Derrick Webb, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
PHOTO CREDIT: Ohio University Athletics
KINNIKINNICK — 10 years after turning in one of the best careers that Zane Trace’s softball program has ever seen, Morgan York [Geno] is headed back home.
York, who graduated as a Pioneer in 2015, was approved by the district’s Board of Education as the program’s next head coach on Wednesday. She replaces her own high school coach in Don Kunz, who had been with the Pioneers since 2015.
“Being home, taking over the program that raised me … it means the world to me,” York said. “It’s something I am not taking lightly because now I’m in control of hundreds of other girls’ softball journeys for, hopefully, years to come. That includes my own daughters. Softball shaped me into who I am today, beyond my playing years.”
As a player, Geno was phenomenal.
She was the SVC’s Player of the Year in 2012 and 2014, and earned a first-team All-Ohio honor. In 2014, she was 14-5 in the circle with 219 strikeouts and a 0.88 ERA. She also hit .492 with five home runs and 21 RBIs.
She then took the next step of her career in Athens at Ohio University. There, she hit a career .302 alongside 37 homers, 129 RBIs and a .597 slugging percentage.
Those numbers helped the Bobcats win a MAC tournament championship in 2016.
“I feel like I bring an understanding of what athletes are going through,” York said. “My softball journey has been far from perfect … injury, role change, position change, mental health, etc. So I do have more understanding of what athletes are experiencing on and off the field. The support staff I plan to bring in also helps with this. We will all have a role and have our areas of strengths that mesh well together.”
York’s softball journey thus far has included many twists and turns. And, almost always, it’s been as a player.
But this past season, she decided, somewhat reluctantly, to start her coaching career. That decision made a flame flourish into a full-blown fire.
“I finally stopped making excuses for not coaching,” York said. “Before, I had a million excuses. I had a toddler at home, I was too busy, etc. I helped out with a younger team this past season and fell in love with the game all over again. I had a sit down conversation with coach Kunz, and he was beyond supportive about this change for the future of the program.”
Next spring, Zane Trace is expected to bring back the majority of its roster after filling out a youth-filled lineup card this past spring — the Pioneers finished 9-12 overall and 7-7 in the Scioto Valley Conference.
So with an entire year of experience in the fold, those are marks that York will certainly be looking to improve upon.
“I love competing and I love winning,” she said. “However, my goal is to build a culture and program that prepares young female athletes for the real world. I’m a firm believer in the lessons and values that sports teaches athletes. They prepare students for the future. Discipline, integrity, respect and trust. On the field, off the field, and for the future. I’m so appreciative of everything coach Kunz has done. He is definitely leaving the program better than he found it. And, I’d like to give a big thank you to Ty Wertman and Trevor Thomas.. They have been beyond supportive, and are easily the best administration I have ever worked for.”
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