Baseball: Cedar Grove fills varsity coaching staff – NorthJersey.com

The Cedar Grove varsity baseball coaching staff is set after two new assistant coaches were approved during a Nov. 17 Board of Education meeting. Head coach Randy Nelson, who replaced former head coach Mike Valenzano after he was relieved of coaching duties, named Thomas “TJ” Jones and Michael Risimini as his assistant coaches for the 2016 spring season.

“I was really happy both of those guys were willing to come on and coach,” Nelson said. “I’m very happy to have them.”

Jones will be Nelson’s assistant at the varsity level, while Risimini will coach the junior varsity team in addition to serving as a varsity assistant. While Nelson said he didn’t have any prior coaching experience with Risimini, he worked with Jones over the summer during the American Legion season.

“We got along well during the summer season and it was good that he decided to come over and coach with me,” Nelson said. “I think that was kind of a no-brainer.”

Jones, who is health and physical education teacher at Cedar Grove High School, said he’s not sure if coaching with Nelson over the summer impacted the head coach’s decision to bring him on board.

“I think me being in the district and knowing the kids pretty well and being a baseball guy with a lot of baseball background played more of a role,” he said.

Jones is also thrilled to continue his working relationship with Nelson.

“I’m excited to get going. I think Randy is a great guy and a good coach and I’m excited to work with him,” Jones said. “He has a strong coaching background and he’s a very good coach. To have a guy like that to work with is going to be nice. I’m going to learn a lot from him and I think we work very well together.”

Nelson said he has met Risimini, who does not teach in the district, a couple times and has come away impressed with his baseball knowledge and desire to help the program.

“Mike was somebody who has worked with us in the past as a volunteer and has been part of the baseball program,” the head coach said. “It was easy for me to want him on board.”

Risimini said he is thrilled to join the coaching staff as it has long been a dream of his.

“It’s exciting. I’ve always wanted to coach at the high school level,” Risimini said. “I coached the little kids as a volunteer when I was younger probably when I was in eighth grade… It’s one of my favorite sports and I grew up playing. I know I can contribute as a coach and it’s always been one of my goals to do that.”

Both additions have prior coaching experience with Cedar Grove sports, though not necessarily with baseball.

Jones is an assistant basketball coach and Risimini is an assistant wrestling coach. Both have been assistant coaches for two years and also have personal playing experience with baseball, which impacted Nelson’s decision to bring them aboard.

Jones played baseball for Verona High School and graduated in 2007, while Risimini played for Cedar Grove and graduated in 2009, according to Nelson. Both Jones and Risimini believe their playing experience will come in handy as they step into their full-time coaching roles.

Jones said he thinks his skills as a batter will help him improve the team’s offense this season.

“I’m a big hitting guy,” Jones said. “I’ve done a lot of hitting instruction over the last couple of years at a lot of camps. I like coaching the swing and I’m hoping to turn some of the players into higher average hitters.”

Jones also believes that his experience as an infielder could help further develop the players’ defensive skills.

“I think I’m pretty good with infield work and a lot of technique,” Jones said. “I think that will be beneficial to our infield guys, especially at the corners.”

While Jones’ defense specialty lies in the infield, Risimini said his area of expertise is in the outfield.

“I know the game pretty well,” Risimini said. “I know outfield drills and a bunch of other drills that I hope I can contribute to the staff that we can use. I think I’m young and energetic and I have a passion for sports. I think I can bring a lot to the staff.”