Gloden leads off first season as Hawks' head hardball coach

Opportunity knocked and Jeremy Gloden was ready to answer.

The opportunity was a physical education and health teaching position at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Middle School. For Gloden, who was on the staff at South O'Brien, it was a chance he couldn't pass up.

"P.E. is my passion. I jumped at it right away," he said.

The possibility that H-M-S's head baseball coaching position might become available heightened his interest even more.

"That made it lucrative for me. Varsity baseball is my passion," he noted.

Gloden is very familiar with War Eagle Conference baseball. He played at Spalding Catholic High School and spent five years coaching at South O'Brien, four as an assistant and last year as the Wolverines' head coach.

Despite the challenges of a shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gloden is happy with what he is experiencing at H-M-S.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to be here and build the program," he said. "I like our kids' attitude."