When Doug Yager announced he was stepping down from his head coaching position last fall, it wasn't because he had lost the passion to coach, it was because his health would no longer let him pace the dugout. After receiving a clean bill of health this past spring, an opportunity arose for him to coach again, and Yager jumped at it.

Yager will once again be the Head Coach of the Lancaster Bible College baseball team for the 2012 season. In the process, he will also become the school's first full-time coach. Yager will teach six credits each semester in the Health and Physical Education Department, work in the LBC Athletic Department and coach baseball.

“The philosophical change of our president Dr. Peter Teague and his administration make this an incredible day for Lancaster Bible College,” Director of Athletics Pete Beers said. “I'm also thankful for Dr. Phillip Dearborn and his willingness to engage for many hours as to what this position would entail.”

Further enhancing the positive of this announcement is that Interim Head Coach T.J. Horn will be returning in 2012 as the team's assistant coach and hitting coach. Assistant Coach Shawn Leaman will also return next season.

“T.J. and I have worked together before [2010 season] and his experience as head coach this past season has only improved him as a coach,” Yager said. “He knows hitting about as well as anyone and he is going to be great in that position. Shawn is an excellent recruiter and great to have on the bench.”

Beers also praised Horn and his contributions to the program.

“I am thankful for T.J. and the great job he did this past season as the interim head coach,” Beers said. “He continued to build the program and we are in an even better position than we were at this time last year.”

The three coaches will work together to improve a team that had its ups and downs during the 2011 campaign. After winning seven straight games mid-way through March, the team won just four more games the rest of the way to finish with an 11-15 record.

“I think we are combining three people with three different strengths,” Horn said of himself, Yager and Leaman. “I think it will be great for the program and the student-athletes.”

Beers added having three qualified coaches sets the baseball team up very well for the future.

“Leadership wise, they are set up to be the model for LBC athletic teams,” Beers said. “Obviously things won't change overnight, but with T.J. and Shawn's ability to recruit and Doug's vision for the team, the excitement for Chargers' baseball is there.”

Beers said hiring a full-time coach shows how committed the LBC administration is to providing an all-around education to student-athletes.

“We are all buying into the philosophy that athletics is a classroom and your performance on the field is like earning a grade in a class,” Beers said. “The school has decided that preparing for games in the 'baseball classroom' is as important as preparing for tests in an English classroom. Both are pursuing excellence and the intangibles of this experience prepare you for your journey, your mission to serve God and your mission to help others.”

Yager said one of the things he missed most about coaching was interacting with the guys, whether it was talking baseball or building relationships.

“I didn't want to leave in the fall, but health wise it was the right decision,” Yager said. “The health issues have been solved and I am excited to get back into the swing of things. T.J. and Shawn did a great job this past season and I think the transition will be very smooth for all of us.”

Yager said he is excited about his new position because it will enable him to balance his role as teacher and coach.

“The job is great, because I can invest more time into the student-athletes' lives,” Yager said. “Building relationships is number one for me and we only have four years to build and nurture that relationship, all the while helping them grow in Christ and teach them baseball.”

The coaching change comes as the Chargers' enter their first season playing in the North Eastern Athletic Conference [NEAC]. Both Yager and Horn agree that LBC has a bright future in the conference.

“We have to shift our thinking a bit and focus more on the NEAC and NCAA Division III rather than the NCCAA, but I think we can compete right away in the NEAC,” Yager said. “There are a lot of good teams in the conference, but we played most of them before and I like our chances.”

Horn agreed that with the players returning, only losing two seniors and the influx of three or four good recruits, the Chargers are poised to make a strong showing in the NEAC.

“We have strong guys coming back and with our recruits stepping in to fill some gaps, I think we will make the transition into the NEAC a fun and exciting one.”

Beers added that he is excited to see Yager embrace his new role within the Athletics Department.

“I look forward to seeing Doug embrace this new/old role and taking it to new heights,” Beers said.

Yager said the team will focus on the little things more during his second campaign with the program.

“We want to focus on what being a team means,” Yager said. “We want to dig down and understand what glorifying God means. That means in the class, on the field and in life. Winning is a result of a whole process that encompasses conditioning, going to class and preparing for an opponent.”