Former Ohio State player, coach Mike Stafford to lead Big Walnut baseball program
As a former player and coach at the collegiate and professional levels, Mike Stafford brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new role as Big Walnut baseball coach.
Stafford, 49, is scheduled to meet with his new team Sept. 5. Eventually, he plans to share stories about playing for Ohio State and in the minor leagues and his time as a coach with the Buckeyes and Columbus Clippers.
“I’m excited to get going,” Stafford said. “I want to give back to the community. We always said at Ohio State to pay forward. I have a lot of baseball knowledge and I’m pretty humble, but my background and what I can share with kids to reach their goals is untapped and I want to use that and make a difference in kids’ lives.
“I want to either get them to the next level or becoming a man and understand what the real world is going to be about through the game of baseball.”
A 1993 graduate of Plymouth Canton in Michigan, Stafford was recruited by Ohio State as a first baseman but pitched in his final three seasons with the Buckeyes. He was an All-Big Ten selection in 1998 and was picked by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 41st round of that year's MLB draft.
Stafford split time with the Blue Jays, New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers organizations over five seasons, reaching the Double-A level.
He later served as an assistant coach with the Clippers, Ball State and Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes win the Big Ten title in 2018 and earn an NCAA tournament berth. He stepped down following the postseason run after nine seasons.
While coaching at Ohio State, Stafford and his wife, Chelsea, moved to Sunbury. Upon urging from his wife, Stafford decided to accept the coaching offer from Big Walnut athletic director Brian Shelton.
“I never really thought about coaching the high school level,” Stafford said. “I sat down with my wife and thought this program has been down lately. It’s not about the money, it’s about the challenge of creating a different culture and turning this program around. We want to create a culture that when Big Walnut gets off the bus, it’s going to be a dogfight — win, lose or draw.
“We’re going to be respected and we’re going to do things the right way. We’re going to compete and hopefully win some games along the way.”
Stafford, who owns a sports card business and offers private baseball instruction, was approved by the school board last Thursday. He succeeds Jack Schone, who guided the Golden Eagles for six years.
Schone led the Eagles to a Division II district title in 2017 and OCC-Capital championship in 2018. Big Walnut finished 9-18 last spring.
“You don’t always get people with credentials like that to coach high school sports, so we’re very fortunate,” Shelton said. “Jack was great. We were fortunate to have Jack when he was here, but one thing that Mike brings to us is the pitching background. In high school baseball, if you can find pitching, you’re going to be pretty successful.”
Stafford’s father, Bill, pitched in MLB for eight seasons with the Yankees and Kansas City Athletics before retiring in 1967. He helped New York win the World Series in 1961 and 1962, going 14-9 each season. He died in 2001.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Former Ohio State player Mike Stafford to lead Big Walnut baseball
