Caleb Harbin
ASHEVILLE – Caleb Harbin sees a lot of himself in the baseball players he is about to coach at Erwin.
Harbin, 23, played three sports in high school before graduating from Pisgah in 2011. He has been announced as the Warriors’ new baseball coach.
“This is definitely an honor to be granted a head-coaching job this early in my career,” Harbin said.
“Erwin is a great community and they come out to support their teams in every sport. That passion reminds me a lot of growing up in Haywood County. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now.”
Harbin was an assistant coach for Roberson’s 24-4 Mountain Athletic Conference 4-A championship team this past season. He replaces Billy Shepherd who went 7-16 in his only season at Erwin.
Harbin played baseball, basketball and football for Pisgah before continuing his baseball career at Mars Hill University. Many of Erwin’s baseball players play multiple sports as well, which was endearing to Harbin.
Harbin has had the chance to coach two-time Citizen-Times All-WNC quarterback Damien Ferguson this summer as an assistant with the Asheville American Legion Post 70 baseball team.
“The attitudes of all the Erwin kids I’ve met is great, and it speaks volumes. We’re definitely going to be an athletic team with not a lot of guys who specialize in one sport. I feel that too many kids specialize these days. I’m looking forward to coaching a very athletic team.”
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