Lance RorexDuring his playing days, there was no batter better at coming up with the big hit when Lookout Valley needed it than Lance Rorex. And now Rorex again has come through when the Yellow Jackets needed him, taking over his alma mater's baseball program.
"I'm very excited to get this opportunity," Rorex said. "It's been a dream for me since I grew up watching them and then played for the team to one day get to coach here. I can't wait to get to work."
Rorex was an assistant with the program last season and takes over for Wes Caldwell, who recently resigned to coach at Ooltewah.
During his four-year career with the Yellow Jackets from 2005 to 2008, Rorex rewrote five school records, including most career hits, and set the state record with 19 consecutive hits during his senior season.
Another former Lookout Valley player, Jason Henderson, moves up from middle school coach to assist Rorex.
"We could've hired either one of those guys as our head coach and been in real good shape," said former longtime Jackets baseball coach David Dinger, who is now the school's softball coach. Dinger coached both Rorex and Henderson. "We felt like it was a good idea to have these two young guys work together.
"The thing I like about having Lance head up the program is you know what you get with him," Dinger added. "He's a guy who knows the game, loves the game and loves our school. He wants to be here and be the coach here for a long time."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.