It’s not every day a hall of fame high school baseball coach comes out of retirement to lend a hand at the junior high level.
But not everyone is Jerry Rashid.
The legendary prep coach has taken over as the Brimfield Grade School head coach, ending a three-year stint as a fan and heading back into the dugout. Rashid tallied 807 wins over a combined 39 seasons at Princeville, Peoria Bergan, Peoria Notre Dame and Illinois Valley Central.
“They really didn’t have a coach,” Rashid told the Journal Star. “… I went out and talked to them and they asked if I’d be interested. I said, ‘Well, I’ll try it.’
“… I’m full circle now, even beyond full circle, I think.”
This is Rashid’s first time coaching in the Illinois Elementary School Association ranks. The 2025 National High School Athletic Coaches Association hall of famer had retired from coaching in October 2023 following six seasons at Eureka College.
He says he’s getting plenty of help from Brimfield/Elmwood baseball head coach James Sams as well as assistant coach Phil Johnson and volunteer Ethan Patterson.
“I’ve enjoyed it,” Rashid said. “I really have. Good group of kids. Very nice young men and we have a nice number of them. … I know they’re working hard and I think they’re having a good time at it.
“We’re back to fundamentals with it. If we can do that right and our pitchers can throw strikes, then we’ll have a chance.”
So, how long does Rashid envision this unretirement lasting?
“I’m like Walter Alston,” Rashid said with a laugh, referencing the Hall of Fame manager who signed 23 one-year contracts with the Dodgers. “One-year contract at a time. If they like what I did and they want me to do it again, then we’ll turn that page when we get to it.”
Brimfield began practice on Monday, Aug. 3 and plays its season opener on Thursday, Aug. 13.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Hall of fame high school baseball coach takes over junior high program
Reporting by Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star | USA TODAY Network
