Payne Called Up

6/8/2012
Former Gordon Lee baseball coach Greg Payne was announced as McCallie's new varsity baseball coach...

Two new additions to the McCallie baseball program were announced in early June.

Greg Payne, a former coach for Gordon Lee High School who led that team to two state semifinals in eight years, has been hired as head coach. He takes over a program previously led by now-Assistant Athletic Director Chris Richardson, who led the program for 11 years and whose run included four state tournament appearances.

"Greg is a school man, what I like to call a teacher-coach, and he understands what we want to achieve with these boys," said Upper School Head Kenny Sholl. "His baseball IQ is phenomenal, and his record as a coach reflects that."

In addition, Tim Costo has been named a hitting coach for all grade levels. He played for the Cincinnati Reds in 1992-93, spent nine years in the minors, and has worked in the Chattanooga area as a coach and hitting instructor since 1999.

These two join current assistants Robert Long and Tom Adams '90.

"Chris (Richardson) set the bar pretty high over the last decade, both with his record and his leadership," said Athletics Director Bubba Simmons, "We feel we've put a coaching team together that will keep us moving forward."

For additional information, read the Chattanooga Times Free Press article on the hire.