Roundup of local HS coaching changes

With the start of the 201718 high school sports year less than two months away, it’s time to catch up on some of the coaching shakeups that have occurred in recent months and will take effect this upcoming school year.

Below is a roundup of some of the more notable changes from around the area, including 2016-17 coaches who have stepped down from their positions and hires that have been made.

Osowski retires as Gila Ridge baseball coach

The Hawks will soon have their second baseball coach in school history.

Greg Osowski, who was hired in 2007 when Gila Ridge opened, retired following the 2017 season to end a 24-year coaching career.

The only coach in the school’s existence, Osowski headed the program from its inception after spending 10 years as an assistant coach under Duane Evans at Cibola.

“The older I got, it just seemed like it was time,” Osowski said in a phone interview.

The long-time coach has 27 years as an employee of the Yuma Union High School District and will remain in his educational position as house leader in the Career Technical Education Department at the school. He said he does expect to fully retire in the near future.

“I never thought it would be the coaching that I gave up first,” Osowski said. “I’m going to really miss it, I really am. It’s something I’ve done forever.”

After Gila Ridge’s surprise run to the Division III State Tournament quarterfinals in 2016, Osowski talked with his wife and decided the next year would be his last.