C-S graduate looks forward to taking over
as Panthers varsity baseball coach
as Panthers varsity baseball coach
By Bruce Rolfe
Climax-Scotts High School graduate Brandon Haynes is well aware of the long and successful history of baseball that exists at C-S.
The 2016 C-S graduate admits to be a part of that long and successful history now as the new C-S varsity baseball coach, is an honor.
The C-S School District announced recently Haynes will take over the position after former C-S varsity baseball coach Kevin Langs stepped down from the position when he retired from the school district in February.
“I’m following in the footsteps of some great C-S folks, like Bob Weessies, Coach Kevin Langs, Coach (Jack) Gibson. Even one that people don’t know a lot about is Coach Miller (Jim Miller who coached at Kellogg Community College). That’s another C-S grad that I’m honored to be following in those footsteps. Dan Benoit is another one. He played pro ball, And there’s Travis Wade, as well as his dad, Coach (Jim) Wade. So, it’s such an honor to be following. What great baseball minds have been in this area, and to think that I’m even close to some of them, I’m very grateful for. It’s really cool to be able to pick their minds still, because I still have connections with them, too. I’m real excited for that,” said Haynes, who said Miller was a big influence on him while he played at Kellogg Community College under the guidance of the KCC baseball coach.
Haynes and his family moved from the Portage area to Climax when he was in junior high. He quickly embraced the school district and learning about the successful past C-S has had in baseball.
“I tell people all the time, I’m a Panther through and through. I have fallen in love with this community greatly. I am not whatever I was back then. I am a Panther, and that’s really what I care about. Which is why I’m back here and working with the kids, is just awesome,” adds the C-S graduate.
Haynes said he’s looking forward to working with student-athletes to hopefully build on the success C-S has enjoyed in baseball.
“I’m excited to help the kids along because it’s about the kids. I want to teach them the game, and teach them the things that I love about the game, and the passion I have for the game. And hopefully spread that wealth to them, and get them to appreciate that too,” said the new Panther varsity baseball coach.
Because he’s entering his first year as the new Panther coach, Haynes said he would like to talk to the team first about their goals and hopes for the new year before he expands on his expectations.
“I want them to just play hard. One of the things that I loved when I was playing was getting dirty and having an opportunity to look my mom in the eye when I got home from school and be like, I might need you to scrub my jersey a little harder tonight. Those are the things that I want to push onto them. So if we lose a ball game and every guy out there is covered in dirt and sweat, I’m okay with that. Because they work their tail off, and that’s the right way to play the game, and that’s what I want,” explained Haynes.
Currently in his third year at C-S as a junior/senior high school counselor after a few years as a long term substitute teacher, Haynes said he will stress fundamentals. He feels doing the little things right can bring success.
He adds having daily interaction with the students, including some that will be on the team, can be helpful, especially as he stresses academics comes first.
After graduating from C-S, Haynes attended Kellogg Community College where he was red-shirted his first year and played for two years.
He transferred to Spring Arbor University. The first year was during Covid so he took advantage of another year of baseball eligibility and he wound up playing at the collegiate level for six years.
He said the extended playing time offered him the opportunity to play “with some amazing programs and some great people.”
Haynes said while the C-S varsity baseball position is his first head coaching job, he does have assistant coaching experience with summer baseball teams, and has worked with other coaches organizing practices and games and running baseball camps at a facility in Kalamazoo.
He adds harnessing a significant amount of experience from previous coaches has been beneficial.
“Coach (Kellogg Community College baseball Eric Laskovy) Laskovy at Kellogg. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a better coach. He’s amazing. Between him and Coach Miller, I learned an incredible amount about baseball. And then the honor to go to Coach Marken (Spring Arbor University baseball coach Ryan Marken), who coached under Sam Riggleman, who’s a Hall of Fame coach (American Baseball Coaches Association Hall Of Fame). So the wealth and knowledge that I’ve been able to experience has been quite the journey, and I’m very fortunate for that,” said Haynes.
Haynes also had extensive opportunities playing in Battle Creek Summer League programs. One coach he enjoyed playing for was Jack McCully, who has been a baseball coaching fixture for decades.
“Talk about another guy that knows the game and loves the game so hard. I loved playing for him,” said Haynes.
Haynes adds the coach he is replacing also had an incredible influence on his life.
“I tell people all the time, I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. The Langs family, I am so grateful for. I’m honored to be following in his footsteps, and hopefully I can do right by him. That’s the plan,” said the first year C-S coach who said he was coached by Kevin Langs his junior and senior years and Bob Millward his freshmen and sophomore years at C-S.
The C-S graduate hopes his players will take what he teaches them onto the field and accomplish great things.
“On great teams, players lead. And that’s my goal is to create a great team that the players are leading, and I can kind of sit back and enjoy the fun with them and have a great time,” offered the C-S graduate.
Haynes said he has asked 2016 C-S graduate and former teammate Adam Audette and his father Don Haynes to be assistant coaches.
Audette, who also embraces the history of C-S baseball, said he’s excited to join his classmate in the dugout for an opportunity to help young student-athletes.
“Climax-Scotts baseball is one of the most storied programs in the State of Michigan. I’m thankful to be brought up and be a part of that. And help carry on the tradition, with a former classmate of mine, Brandon Haynes. That’s an amazing opportunity I’m super excited for. It’s going to be a really great season. It’s going to be awesome to carry on the tradition of Climax-Scotts baseball,” said Audette, who coached the C-S JV baseball team in 2018 and 2025.
Climax-Scotts High School graduate Brandon Haynes is well aware of the long and successful history of baseball that exists at C-S.
The 2016 C-S graduate admits to be a part of that long and successful history now as the new C-S varsity baseball coach, is an honor.
The C-S School District announced recently Haynes will take over the position after former C-S varsity baseball coach Kevin Langs stepped down from the position when he retired from the school district in February.
“I’m following in the footsteps of some great C-S folks, like Bob Weessies, Coach Kevin Langs, Coach (Jack) Gibson. Even one that people don’t know a lot about is Coach Miller (Jim Miller who coached at Kellogg Community College). That’s another C-S grad that I’m honored to be following in those footsteps. Dan Benoit is another one. He played pro ball, And there’s Travis Wade, as well as his dad, Coach (Jim) Wade. So, it’s such an honor to be following. What great baseball minds have been in this area, and to think that I’m even close to some of them, I’m very grateful for. It’s really cool to be able to pick their minds still, because I still have connections with them, too. I’m real excited for that,” said Haynes, who said Miller was a big influence on him while he played at Kellogg Community College under the guidance of the KCC baseball coach.
Haynes and his family moved from the Portage area to Climax when he was in junior high. He quickly embraced the school district and learning about the successful past C-S has had in baseball.
“I tell people all the time, I’m a Panther through and through. I have fallen in love with this community greatly. I am not whatever I was back then. I am a Panther, and that’s really what I care about. Which is why I’m back here and working with the kids, is just awesome,” adds the C-S graduate.
Haynes said he’s looking forward to working with student-athletes to hopefully build on the success C-S has enjoyed in baseball.
“I’m excited to help the kids along because it’s about the kids. I want to teach them the game, and teach them the things that I love about the game, and the passion I have for the game. And hopefully spread that wealth to them, and get them to appreciate that too,” said the new Panther varsity baseball coach.
Because he’s entering his first year as the new Panther coach, Haynes said he would like to talk to the team first about their goals and hopes for the new year before he expands on his expectations.
“I want them to just play hard. One of the things that I loved when I was playing was getting dirty and having an opportunity to look my mom in the eye when I got home from school and be like, I might need you to scrub my jersey a little harder tonight. Those are the things that I want to push onto them. So if we lose a ball game and every guy out there is covered in dirt and sweat, I’m okay with that. Because they work their tail off, and that’s the right way to play the game, and that’s what I want,” explained Haynes.
Currently in his third year at C-S as a junior/senior high school counselor after a few years as a long term substitute teacher, Haynes said he will stress fundamentals. He feels doing the little things right can bring success.
He adds having daily interaction with the students, including some that will be on the team, can be helpful, especially as he stresses academics comes first.
After graduating from C-S, Haynes attended Kellogg Community College where he was red-shirted his first year and played for two years.
He transferred to Spring Arbor University. The first year was during Covid so he took advantage of another year of baseball eligibility and he wound up playing at the collegiate level for six years.
He said the extended playing time offered him the opportunity to play “with some amazing programs and some great people.”
Haynes said while the C-S varsity baseball position is his first head coaching job, he does have assistant coaching experience with summer baseball teams, and has worked with other coaches organizing practices and games and running baseball camps at a facility in Kalamazoo.
He adds harnessing a significant amount of experience from previous coaches has been beneficial.
“Coach (Kellogg Community College baseball Eric Laskovy) Laskovy at Kellogg. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a better coach. He’s amazing. Between him and Coach Miller, I learned an incredible amount about baseball. And then the honor to go to Coach Marken (Spring Arbor University baseball coach Ryan Marken), who coached under Sam Riggleman, who’s a Hall of Fame coach (American Baseball Coaches Association Hall Of Fame). So the wealth and knowledge that I’ve been able to experience has been quite the journey, and I’m very fortunate for that,” said Haynes.
Haynes also had extensive opportunities playing in Battle Creek Summer League programs. One coach he enjoyed playing for was Jack McCully, who has been a baseball coaching fixture for decades.
“Talk about another guy that knows the game and loves the game so hard. I loved playing for him,” said Haynes.
Haynes adds the coach he is replacing also had an incredible influence on his life.
“I tell people all the time, I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. The Langs family, I am so grateful for. I’m honored to be following in his footsteps, and hopefully I can do right by him. That’s the plan,” said the first year C-S coach who said he was coached by Kevin Langs his junior and senior years and Bob Millward his freshmen and sophomore years at C-S.
The C-S graduate hopes his players will take what he teaches them onto the field and accomplish great things.
“On great teams, players lead. And that’s my goal is to create a great team that the players are leading, and I can kind of sit back and enjoy the fun with them and have a great time,” offered the C-S graduate.
Haynes said he has asked 2016 C-S graduate and former teammate Adam Audette and his father Don Haynes to be assistant coaches.
Audette, who also embraces the history of C-S baseball, said he’s excited to join his classmate in the dugout for an opportunity to help young student-athletes.
“Climax-Scotts baseball is one of the most storied programs in the State of Michigan. I’m thankful to be brought up and be a part of that. And help carry on the tradition, with a former classmate of mine, Brandon Haynes. That’s an amazing opportunity I’m super excited for. It’s going to be a really great season. It’s going to be awesome to carry on the tradition of Climax-Scotts baseball,” said Audette, who coached the C-S JV baseball team in 2018 and 2025.
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