James Madison Warhawks 2008 Team

Head Coach: Mark Gjormand

Head Coach Mark “Pudge” Gjormand is entering his 13th season at the helm of the James Madison High School baseball program, and his 22st season overall coaching high school baseball ... Under Gjormand, the Warhawks went 21-3 and won their fifth Liberty District tournament championship in six years in 2007.

Madison also made appearances in several national Top 25 polls. In 2006 earned Group AAA state coach of the year honors, the second time he has accomplished that feat. Gjormand enters the 2008 campaign having led the Warhawks to a 2007-75 (.734) record in his 12 seasons. During Gjormand’s tenure, the Warhawks have won six district tournament championships, two region titles and the 2002 state crown. Since he came to Madison in 2006, Gjormand has led teams to either a district regular or tournament championship in eight of his 12 seasons. Since 2001 Gjormand-coached teams have produced ten All-MET selections by The Washington Post, including: players of the year Jason Farley in 2007, J.J. Hollenbeck in 2002 and Matt Foley in 2003.

In 2002, the Warhawks went 29-0 and finished ranked third nationally by ESPN and Student Sports Magazine and fourth by USAToday. That team also finished as the top-ranked team in the metro area by The Washington Post. Following the 2002 season, Gjormand was named the Washington, D.C. Home Plate Club’s high school coach of the year, the National Baseball Coaches Association (BCA) East Coast coach of the year, and a finalist for the BCA’s national coach of the year award. In 2003, Madison finished ranked 48th nationally by Student Sports Magazine. Prior to becoming Madison’s head coach, Gjormand served as an assistant at Langley in 1987 and as the top varsity assistant under longtime George C. Marshall High School head coach Dean Sissler from 1988-95. Gjormand has grown up in the coaching profession, learning from the likes of Mike Skinner, Neil Callahan, Pete Bendorf, Chuck Welsh and Scott Rowland. During the offseason, Gjormand concentrates his efforts on co-directing the MVP Baseball School in Fairfax along with Rowland, and directing the MVP Summer Camps.

Gjormand resides in Herndon with his wife, Beth, a 1987 Madison graduate. The Gjormands have three children, Samantha, 7, Josh, 6, and Trevor, 2. Beth and the three children are staples at each of the Warhawks’ games. “I am married to the best Mom in the world,” Gjormand said. “I thank the Lord every day. I am truly blessed.” The Gjormands enjoy their weekends and summer vacations away at their beach home at Dewey Beach, Delaware.

Gjormand on the 2008 season: “2007 was an outstanding year for the entire Warhawk program. I was extremely proud of our JV team winning another District title and the Varsity team finishing a great season with a final record of 21-3 and winning the Liberty District title for the 5th time in 6 seasons. 2008 looks to be another great year for both the JV and Varsity. At the JV level we are excited to add a freshman class with lots of potential. It will take some time for them to gel with some very promising sophomores, but expectations are high once again. We are excited to have added Coaches Andrew Baird, Jay Canova and Scott Byers to Coach Robeson’s staff as our 13 year veteran coach Cesca. We could not have a finer staff to develop this group of young student athletes. At the Varsity level, we jump right into the fire by opening up at spring break in a very good tournament in Orlando, Florida. This is the same tournament that we reached the final game a year ago. After losing 9 very talented seniors, it may take a little time for this group to get comfortable. Once they do, they will be dangerous. This year we will carry 15 seniors and leadership should be our strength. We believe we are deep on the mound and will have the ability to create some havoc on the base paths. Our goals do not change. I relieve believe this team will be playing its best baseball come tournament time. We look forward to making our run at some hardware come May. I look forward to seeing you at the yard!! – Coach Gjormand

^

Assistant Head Coach: Bobby Robenson

Bobby Robeson is entering his 11th season as a coach with the Warhawks’ varsity team. He has helped to develop a number of all-district and all-region players in his decade serving under head varsity coach Mark “Pudge” Gjormand. Robeson has been a fixture on Madison’s staff as the team’s outfielder and first-base coach. Son, Robbie, is in his first season as the Warhawks’ head junior varsity coach, his fourth season as a coach at Madison and was an all-district shortstop at the school prior to moving on and playing at Salisbury University in Maryland. He holds a bachelor’s degree from East Tennessee State University, and a master’s degree from the University of Virginia. Robeson was the head of the physical education department at Thoreau Middle School in Vienna before retiring in 2004 and was the first coach of the Vienna Mustangs travel team. The Warhawks have compiled a 183-63 (.743) overall record and won six Liberty District championships since he joined the staff in 1998. Currently resides in Vienna with his wife, Julie, the former director of guidance at Madison.

^

Assistant Coach: Gerard Skinner

Gerard Skinner is entering his seventh season as a coach with the Warhawks’ varsity team. He serves as the team’s infielder coach and has helped develop numerous college ballplayers during his tenure with Madison. Father, Mike, was the former head varsity football coach at George C. Marshall High and Centreville High and joined the Warhawks’ staff as an outfielder coach this spring. His brother, Andy, is an assistant varsity football coach at Stone Bridge High in Ashburn. The Warhawks have compiled a 105-21 (.833) record since joining the coaching staff for the 2002 season, when Madison went 29-0 and won the Group AAA state title. Skinner helped the Warhawks to Liberty District titles in four of his first five seasons. He played baseball at Park View High in Sterling and received his bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech. He resides in Ashburn with his wife, Lee Ann, and their 2-year-old son, Garrett and six month old son.

^

Assistant Coach: Jimmy Goldsmith

Jimmy Goldsmith is entering his seventh season as a coach with the Warhawks, his third as a varsity assistant. He works with the team’s infielders. Goldsmith also served as Madison’s junior varsity head coach from 1997-2000. He was the head varsity coach at Falls Church High from 2001-05, compiling a 36-70 (.340) record during his tenure with the Jaguars. His Falls Church team played Madison in the Northern Region Tournament during the Warhawks’ undefeated 2002 campaign. A 1986 Madison alum, Goldsmith grew up in Vienna and played in the Vienna Little League, the Vienna Babe Ruth Baseball League and for the Vienna American Legion Post 180 team. He also coaches his sons’ Vienna Little League team, and helps run youth football camps during the offseason. Goldsmith received his bachelor’s degree from Radford University. He resides in Vienna with his wife, Monica, and their four children: daughters Hallie (age 11) and Kayla (5) and sons Jimmy (9) and Joey (8).

^

Assistant Coach: Justin Counts

Justin Counts is entering his ninth season as a coach with the Warhawks’ varsity team. He serves as the team’s pitching and third base coach. This past year, Counts was named the Baseball Coaches Association (BCA) East Region assistant coach of the year. He has helped develop dozens of college ballplayers during his time at Madison. A native of Vienna, Counts was a three-sport standout at George C. Marshall High, where he was a four-year starter on the baseball team, an all-state and All-Met pick by The Washington Post as a senior in 1992. He later played at the University of Virginia, where he was a two-year captain, earned All-ACC honors as a junior and led the Cavaliers to the ACC championship as a senior. He played in the New York Yankees’ system prior to joining Madison’s coaching staff. The Warhawks have compiled a 135-36 (.789) record since he joined the staff in 2000. Counts resides in Arlington with his wife, Jean, the head varsity girls lacrosse coach at Oakton, and his five children: Wiley (age 8), Casey (6), Cameron (3), Paige (2) and Aubrey (1).

^

Assistant Coach: Bruce Hall

Bruce Hall attended and graduated from Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. Eight time varsity letter winner in high school in soccer, wrestling and baseball. Played for Al McCullock, Sr. Went to East Carolina University to play baseball, ended up wrestling for four years and winning three Southern Conference Championships at 158 pounds. Chairman of Reston Youth Baseball for the last 10 years. Currently Vice Chairman of Fairfax County Baseball Council. Has coached baseball at the Little League, Babe Ruth, Legion and High School level since college. Currently the head wrestling coach at South Lakes High School. Lives in Reston with wife Carol and children Erin, Emily and Davis.

^

Assistant Coach: JJ Hollenbeck

JJ Hollenbeck is entering his second season as a coach with the Warhawks’ varsity team. He works alongside Justin Counts with the team’s pitchers and will be with the team until May, when he reports for his second season with the Washington (Pa.) WildThings, a Frontier League team, where he is a teammate of former Warhawks player Kyle Werman. Hollenbeck was a three-time first-team all-Liberty District and two-time first-team all-Northern Region selection as a pitcher at Madison, and was a key member of the 2002 team that won the Group AAA state championship, earning district, region, state and Washington Post’s All-Met player of the year honors that spring. He is tied with Jay Franklin for the most career victories in school history with 28. Hollenbeck was a four-year starter on the mound at the Virginia Military Institute, where he finished as the only pitcher in school history to finish among the top five in earned run average, strikeouts and innings pitched. In 2006 he helped the Keydets to their first winning season in 41 years. Hollenbeck is single and resides in Vienna.

^

Assistant Coach: Matt Foley

Matt Foley is entering his first season as a varsity coach. He was a 4 year varsity starter at Madison high school (’00 – ’03) and was All-MET Player of the Year and 1st Team All State in 2003. Foley was the starting catcher at Virginia Tech from 2004 – 2007 and will be working with the hitters and catchers this year. He currently works in commercial real estate and resides in Landsdowne, VA.

^

Assistant Coach: Matt Street

Matt Street is entering his first year coaching the varsity. He was a four year starter in the outfield at the University of Virginia from 2002 – 2005 and an assistant baseball coach at VMI in 2006, in charge of the outfield and a 1st base coach. Street will work with the outfielders and on base running. He currently works in Tysons Corner and resides in Harndon, VA.

^

Assistant Coach: Tom Bailey

Tom Baily is entering his first year as a varsity coach. He began coaching in the Greater Manassas Baseball League in the early 90’s and has coached fast-pitch softball for the Greater Manassas Softball Association. Baily also coached for the Manassas Blaze Fastpitch Organization, 10u through 18u. Baily coached three years at Brentsville District High School, which advanced to the regional tournament two of the three years. In addition to his work with the Madison varsity team, Baily is managing his daughter’s 10u Manassas Blaze team. Coach Baily is married (Kelly) and has four children; a son TJ 22 years and three daughters, Brittany 19, Victoria 14 and Makenzie 10. He has been a Fairfax County Police Officer for 13 years and has been the Madison HS School Resource Officer for the past three years. He is very thankful to his wife: “Without her support, I could not continue to coach.”

^