Page 20 - November 2019 proof 7 Castle Pines Connection

20 CastlePinesConnection.com
Coach brings talent and experience home
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Allan Dyer
Allan Dyer has coached baseball for 30 years and has lived in Castle Pines for 16 years, but he has never coached here at home ... until now. Dyer is the new baseball coach at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS). He has a vision for the program that includes signi cant improvements to the eld and facilities as well as growing a stronger sense of community.
Dyer grew up locally attending and playing baseball at Arapahoe High School and the University
of Northern Colorado before he started coaching. After 10 years coaching in Roswell Georgia, he coached at Northwest Missouri State University, then returned to Colorado. He settled in Castle Pines with his wife, Andrea, to raise their three daughters, Aleksa, Avery and Gabi. Dyer has coached at Cherokee Trail High School (CTHS) for the last 15 years, with many successes, including two state championships. Dyer currently teaches science at CTHS.
Dyer was The Denver Post’s 2016 All-Colorado baseball coach of the year and the 2016 Rawlings/ ABCA national coach of the year. He is the founder and executive director of the Colorado Dugout Club, a baseball coaches association which quadrupled in coach participation in Dyer’s rst year.
Allan Dyer, Castle Pines resident for 16 years,
is the new baseball coach at Rock Canyon High School. Dyer has a big vision for long-needed improvements to the eld and the facilities. He is excited for the community to see all the positive improvements which, he said, “is a testament to the great people who live here.”
The three-year plan for the RCHS Jags includes a new turf in- eld, an indoor hitting facility for baseball and softball practices, grandstands, a concession stand, expanded dugouts and a clubhouse. “I’ve always loved the setting of the RCHS eld and there are so many possibilities there,” Dyer said.
In only two months, the funding was raised to complete a turf in- eld, which is more usable than grass when it snows. Dyer is determined to get as much done as quickly as possible so the current players can take advantage of all the improvements.
The indoor practice facility is the next focus and will reduce the cost for families who are spending thousands of dollars outside our community. Dyer emphasized that
all the kids in the community would have access to this indoor facility. He has plans for youth programs, camps, and clinics. “Short term, we want to win and have a positive impact on kids right now, but we’re looking at a huge piece here of being able to have an impact on younger kids too, getting them up to the eld, expanding community and building those relationships now,” Dyer said.
Excitement is building for the upcoming baseball season. Dyer intends to use this coaching opportunity to “give back to
a community that has given me and my family so much. We’ve loved everything about Castle Pines and have had great experiences with the schools and with the teachers. This is full circle for me,” Dyer said.
To learn more or to contribute to the new facilities, email Booster Club President Boone Atkins at booneatkins@hotmail.com.
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