Roach new HVA baseball coach
HARDIN VALLEY — When Tyler Roach looks at the Hardin Valley Academy baseball program, he sees a team that could be a top program in Tennessee.
But he also thinks the Hawks could be one of the country’s top high school programs.
He’ll try to get HVA, which won the Class AAA state championship in 2015 and has earned district titles in 3-AAA and 4-AAA, back to its championship ways.
Roach recently was tapped to replace Joe Michalski as Hardin Valley baseball head coach.
With the Hawks having plenty of talent back for the 2019 season, “I’m excited,” Roach said after accepting the position Tuesday, July 24. “Hardin Valley is a great place.
“... Hardin Valley has the potential to be a top program in Tennessee and one of the premiere teams in the country,” he added. “It’s a great place to be. I just got out of a two-hour meeting with (principal Sallee Reynolds and athletic director George Ashe). They took two hours to meet with me during the busiest time of the year for them.
“That shows you the kind of people they are and the character they have. You also have the support of a great community.”
Roach said about his team, “You couldn’t ask for a better group of kids. I’ve met with every one of them and they’ve all been super. ... This is a huge blessing from God.”
A 26-year old graduate of Karns High School who teaches physical education at New Hopewell Elementary School, Roach became quite familiar with HVA’s program in the past three seasons while serving as an assistant coach to John Rice at Bearden.
An All-District 3-AAA first baseman during his playing days with the Beavers, where he played for Rice, Roach moved on to Chattanooga State Community College and later, to East Tennessee State University.
“I didn’t accept the Hardin Valley job until I talked to (Rice),” he said. “I wasn’t ‘Oh no, I have to find a new assistant.’ It was ‘this is who you need to talk to about this’ and ‘this is who you need to talk to about that.’”
During his first week at HVA, Roach got a special visit from Rice. “He came over to Hardin Valley and looked at the field and told me some things that I needed to do,” he said. “Again, that shows you the kind of person he is.”
“I’ve been fortunate to be around Tyler,” Rice said. “... I hate to lose him, but he’ll be great for Hardin Valley. He has a great passion for the game and he has a desire to lead young men. That’s what made him great here (BHS).”
