By Zack Peterson
Laker/Lutz News correspondent
After the team’s second meet of the season against Gaither, Steinbrenner girls track coach Ladd Baldwin sits on the trunk of his car gazing out at the spectacular twilight. Even with all the mosquitoes swirling around, Baldwin sits totally complacent, as if he does not have a worry in the world.
Things have not always been this way though. After coaching girls track at Gaither for 12 years, in 2009 Baldwin struggled with the decision to maintain his position with the Cowboys or move to Steinbrenner where he had the opportunity to build a winning program from scratch.
Ultimately, Baldwin chose Steinbrenner, where he made the trip over with fellow colleague and coaching legend Bob Ennis.
Since, Baldwin has competed against Gaither twice; last year where his squad soundly defeated the Cowboys, and this year on Feb. 23, when the Warriors again won with a score of 91-41. However, each trip always brings back a string of memories for Steinbrenner’s pragmatic coach.
“It’s kind of weird sitting here looking at all of this,” Baldwin said. “I was here for 12 years, it was home. I loved the facility that I was able to help with.”
During his time at Gaither, Baldwin not only coached his girls to a regional championship in 2005, but he brought the school something that the legions of track teams across the county had never seen — a rubber track.
“One thing that led to a lot of things was when we won a regional championship in 2005,” Baldwin said. “Then, next thing you know, we’re trying for a rubber track. Everyone supported us, the right things fell in place, and we got the first rubber track in the county in 2006.”
Following the installment of the rubber track, the county championship was also brought back to Gaither in 2007 after a six-year hiatus. Although Jefferson now hosts the Hillsborough event, the fact that it came back in the first place was Baldwin’s pride and joy.
“To be able to bring the county championship from the dead was a great thing,” Baldwin said. “It was a truly positive thing for this program.”
So when Baldwin made the switch when Steinbrenner opened in 2009, people were devastated after all his time at Gaither. According to Baldwin, the switch involved multiple factors.
“Things really got rolling with coach Ennis, who worked at hurtles with me during that time,” Baldwin said. “He was the extra kick of ‘you know what, let’s try something new.’
“Sometimes you feel you get stagnant at an old school,” Baldwin continued. “You just take that leap of faith and see what happens. Of course you’ve got your great memories and good times, and then you’ve got the unknown. There’s always the possibility of going out there and building a solid program.”
For Baldwin, there were also advantages at Steinbrenner that struck close to home. With Steinbrenner being closer to his home, Baldwin’s son would be attending the school once he reached high school.
“I thought, if I go to Steinbrenner, my son can go there next year too,” Baldwin said. “He could ride with me to school in the mornings; walk over to the track after school. I thought it’d be pretty cool if he could do that.”
Ultimately, the transition went smoothly. According to Baldwin, “there are no harsh feelings” with anyone at Gaither. To the Cowboys, he’s still the great Ladd Baldwin, welcome to the facilities at any time or any hour.
“When I come out here, people always tease me and say, ‘coach, you’re back, you have to win.’ But when I look up, I see Jeff Ditman, who was my assistant a few years back. It was a nice, calm feeling,” Baldwin said.
“I get out here and I flashback because I have so many touching stories,” Baldwin continued. “But the move was the right decision. It’s a new challenge and I think I’m still young enough to try something new.”
