Ray Neill gets back in game at Margaretta

CASTALIA — Ray Neill is returning to the dugout, agreeing to take over the baseball program at Margaretta High School, his alma mater.The Margaretta school board approved the hiring of the legendary coach at its meeting Monday night while accepting the resignation of Polar Bears coach Gregg Hedden."I don't think I would do this anywhere else," said Neill, who built a powerhouse at Perkins from 1996 to 2016. "It's an opportunity to go home, back to my alma mater, and get in the dugout. I have a great amount of pride and good feelings for Margaretta. I've missed being in the dugout."Hedden, who coached the Bears for six seasons, actually approached Neill to gauge his interest in the job. After the school posted the position internally with no takers earlier this month, athletic director Drew Grahl moved quickly to hire the man with whom he has a long athletic history."It's just a tremendous opportunity to bring in a Hall of Fame coach and a graduate of our district," said Grahl, who years ago was a player on the eighth-grade boys basketball team Neill coached at Margaretta. "He has a lot of respect and admiration for the things that are near and dear to this school district."Hedden, who will retain his position as executive secretary of the Sandusky Bay Conference, coached the Polar Bears for six seasons."It was time for me to step down and I think Ray coming in is what's best for Margaretta baseball," said Hedden, who has had a busy month accompanying his son Brycetyn on the summer football camp circuit. "You're trading up. This is a good deal."Neill, 66, announced his retirement from baseball three years ago. He compiled a 434-144 record in 21 seasons guiding the Pirates, including 15 SBC titles, eight district titles and two trips to the state semifinals.His familiarity with Margaretta's sports programs and the pull of his alma mater eventually led him back to baseball."We know each other pretty well, and I'm hoping that's another reason he wanted to come back and do this," Grahl said.Neill also has been an assistant girls basketball coach at Margaretta under Eric Kochendoerfer the past two seasons after a successful stint leading the Perkins girls program (2004-2016). Neill took over that Perkins team from Grahl after Grahl took the athletic director job at Woodmore. Neill plans on staying on the Margaretta girls basketball bench."I'm coaching grandkids of people I went to school with, and that's part of it," Neill said of his decision. As a player, Neill helped Margaretta's baseball team advance to the state semifinals in 1971, his senior season. He signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1973 and played in the club's minor league system. He was released a year later and began a coaching career that is still going strong.Before he could accept the Margaretta job, Neill had to get the blessing of his wife, Debbie."There are certain things I had to agree not to bring home," he said.He said the phone call that clinched his decision came from Jim Yeckley, his old high school coach who started the Margaretta program in the 1960s. When Yeckley called earlier this month, Neill answered but didn't hear anything. Figuring it was a robo-call, he hung up. Yeckley called back and the two connected."He said, 'Hey, I've heard a rumor,' " Neill recalled. "His happiness that one of his ex-players was coming back to coach the program he started just confirmed that this is a good thing. Let's go do it."Neill plans on meeting soon with his new players and their parents, as well as other baseball stakeholders in the community. "There is a rich baseball tradition at Margaretta and I'm overly excited about going back," Neill said. "I'm one happy old coach." Ray Neill compiled a 434-144 record in 21 seasons as Perkins' head baseball coach. He announced his retirement three years ago, but the legendary coach has decided to return to the sport at Margaretta, his alma mater.