported in The Llano News that Krempin had some problems with parents; playing time and more serious issues developed.

“How they relate to the community and how they handle such conflicts,” Yeager disclosed, “are questions we ask in the interview process with applicants. What parents want from coaches is that we treat kids fairly and give them respect. We have great fathers and mothers here who want teams to represent Llano well and play with class and pride.

“When problems arise, the best way to handle them,” Yeager points out, “is to have a meeting with all concerned. Meet the challenges head on. I’ll admit that dealing with parents is the toughest part of the job we have.”

Back to the Field of Dreams, potential designated hitter or first baseman, Walker Woolman, says the guys will adapt well to a new leader.

“We’ll miss coach Krempin,” Woolman noted, “but we can take it in stride no matter who the new guy is. We’ll be ready-to-go for him come February, and hopefully, we’ll make a long run in the playoffs.”