By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP
Advance Managing Editor
Northview High School has selected one of their own to take over as the Chiefs head baseball coach.
Chad Lashley, a member of the first NHS graduating class in 1996, will be filling a position left vacant by Coy Campbell who accepted a position at another school.
Lashley was a member of the Jefferson Davis Community College national championship baseball team in 1998 and graduate of the school in 1999. He obtained his bachelor's degree at the University of West Florida.
Lashley has been serving as a football assistant coach at NHS for two years and worked as a baseball assistant for one year. He also helped at the school while he was still enrolled in college.
Lashley said his ties to the surrounding communities made the decision to accept the job easy.
In addition to his duties as head baseball coach, Lashley will also be teaching geography and American History. He will also be on the sidelines this fall as an assistant football coach.
NHS Principal Gayle Weaver said Lashley will be a great example for the entire student body.
While in school, Lashley was named to the All-District baseball and football teams four times. He was also selected to the All-Northwest Florida team for baseball and football for three years.
Serving Lashley as assistants will be Tom Buck, who has worked as a head coach, and Bobby Simpson, who is a former baseball coach at Century High School.
The Chiefs graduated five members from their 2001 squad but many of those coming back do have experience.
Lashley said he was excited to be taking over the baseball team and that there is potential for a strong, quality baseball program at Northview.