Lombardi takes over baseball program at Washington

CEDAR RAPIDS - Tony Lombardi was asked Tuesday why in the world he would want to try and coach varsity baseball.

Already Cedar Rapids Washington's head football coach, he'd be jumping from baseball to football without any rest. The sports overlap to some extent, with summer workouts and camps in football.

On top of all that, Lombardi is married with five children. Why add one more significant thing to an already considerable mix, Coach?

"Why not?" Lombardi replied. "I've spent my whole life busy."

Washington has announced Lombardi as its new head baseball coach, pending approval by the Cedar Rapids School Board. He is just the ninth head coach in the 55-year history of the school's program.

Brent Henry coached the Warriors on an interim basis last season, stepping in after Byron Schlotterback stepped down after two practices for unspecified reasons.

"I live in this community, my kids live in this community," Lombardi said. "I've really turned into 'The' Warrior. I feel like I can help. I feel like (the program) is in trouble. It hasn't been fun for the kids. I want our best athletes playing baseball, too. They haven't been doing that."

Lombardi was a standout baseball and football player in high school in the Chicago suburbs and played one season of both at Arizona State University, before concentrating solely on football. He said he has spent recent summers coaching teams for his sons Rocky and Beau.

He doesn't see there being any conflicts with coaching both sports at Washington. He pointed out summer weight lifting for football and sports performance clinics at the school run from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m., then the rest of the day would be all about baseball.

"There is no reason whatsoever what I do for the football program should compromise what I do for baseball, and vice versa," he said.

“Coach Lombardi will give us an in-building coach to lead the baseball program," Washington Athletics Director Paul James said. "He will provide a great deal of energy, leadership and winning tradition as he builds the numbers in the Warrior baseball program.”