by Liberty Best
lbest@cherryroad.com
After 12 years of coaching with North Sevier High School baseball, Josh Robinson said goodbye to the team, the field and also Salina City.
Robinson took a job teaching at Redhills Middle School, in Richfield, where he will be inspiring sixth graders in science.
Robinson moved to Richfield about three and a half years ago, but his life up until now consisted of life in Salina, where he was born and raised and where he coached the young boys on the baseball diamond.
“I was coaching for a total of 12 years but I was head coach for eight,” Robinson said.
Along with coaching he was also teaching seventh grade science in Salina.
“It’s been good.” Robinson said, “I was really lucky.”
When Robinson graduated from college in 2011, he didn’t have anything to do and was asked if he would help coach the Wolves baseball in the spring of 2012, assisting the coach that coached him in high school, Nolan Anderson.
“I fell in love with it,” Robinson said.
Robinson helped coach with Anderson for a year, when Anderson was offered a job and became principal of the elementary school.
“The don’t normally let principals coach,” Robinson said.
Jason Edwards took over as head coach for the Wolves, with Robinson right along side him for two years.
“We started to have a good run,” Robinson said. “We made if far into the state playoffs in 2014 and in 2015 we made it farther and took third.”
After that, Edwards stepped back and Anderson came back for a year of coaching, when the team took second at state.
“We took second place that year, we lost in St. George against Enterprise.” Robinson said, “That was the best North Sevier had done ever to that point. Third and second in back to back years was special.
In 2017, Robinson took over as head coach, which challenged him. His first year as head coach, most of the team had graduated but that year he learned a lot and in 2018 the Wolves beat Kanab for the state championship.
“2018 was a special year,” Robinson said. The game was won on the Salt Lake Community College fields.
Robinson said there was a group in 2020 that was lost due to COVID and that was unfortunate.
Over his career he said there were teams that were good, and teams that were not good. The teams played in fun games, in big games and in extra inning games.
“I’m super sad to leave.” Robinson said, “I was born and raised in Salina, played on that team. I’ve been part of it so long.”
Robinson said the hardest thing is leaving the relationships that have been build over time, but the change to Richfield has will be the best move for his family and for his future career goals.
“I’m glad we had the run we did,” Robinson said.
There was a lot of team work with the coaches for the boys on the teams and the community.
“I’m glad we had the run we did,” Robinson said, expressing his appreciation for having worked with Anderson and Edwards.
Robinson said that even though the coaching position is not filled yet, he has no doubt there will be someone good to be able to step into the position.
“I can’t thank the community enough they really support us. We have a great fundraiser that helps us, our field is nice and it’s due to contributions. Thanks to all the support I got from the kids, the community, my family. I’m sure it wasn’t easy but [my family] always had my back. It will be a time I always cherish,” Robinson said.
