New baseball coach accepts assignment at Marble Falls High School
MARBLE FALLS — Carrollton Newman Smith High School head baseball coach J.T. Blair has accepted the job of head baseball coach at Marble Falls High School.
Marble Falls High School athletic director Todd Dodge made the announcement June 18. Blair accepted the offer over the weekend.
The Marble Falls Independent School District board will be asked to approve the hire during the regular meeting 6 p.m. June 18 at Central Office, 1800 Colt Circle Drive.
“He’s going to be a great fit,” Dodge said. “He’s a tremendous baseball coach. I’m thrilled for Marble Falls, for our baseball program.”
Blair, 41, has been the Newman Smith head coach since 2003 but started as an assistant there in 1998.
Under his guidance, the Trojans were the district champions seven times, with three outright titles, five bi-district championships, three area titles and one regional quarterfinals appearance.
Before he went to Newman Smith, Blair was at Denton Ryan High School from 1994-1998 as an assistant baseball and assistant football coach.
In addition, Blair served as the Arizona Diamondbacks scout in 2000-2001 and a scout for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2001-2002.
He played two years at Navarro Junior College and at the University of Texas-Pan America.
Blair will be a history teacher at the high school.
Dodge said he knew Blair when Dodge was the head football coach at Southlake Carroll because the two schools competed.
Dodge said he has heard several positive comments about Blair from other coaches.
“As the head baseball coach, he’s right at the top of the list,” he said. “I talked to someone he worked for. In 14 years, he never had a call. To me that tells you he has great people skills and leadership qualities.”
Blair takes over from David Norwood, who has been named the Marble Falls Middle School boys athletic coordinator.