NEW HEAD MUSTANG!| Overton hires Robey to lead baseball Mustangs
EDITOR’S NOTE: It was the perfect storm today for us to be late for this story, a travel day of sorts for ETBlitz.com. Our apologies. Congratulations to Overton and to coach Braden Robey!
It didn’t take Overton High School athletics long to find a quality coach to lead its baseball program.
As a matter of fact, it wasn’t quite three weeks.
Oh, less than three weeks, and about 12 miles.
Overton High Athletic Director Scotty Laymance confirmed to ETBlitz.com editor / publisher Mitch Lucas on Tuesday morning after posting on social media that the school had indeed hired Braden Robey as its new head baseball coach.
Robey replaces Chris Cook, who had taken the same position with Jacksonville High School just a day or so after leading the Mustangs to the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Class 2A, Division II state championship game, played on Thursday, June 5 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
“Overton has always had a winning culture,” Robey told ETBlitz.com Tuesday night. “And going to the state championship is a great experience for the culture and leaves the guys hungry to get back to the state championship.
“I also really enjoy small-town East Texas. And it has always been a dream of mine to be the head coach of a high-caliber team. I saw (Rylan) Holleman and some of the other guys at workouts the other day and they bust their tails. It shows they are hungry for more in all sports.”
Laymance made the announcement Tuesday, and it was posted on Facebook on Overton Mustang Athletics.
Laymance found a gem in a mine full of talented Kilgore coaches.
“I like that he’s coached multiple sports and understands at a smaller school the importance of kids participating in multiple sports / activities and the ability to share kids,” Laymance said, noting Robey’s experience in coaching at New Summerfield prior to his arrival at KHS.
Robey comes to Overton having coached most recently at Kilgore High School for the last five seasons in baseball, football and basketball, with coaches Eugene Lafitte, a 400-plus-game winner, as well as Zach Hubbard and Joey Pippen, and previously had coached at New Summerfield (as mentioned) with former Kilgore coach Jake Atchley. Kilgore reached the playoffs with Robey as an assistant both the season before last, having lost in round one against Bullard, and this past season, losing in round one to Lindale.
Overton’s baseball Mustangs went 31-9 this past season, running through the 2A-DII playoffs, all the way to Dell Diamond and the state championship game, a tough loss to Collinsville.
In addition to leading the baseball Mustangs, Robey will have a role as a football assistant in a few months. The Overton football program won 10 games again this past season and upset 2A power Mart in round two before losing to Grapeland. Laymance said he’ll find Robey’s football role.
“He has a passion for baseball and helping kids be overachievers,” Laymance said.
Robey is ready to go. And returned the respect to Laymance.
“Coach Laymance seems like a very good, down-to-earth man. I’m excited to get to know him, and the staff, better.”
