Colony graduate named new head coach of Knights baseball program

PALMER — For nearly two decades, the Colony Knights have known only one head baseball coach. But now as the Knights move into a new era, they have a new head coach who knows Colony baseball.

Colony High has hired Jordan Chadwell as its new head baseball coach. Chadwell, a 2002 Colony High graduate, succeeds the retired Jamie Mayo, the only head coach in the history of Colony baseball.

“I feel I have gigantic shoes to fill,” said Chadwell, a four-year baseball player at CHS. “(Mayo) has kind of been a staple of Colony sports for a long time. I’ve always respected him a lot as a coach and as person. It means a lot to be the next person.”

While it’s nice to have one of Mayo’s former players fill the position, Colony activities director Mike Boyd said Chadwell, who walked on and was a redshirt middle infielder for a season at Eastern Oregon University, certainly has more to offer than just his CHS roots.

“I think it’s more about the type of individual we did hire,” Boyd said. “Jordan fits the bill. He cares about Colony. He cares about kids. He knows the game.”

Boyd said the benefit of the head coach working within the building is key. Chadwell is a history teacher at CHS.

“He’s one of those young men who is always willing to help the students both in baseball and education,” Boyd said. “We hire a coach that’s best for the program, but a key thing we don’t always get is to actually have a coach in the building.”

Boyd said he believes Chadwell is a coach who can help continue the success of the Knights program, which won a handful of conference championships and made several state tournament appearances under Mayo.

“I’m pretty sure if Mayo could have handpicked someone to replace him, it would have been Jordan,” Boyd said.

Chadwell, who is also a wide receivers coach on the football coaching staff, recently capped his second year as an assistant on the Colony baseball staff. Chadwell said he knew he wanted to coach high school baseball, but hasn’t necessarily had longterm plans to seek out the top position at his alma mater.

Chadwell coached at Palmer High for two years. After his teaching position was moved to CHS, he joined Mayo and the Knights staff.

“It wasn’t really planned, but it kind of worked out that way,” Chadwell said.

Chadwell said Colony assistants Gary Skan and Eddie Wright will return and join him on the CHS staff.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.