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05/31/2018 12:00 AMNick Hahn has had a lengthy and successful tenure as an assistant coach in high-school baseball. This spring, Nick got his first opportunity to take the reins as head coach of a local squad, and he’s running with it behind a dugout full of self-motivated and positive ballplayers.
Nick, a Chester resident, grew up in Guilford and played for his hometown high-school’s state champion baseball team as a senior in 2007. After shoulder surgery cut short his playing career at the University of Southern Maine in his senior season, Nick joined Guilford’s coaching staff as an assistant seven years ago. Now, Nick is in his first year as the skipper at Old Saybrook and has guided the Rams to a regular-season record of 15-5.
“I spent seven years coaching at Guilford, and I had a wonderful experience there. [Guilford Head Coach] Brian Hayden knew I was looking for a head-coaching job, and he was so supportive of me,” says Nick, who teaches in the life skills department at Valley Regional High School in Deep River. “I applied for the job [at Old Saybrook], and I fell in love with the administration and program. [Athletic Director] Mike Cunningham was extremely supportive of me, and it all just clicked.”
Nick takes a mind-over-matter approach when it comes to preparing his players to take the field. Nick is a big believer that having a sharp mind on the diamond is what yields success on both the team and individual levels.
“The biggest thing we preach is mental mindset, whether it’s in-game scenarios or individual mental preparation,” Nick says. “We try to make each practice as competitive as possible. It leads to players being better prepared for those in-game scenarios.”
Of course, Nick likes to see his players get a timely hit to drive in a run or a crucial strikeout to escape a jam. However, even more than that, Nick loves seeing a group of athletes cement their legacy on a program—and that’s exactly what’s happening in his first season at Old Saybrook.
“This year, more than any other, it’s been awesome to watch a great group of seniors leave the program in a better place than they found it,” he says. “It’s a testament to the hard work the players and coaches put in. Being my first year of coaching, this senior class will have a special place in my heart.”
Nick knows all about what it takes to build a successful program that’s always in the postseason conversation. Nick gained a wealth of coaching experience in Guilford and learned a lot throughout the process, while helping his players maximize their potential.
“Guilford was my home for 25 years, and I cut my teeth in coaching there. I coached over 30 teams in town at various levels, and I will never take my time there for granted,” Nick says. “We went to states six of the seven years I was there. It was a great seeing countless players there go on to play in college. I tried to soak up as much coaching info as I could while I was there. Brian and [Guilford Athletic Director] Jake Jarvis were also so supportive of me moving on to here.”
Old Saybrook Athletic Director Cunningham says that has Nick impressed the Rams’ baseball community right out of the box. Cunningham says he’s pleased to see Nick practicing what he preached throughout the interview process.
“Nick wowed the hiring committee with his program aspirations and genuine passion for his student-athletes. In his short few months on campus, he has already been working within the community to develop an extensive program with goals to put Old Saybrook baseball back on the map of excellence,” Cunningham says. “Nick has taken his student-athletes to the next level with accountability, team and individual goals, and working with youth programs. Our student-athletes bought into the program, and it has been a pleasure to watch them grow as young men right before our eyes because of him. Old Saybrook has been extremely lucky with Coach Hahn, and we look forward to a successful tenure.”
On the heels of an excellent regular season, Nick and the Rams dove into the playoff fray by competing in the Shoreline Conference Tournament last week. Old Saybrook also has states on the way, and Nick believes that Rams have what it takes to make a grab for the gold.
“Our goal is to make a run in the postseason, and I don’t shy away from those goals with the players. I want to instill that type of positivity and confidence in the players,” Nick says. “We have great young men that lead themselves, so it makes the job of coaching easier. I expect big things from this group.”