Rochester, Mn- 

When Vermilion Community College needed to fill a coaching opening within their baseball program this spring, they did not have to look far.  Long-time American Legion baseball coach and VCC softball coach, Tom Coombe, will move from the softball diamond to the baseball dugout for the Vermilion athletic department, beginning this fall. 

Coombe will step into the role for Ray Podominick, who has served as the Ironmen baseball skipper since 1999, and has assumed new duties at Vermilion.  

While Coombe will bring some new perspectives to the role, one area that he reports will stay similar is a focus on recruiting the top Minnesota players available, while also looking towards other Midwestern havens of talent in Wisconsin and other opportunities outside of the Arrowhead region.  Coombe and Podominick have known each other for decades and have served the youth and prep baseball scene in both coaching and administrative roles. 

Coombe was recognized as the 2010 Minnesota State American Legion Coach-of-the-Year, and coached in several area high school programs including  Duluth Denfeld High School. 

One area that has Coombe excited for the future of Vermilion baseball is in facilities- both on the field and on campus.  VCC calls Ely's Veterans Memorial Field home for baseball, and the high-quality ballpark hosts dozens of American Legion games over the summer, bringing top players to within a couple miles of Vermilion's campus.  Additionally, VCC has added to it's residential college feel with the opening of the Timber Ridge student residence halls on campus this fall.

Offering student-athletes a residential college experience and chance to compete in baseball has Coombe eager for the upcoming academic year, where Vermilion will conduct fall baseball practices in preparation for the 2018 MCAC baseball season next spring. 

For more information on Vermilion Community College, please visit: www.vcc.edu

About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference

The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system.  The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions.  The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs

For more information, visit www.mcacsports.org

Story courtesy of MCAC Sports