Ardrey Kell High hires a new baseball coach — from a rival school — to replace a legend
Ardrey Kell’s new baseball coach is coming from the Knights’ biggest rival.
Knights athletic director Brian Knab told The Observer the school has hired Providence High assistant coach Sean Thomas. Thomas will replace Hal Bagwell, who retired from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in December. Bagwell is now working as head coach at Indian Land High in South Carolina.
One of Bagwell’s longtime assistants, Justin Rummage, is coaching the Knights (11-3) this season.
“After a very competitive search process, we know that Coach Thomas is the right person to carry on the great tradition that has been established here, and I look forward to supporting him and his vision for a long time,” Knab said. “I want thank Coach Bagwell for all he has done and meant to our community for 14-plus years, and also commend interim head coach Justin Rummage, and our assistant coaches, for doing such an outstanding job this season keeping the program going in the right direction and providing a great experience for our players.”
Knab said more than 40 people applied for the job and six were interviewed to replace Bagwell, one of the best baseball coaches in Mecklenburg County history.
Bagwell coached five teams to N.C. 4A state championship appearances: two at South Mecklenburg (1999, 2005) and three at Ardrey Kell (2018, 2008, 2009). His Ardrey Kell team won the 2009 state championship.
Thomas, 28, was born in Charlotte and spent most of his childhood in New Jersey. He played baseball at Montclair State and moved back to Charlotte after he graduated in 2016. He will marry Kristen Creech on June 19. Creech teaches social studies at Providence.
For the past five years, Thomas has coached at Providence and for the past four he has taught civics and economics at the school. He’ll start on his new job shortly after the Panthers’ season ends. Knaub said he will work in Ardrey Kell’s physical education department.
“At this moment,” Thomas said, “I am dedicated and happy to be finishing out the year strong with (Providence head) coach (Danny) Hignight, our players and the coaching staff. Looking forward, I am extremely excited to begin working at Ardrey Kell. It is a dream to work and lead a program at a school of this caliber. Ardrey Kell has a storied history of academic and athletic excellence that I cannot wait to be a part of.”
Thomas said he plans to try to continue the tradition Bagwell built at his new school.
“To be named the head coach after Hal Bagwell is such an honor,” Thomas said. “He helped sculpt the landscape of high school baseball in the state of North Carolina. Coach Bagwell has a legacy that any coach would dream to match. My plan for the future is to honor and continue traditions at Ardrey Kell that he instilled. We will work hard and uphold a high level of expectations in the classroom, weight room, on the field and off of the field.”
And Thomas said he’s looking forward to competing against his old head coach and his old team when the Knights play Providence.
“To have the opportunity to coach against Coach Hignight in the future is mind-blowing,” Thomas said. “He took a chance hiring me, and has meant the world to me in developing me into a better person, educator and coach. He has helped me get to this stage of my career, and I will forever be grateful for his guidance and friendship.
“Part of the mentoring he provided me is that Ardrey Kell and Providence baseball is the rivalry in Charlotte and the state. I envision both stadiums packed, and two highly competitive teams battling to win. Being able to lead a club into battle against Coach Hignight is something I will not be able to wrap my mind around until it happens, and I am excited for that opportunity.”
This story was originally published June 9, 2021 at 7:09 PM.
