AHS baseball coach resigns to spend more time with young family

ASHEBORO — With two young children at home and because of the hours it takes away from his family, Asheboro High School varsity baseball coach Brett Hoogkamp has resigned his position.

Hoogkamp spent the past eight seasons at the helm of the Blue Comets’ baseball program, after taking over for Tim Murray for the 2017 season. 

“It’s the right thing to do and I’m really excited about spending more time with my family,” said Hoogkamp, who has a 4-year-old son and a 6-month-old daughter. “My son has practice today and I said, ‘Guess what, daddy is going to be able to come to your practice,’ and he was so excited. I’m excited about having a little bit of a break and enjoy being a dad.”

Hoogkamp informed the team immediately following Tuesday night’s 3-0 loss to West Henderson in the first round of the state 3-A playoffs. The Blue Comets, who were the No. 31 seed in the West Region, ended the year 9-17, but 10 of those losses were by two runs or less. It very well could have been a much different season for Hoogkamp.

Hoogkamp finished 88-89 overall with one league co-championship, coming in 2021 when AHS and Southeast Guilford were both 10-2. Overall, Hoogkamp had a 41-40 league record.

Asheboro Athletic Director Wes Berrier said a search for the new head coach would begin immediately.

Hoogkamp was asked what he will remember the most about his eight-year tenure. 
“I would like to say the wins, but it’s the relationships I have developed over the years,” he said. “Watching the kids grow on and off the field and also seeing guys I coach want to pursue the next level and just see the excitement they have.”

Hoogkamp, a Southwestern Randolph High School graduate, began coaching at Southwestern Randolph Middle school in the fall of 2009 after a stellar career at Southern Wesleyan University, where they won the 2007 national championship.

He spent three years coaching at SWRMS before heading to Randleman High School where he was an assistant in football, basketball and baseball over his stay there. He then came to Asheboro.

“You want to be a head coach when you first start out and I had that opportunity and I had a lot of fun,” Hoogkamp said. “Now I want to spend as much time as I can with my kids and just be a dad.”