Sage Receives National Coach Of The Year Honor

Indianapolis, IN

Roosevelt baseball head coach Joel Sage has been awarded the ABCA/Diamond  National Coach of the Year.  Sage led the Rough Riders to the program's first class "A" state championship since 2013.

Nearly eight months after the Roosevelt Rough Riders completed the first undefeated season in class "A" history, head coach Joel Sage has been recognized for his team's accomplishment. 

Sage has been awarded the ABCA/Diamond National High School Division II Coach of the Year.

"Right now is really the culmination of an amazing season. It's been fun to relive it and I'm feeling incredibly grateful for all my current and former players, coaches, my family," Sage said. 

Sage was one one of eleven high school or college coaches honored at the winter banquet in Indianapolis on Friday.

"When we were flying here, that's one of the things I was thinking about is just reliving that night at Canaries Stadium when we won our last two games of the season to finish, finish off a perfect year and just all of the players out there celebrating, their families, our fans, my family," Sage said. 

The award has brought things full circle for Sage who says he nearly gave up his head coaching duties early in his career.

"You know, realized it was more about building relationships with my own family and then with all of my players and parents and really just working hard and having fun and trying to impact lives in a positive way," Sage said. 

Now, as he enters his 11th season at the helm of the Rough Riders, Sage says this award is a reflection of players and parents, past and present. 

"I love the school that I coach and teach at, the people there and the players that I've coached over the years, the players that I'll continue to coach, it's been an incredible journey," Sage said. 

Sage stepped down as head coach of Post 15 West legion baseball in August, but will continue his duties and try to repeat as state champions at Roosevelt in the spring.

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