Shane Harrison, who has been Virginia Peninsula Community College’s interim baseball coach since October, was named the team’s head coach April 20.
“He stepped in in a time where we were really, really in need. He’s done a remarkable job,” said Chris Moore, the College’s athletics director and men’s basketball coach. “He asks a lot of questions. He wants to get better. He wants to grow every day in his role as a head coach.”
Harrison was an assistant on last year’s team, which put together the first 20-win season in school history, going 20-27. His responsibilities included coaching the outfielders and hitters. He also did a lot of recruiting.
Not knowing if he would be around next year was tough, especially when he was working out players in specific positions looking ahead to the 2024 season. He always took the approach he would be the coach, and told his players they should approach the situation the same way.
“And that’s what we did,” he said.
That attitude impressed Moore.
“Dedication is huge, especially in (junior college),” Moore said. “Shane’s a wonderful guy. I think he’s going to do a wonderful job, and he cares.”
Harrison said the players showed dedication, also.
“I just want to thank you all for sticking it out, not turning tail and running going, ‘We don’t have a head coach. He’s not official. He’s an interim,’” Harrison told his players after Moore gave them the news in a meeting at Gators Cafe.
Harrison, 50, was born and raised in Poquoson, graduating from Poquoson High School. He’s the manager of a local glass business and is vice president of the Peninsula Co Pilots, an AAU baseball and softball organization for boys and girls ages 9-18.
He played high school and American Legion baseball, and got into coaching because his father was a coach. His first coaching job came in youth baseball at the age of 19. He spent a number of years as a middle school football coach before concentrating on baseball.
For more information on VPCC athletics, go to https://www.vpcc.edu/life/Athletics/index.html.