When you are making a hire to your staff that you say may be the most critical of your near three-decades plus coaching career, you want to feel pretty good you got it right. Veteran Bridgeport High School baseball Coach Robert Shields, owner of nine state championships, believes he has done just that.

 

Due to the death of long-time assistant Chris Colombo, who headed up the Indians’ highly successful jayvee program and did much more, Shields found himself in a dilemma. Not only did he need to find someone to take over a part of the program that Shields has singled out for a key reason for the team’s success, but he needed to find someone familiar with the program.

 

He got that. And in more ways than one.

 

On Tuesday, the Harrison County Board of Education accepted the recommendation of Harrison County Superintendent Dora Stutler that Bridgeport’s own Robbie Buffington take over as the new assistant to Coach Robert Shields.

 

“I’m elated to have Robbie back on the staff,” said Shields. “He has big shoes to fill, and I have confidence he will get the job done.”

 

Before we get to the “back on staff” portion of things, understand that Robbie Buffington is no stranger to Shields, Bridgeport, the school system, the baseball program, and the BHS sports system in general. For starters, his time with Shields goes way back.

 

“Baseball has always been a big deal to me,” said Buffington. “I played as a kid and even went to Coach Shields’ baseball camp when I was really young.”

 

Turns out, whatever he learned as a player as a youngster worked. While most people remember Buffington as a three-time all-state football standout booting the ball for the Indians and later for the powerhouse Glenville State teams, he was also an all-state infielder at second base for the Tribe too.

 

There was one other thing as well while in high school. Buffington was a member of the first of now nine BHS state championship teams in 1993 in what was the first decade of coaching BHS by Shields.

 

“He was good at second base; really good,” said Shields. “He could bunt, play defense, and he had speed. He had more than 60 stolen bases … We stress bunting and base stealing a lot more than other programs, and his arrival can only make that better.”

 

The essentials Buffington brings to the table does not end there. Buffington also coached with Shields back in 2000. Although his stint lasted one year, it was a successful one as the Indians – and Shields – won their second state championship.

 

So, why did he leave?

 

“It was the timing as I was just starting to learn to do things on my own by living under my own roof an in my first year of teaching. I was just trying to find the time to do everything correctly so I stepped down,” said Buffington.

 

That segues into the next piece of essential material on the teaching front. From 1999 to 2009, Buffington taught at Lumberport Middle School. From 2010 to today, he is teaching at Bridgeport Middle School – and serves as the ultra-successful Braves football coach.

 

“I think it’s a tremendous benefit for me and the team because I’m seeing the players for three years prior to their first high school year,” said Buffington. “I’m not going to see them all on the football field, but I’m likely going to see them in a classroom or school setting where I will already have a rapport with them. Them coming in and knowing a coach on the staff adds a level of comfort, allows them to relax, and just play the game.”

 

Understand, this may be Buffington’s return to coaching at BHS, but it is not his first return to baseball coaching since 2000. He coached Bridgeport American Legion Post 68 and was in the dugout helping coach the West Virginia Patriot team with his son Conner during his 11- through 14-year-old seasons.

 

Still, one might think he is going to have to catch up on how things are currently going with the state of the BHS program. That thought process would be incorrect – and it leads to yet another bonus.

 

Conner was a member of last year’s Bridgeport team. Buffington did not miss a game.

 

“I just watched the game, but I saw the strategy and knew what Coach was doing,” said Buffington. “When the opportunity came up, it was the right time to get back in.”

 

Shields is glad he did.

 

“To have somebody that can fill the specific needs Chris covered so well and understand the system that we have is going to be very important and a key cog for future success,” said Shields. “Robbie is intertwined with the program, knows the system. He’s been around and he’s been part of it, and I know he is like the rest of the staff in taking what we do seriously.”

 

Buffington does know that. He also knows the position he is filling is one that deserves not just effort, but respect for this late predecessor.

 

“Moving into Coach Colombo’s role is something I don’t take lightly. I hope people understand like I do what a great man and coach he was,” said Buffington. “I watched him work with my son, and from a father’s perspective seeing how he treated him and coached him, I’ll be forever grateful. I saw it these last few years and will do all I can to incorporate those things I’ve learned by watching from Coach Colombo.”

 

Just how things will turn out as a result of Buffington’s addition will soon reveal itself. Practice beings Feb. 27 and the Tribe opens the season March 31 with a home game against Preston. Buffington is already fired up.

 

“I’m absolutely passionate about baseball and that goes back to my youngers years as a Pirates fan. I’m still a Pirates fan and you have to have passion to go through being a fan of theirs,” Buffington said with a laugh. “I just love the game and even loved back when we would work on the field as players. You know, 30 years later I still like working on the field. Heck, even when you get mad there might be a rainout, you are happy knowing that it will result in a doubleheader.”

 

Buffington said he looks forward to handling the junior varsity aspect of the program. He said he has similar training thanks to his job at the BMS football coach.

 

“Bridgeport High’s football program is a result of everyone, including the middle school, doing our part to teach the system to become a successful part of that program,” said Buffington. “With the jayvee program, we’re looking to develop the fundamentals and teach the techniques Robert employs at the highest level so when it is their turn, they’re ready.

 

“Does it work? I think it does,” he continued. “The success of the program speaks for itself, and I’m excited to get back involved.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo of Coach Robert Shields by Joe LaRocca, while second photo showing Robbie Buffington coaching BMS football a file photo by Ben Queen Photography. Third and fourth photos, courtesy of Robbie Buffington, show the new coach back in his playing days in the 1990s.