Spring is still almost half a year away, but as of Sept. 7 a double opening in two of the most popular spring sports at Healdsburg High remained active. Both varsity boys baseball coach and varsity girls softball coach are listed.
It is unusual, unexpected and totally logical. Both men have over 20 years of experience in the coaching role, most of it in Healdsburg, more often than not in successful if not record-breaking, years. Both men are in their 50s and both have offspring playing in college towns this coming season. Games their dads don’t want to miss.
Mark Domenichelli, 53, has been a baseball coach for almost the entire century—starting in 2000, though he took a break from for awhile. His teams made it to the playoffs 16 out of 18 years, and he was named division Coach of the Year four times as well as receiving other honors.
Softball coach Brian Osborn is in a similar position, coming off a successful run with the softball program. He is also athletic director at HHS, a role he will continue to fill, but he’s stepping down as coach after a career that almost matches that of his baseball counterpart.
Both men will do so to watch their children, Izzy Osborn and Mike Domenichelli, go on to competitive ball in college.
“It’s just one of those things where I just really, really want to see him play,” Domenichelli said. “I mean, he’s been hurt the last couple years. He’s finally healthy. So I figured you only come around once, and I don’t want to miss any of his games.”
The two coaches aren’t in cahoots, but both have followed a similar path and reached a similar fork in the road.
“Your priorities, you know, as you get older, they switch a little bit,” said Osborn, 52. “I put in my time. I’ve worked with hundreds of kids. Not that I feel like I’ve exhausted all my knowledge on the game, or my ability to work with kids. You know, it’s just time.”
The HUSD website listed both positions, but the application deadline was the end of Labor Day weekend. Pay is a stipend of about $5,200 for the season, which sounds like a lot. But as these two men know, it’s a big commitment, the commitment of a lifetime. “It works out to about 75 cents an hour,” Osborn said.
“It’s all about accountability,” Domenichelli said. “Out of all the things I think when it comes to coaching and teaching, I just always wanted my players to be held accountable. Accountability is everything. I think if you don’t have that, you have nothing.”
