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Baltimore, Johnson step down from coaching posts
Eugene Baltimore is not going out on top, but he sure is close to it.
After leading the Brentsville District varsity girls basketball team to its first-ever state tournament appearance, the eight-year coach is stepping down in order to focus his life more on religion.
“Spending more time with the Lord” was Baltimore's No. 1 priority, he said.
The Warrenton Bible Fellowship parishioner stated that he wanted to participate in more church-related activities instead of having his life revolve around basketball.
“I'm a religious man. I'm very blessed,” said the now-former coach, who leaves Brentsville with a 117-77 overall record.
“I can't put (anything) before Him and I've been putting basketball (there) for too long,” he said. “I don't want to make it my life. There are so many more things are are more important than basketball.”
Baltimore exits as two of his star players are set to graduate: seniors Kimmy Hopkins and Aly Jacobson.
Hopkins repeated as the Northwestern District MVP this past season and led the league in scoring. Both she and Jacobson were named first-team all-district.
“And I want to say this right now: Kimmy's like my daughter,” said Baltimore, who's own sophomore daughter Keyla earned second-team all-district honors this season as a point guard.
There was no doubt in Baltimore's mind that in his eight years at Brentsville and one year at the helm for Osbourn Park, one player has stood out above the rest for him.
“... Kimmy Hopkins is the best basketball player I've ever coached. Period. There's no question about it,” he declared.
However, Hopkins was just one part of an overall team that made the 2007-08 squad Baltimore's all-time favorite group of girls.
“One thing I'll say is this: all 13 of my girls are special. They made it happen because, number one, they played together as a team. There was no jealously,” said Baltimore. “You didn't have the headaches, you didn't have that mess. Everyone knew their roles.”
As of press time, Baltimore's replacement had not been named. The coach did state however that his long-time assistant Mike Tingen, who has worked with him during the last nine years, is interested in the job.
Baltimore will continue being a presence at Brentsville in his role as an advanced physical education and weight training teacher.
“Brentsville's a great school, so I'm not planning on going anywhere,” he said.
Stonewall Jackson football coach Loren Johnson did not have the same sentiments.
Johnson retired early last month from the Raiders even though at the time he did not have a new job lined up. He has since accepted an offer to coach at Highland Springs High School near Richmond.
Johnson's departure from the Manassas scene has one commonality with Baltimore's: his best player, senior Ryan Williams, is moving on to college after a record-breaking high school career.
Despite being hampered by injuries this past season, Williams is set to play running back for Johnson's alma mater Virginia Tech this fall.
Hopkins declined offers from Division II schools so she stay instate and play basketball for Division III Christopher Newport University instead.
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