“Win. Compete. Outwork everyone.”
This is the attitude Coach Kevin Manero engraved into North Penn Baseball. From 5am lifts to late night practices, there is no sliver of the program lacking hard work or dedication.
“Dedication might as well be Coach Manero’s middle name. The amount of work he puts in behind the scenes, most of which we don’t even notice, is unreal. This man lives and breathes baseball. He fights for his players, protects the program, and gives it everything he’s got, year-round,” North Penn senior first baseman Mason Coyne stated.
This mentality translates into extremely high standards not only for his players, but also for himself. Although the past few seasons haven’t been all smooth sailing, the fruits of his labor are coming to light as the Knights 3-1 victory over CB South on April 9th marked his 200th win as head coach.
“This season, the word has been tenacious, and it shows.” Coyne continued. “Every practice starts with an agenda and includes a quote at the top and bottom. One that stuck with me is: “Practice like you’ve never won, play like you’ve never lost.” It took a second for that to sink in, but once it did, it became a driving force in how we train and perform.”
Any program that works hard can win games. But the culture Manero has created in North Penn mixed with the hard work is what sets North Penn Baseball apart from many others. Under him, each player knows they are playing for much more than just themselves.
“He gave us a wristband this year which says: “All in, no matter what” and “left, right, mirror.” He is telling us to look around at your teammates and play for each other. That really goes to show the culture and the standards he sets for us. You play for your teammates not yourself and he has that next man up mentality,” North Penn Baseball senior catcher Chase Jones said.
“Everything is done with purpose, intensity, and pride. That culture sets us apart from every other team in our conference. And when we lose? He takes the blame. But he’s also wired us to never stop pushing,” Coyne explained. “We go all gas, no brakes. Through every challenge, every obstacle. That mentality doesn’t just build great ballplayers, it builds relentless competitors and strong men.”
The culture Manero cultivates reaches so much further than the high schoolers he currently coaches. Through summer camps and tournaments, he develops the next generation ensuring the mentality and enthusiasm of his players doesn’t drop off from year to year.
“Coach Manero doesn’t just help players in high school. He also helps all throughout little league and middle school. Every summer, he runs a week-long baseball camp for grades 2 through 10,” Jones stated. “I don’t think I’ve heard of any other high school programs that do this. His dedication not only towards us but towards the up and coming Knights definitely is shown and that’s not the only thing he does. He started a tournament between all the little league teams throughout our district. In addition, he tries to get to as many little league games as possible. Community baseball is extremely important to him. His actions really get kids excited to be part of the North Penn Baseball program at a young age.”
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“Across Montgomery County, people look at him like he’s baseball’s version of a legend. When I was a kid, I thought he was baseball Jesus! And I wasn’t the only one,” Coyne added. “He shows up to little league games, travel tournaments, and community events just to make sure kids know that the game is alive and has a future. His presence brings the community together and keeps the pipeline of talent and passion flowing into North Penn.”
The relationship Manero fosters with his players reaches far beyond the field. He creates meaningful connections with each and every player, making the program more of a brotherhood.
“Coach Manero “Two-Eight,” as we call him, is so much more than a coach. He’s a mentor, a role model, and honestly, one of my best friends. It might sound strange to say that about a coach, but it’s the truth,” Coyne stated. “What really sets him apart is how much he cares off the field. I can talk to him about anything, life, family, struggles, and he’s always there to listen and help however he can.”
“When I lost all of my grandparents over a 17-month span (all during baseball season) Coach Manero was a constant source of support. That kind of loyalty and compassion created a bond that goes way beyond baseball. He’s also someone you can joke around with, which makes the player-coach relationship feel more like a brotherhood. He’s instilled in me a work ethic that translates far beyond the field. Into school. Into life,” Coyne continued.
Many of Manero’s current players are continuing to play after high school, and they all draw most of their success back to him.
“Coach Manero helps every one of us on and off the field. I’ve learned so much from him about baseball as a player in 4 years of being in this program. He’s taught me how to be mentally tough when things don’t go right, how to train like you never won before but play like you’ve never lost,” Jones stated. “The only reason I’m playing at the next level is because of him, I don’t know where I’d be as a player without him as my coach.”
“No doubt, he’s going to be a major reason I’m ready for the next level,” Coyne added.
Manero’s 200th win is about so much more than the numbers displayed on the scoreboard, but the community and culture he has built around hard work, dedication, and the love for baseball.