Nicklas: coach on the move

Tom Nicklas traveled 2,300 miles and waited four years to becomeMount Carmel's baseball coach this season.

Nicklas played third base at Western Michigan from 1968 to 1972,then moved to the West Coast to teach and coach baseball and footballat a small Catholic school. Before he left, the baseball team hadgone from the bottom to the top of its conference.

When he came to Mount Carmel, he hoped to be a coach. But hisfour-year experience amounted to one game as a substitute coach in1983.

"I was here for four years, waiting and waiting," he said. "Itwas frustrating for me and the kids. You could see it in theireyes. They had the talent and they wanted to play ball."

Now he is the school's first full-time teacher-coach since 1979.

"That makes a difference," he said. "When you're in school everyday with the kids, you get to know them and they get to know you andit carries over onto the field. This is a close team. I thinkthey have the right chemistry.

"All the coaches I've talked to said all Mount Carmel needed wassomebody on top. I'm not sure about that. There are a lot ofpeople who could do the job. I'm just fortunate to be here andwe're all going to make the best of it."

Since 1979, the Caravan has compiled a 110-79 record, includinga 26-victory season in 1983. But the South Side school is noted forits football, basketball and hockey success. Now Nicklas is determined to turn the baseball program into a consistentwinner.

"This school is buzzing with excitement," he said. "Right nowwe think we can go out and win against anybody."

At the moment, Mount Carmel is the only unbeaten team in theCatholic League at 8-0. After a 2-5 start, the Caravan has won 12 ina row and has claimed first place in the South Section.

The Caravan is hitting .500 against Catholic League opponents.

"In the beginning of the season, we literally played everybodyon the team," Nicklas said. "We knew we weren't going to win everygame but we had to find out what we had. The kids stuck with me.I didn't expect the results to come as quickly as they did. Butright now I'm tickled pink."

The Caravan attack is triggered by junior pitcher Eric Cadenhead(4-0), who also leads in hitting with a .500 average, right fielderDavid Hunt (.563, 26 stolen bases in 28 attempts) and junior catcherBill Nolan (.500). Cadenhead was 11-for-14 during one hot streak.

"We have faith in Coach Nicklas," Cadenhead said. "Besides beinga good coach, everybody likes him. He has a lot of energy."

He needs all he can muster.

A resident of Valparaiso, Ind., Nicklas commutes 100 miles dailyto work.

"When I tell people I drive 500 miles a week to work, they lookat me like I'm insane," he said. "But I love Mount Carmel. Itwould take a lot to get me to leave."