Bridgeport High School’s baseball team has been known for finding a way to graduate boatloads of seniors each year and keep winning with their replacements. This coming year, long-time Coach Robert Shields will have to find a replacement for someone he may not be able to replace and for all the wrong reasons.

 

The 2023 season will be the first time in 13 years that he will not have one of his assistants by his side. For those that do not already know, long-time coach assistant Chris Colombo passed away this past week, and it has left Shields shaken to not just lose a person he trusted as a coach, but a person who he called friend.

 

“I’m still in shock,” said Shields. “We talk a couple of times a week, especially on football Friday,” said Shields. “I’m having trouble grasping this. I don’t know if people realize how important he was for this program, as a person and as a coach. He was just so important, such a good man.

 

“I know his family is hurting today. I know his friends are and those who he coached and taught,” continued Shields of his friend who also served as an educator for decades in the Harrison County Schools system. “The outpouring of calls and texts I’ve received from kids that played for him in our system speaks volumes of how much they loved him.”

 

Colombo was there on the bench with Shields as the Indians have continued the most dominant run in West Virginia High School history. While there is no doubt Colombo enjoyed the winning as a coach – who would not love to be part of it – he was not in it for the glory or the money (is any coach or teacher?) in his professional life. He was there for the kids and the love of the game and not much else. He was fine with whatever role Shields had him in.

 

And make no mistake, the role in which he was placed is as critical as anything to the success Bridgeport’s baseball team has had. Like Shields, Colombo always gives the credit to the kids and the talent that has come through the program.

 

Yet, Colombo’s role cannot be understated. The role he took as an assistant has allowed the Indians to roll over senior heavy and dominant rosters and replace them with yet more senior heavy and dominant rosters year after year.

 

“He coached our jayvee program and took them all over the state. We played 20 to 25 games a year because of him,” said Shields. “And because of him, the reason we’re able to get fresh faces in each year and keep doing well is because those kids are game ready from having so much time in the field. If you’re looking for another big reason for our success, look no further than what Chris did.”

 

Shields said Colombo was game for any game at any location and at any time. Many times, it meant missing a varsity contest. Shields said this past year he asked Colombo if he was willing to do a double header – first at Wheeling Park and then at Brooke – and drive home afterwards.

 

Not an easy road trip for anyone.

 

“He said let’s do it,” said Shields. “The best thing about that trip is that you have to understand Chris was just about coaching. He wasn’t too keen on dealing with parents or things away from the game, but that game he decided to go out for dinner with the players and some parents and I remember him calling and telling me he was glad he made the decision to go and had an enjoyable time. That was just this past year, so that brings a smile to my face.”

 

While some may not realize his critical role in developing players by coaching the jayvee squad and evaluating them for Shields and often utilizing them in various positions and parts of the lineup prior to their varsity arrival, most may not realize just how much he did for the program away from the games.

 

“When you’re coaching any sport and teaching there are so many other things to deal with,” said Shields. “The number of things he did for me, the kids, this program people don’t know about is a long list.”

 

There was plenty. During the season, and even in the summer when the team had long since put the bats away, Colombo showed up. He would cut the grass, line the field, work on the mound, paint the grass.

 

“He did so much, and even more than those things because he was an expert at so many things that we didn’t have to call for help,” said Shields. “The real beauty of it is that he wanted to help because he knew in the end it benefitted the kids.”

 

Shields knows there is no way to replace all that Colombo brought to the table.

 

“It’s going to be an all hands on deck to replace him, particularly since he retired from teaching. He just did things that no one had to worry about and for all the right reasons,” said Shields. “I hope everyone appreciated what he did for this program as much as I do, and I’m pretty certain they do.”

 

All told Colombo spent more than 35 years coaching baseball – 25 of it with Notre Dame and the last decade-plus at Bridgeport along with coaching stints at Shinnston Middle and Liberty High. The hundreds of kids he mentored along the way all knew of his kindness. I have seen it in the last few days all over social media.

 

But make no mistake, his peers respected him as well. In 2017, Colombo was recognized as the West Virginia High School Baseball Coaches Association Dinner in Charleston.

 

There, he was named as the 2017 winner of the James Sexton Award. It is given, not necessarily annually and not necessarily to one person, to the person considered as a top assistant coach in the State of West Virginia. Shields said the honor is voted on by the Hall of Fame members and the Coaches Association Committee.

 

The honor is named after the long-time assistant coach at Van High School who passed away. The inaugural class was announced in 2009. Only one other local coach, Larry Ritter of Liberty in 2013, has been honored with the award (my apologies if that has changed since 2017).

 

“He is the true definition of that honor. It was so well deserved,” said Shields.

 

Ironically, the honor gave the Indians three hall of fame coaches on the bench, with Shields and Assistant Coach Pete Iquinto in the state hall of fame. Back in 2017, I asked Colombo – who in the interest of disclosure is my cousin – what it means to be involved with the program. His answer was short, succinct, and for those who knew him, not surprising.

 

“I can’t tell you how happy I am to be a part of Bridgeport’s baseball program and work with the kids,” said Colombo. “It’s also a pleasure to work with Robert and Pete every day too.”

 

It has been a pleasure having you involved not just at Bridgeport High School, but at other schools as a teacher and coach as well. It has been a pleasure having you as a family member (who asked me every time I saw him how my mother was doing) and I believe I am safe speaking for others as a friend, a father, a husband, and more they feel the same.

 

Although we write about him in the sports blog, he was indeed much more than a coach, including a man of faith. His family and friends will attest to that as will the perhaps tens of thousands of students he impacted as a teacher for 38 years – first at Shinnston Middle School and then at Nutter Fort Intermediate.

 

“I loved that man. Most importantly, I loved what he stood for,” said Shields.

 

Rest in peace Chris. Your work here is done.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Chis Colombo with former player J.T. Harris (photo by Ben Queen Photography), while in the second photo he is shown, front row and third from the right, with the 2021 state title team at a celebration dinner at TGIFriday's. In the third photo, Colombo, far right is shown with Ryan Goff and Coaches Pete Iquinto, far left, and Robert Shields. In the fourth photo, he is shown with his three sisters (photo courtesy of Ann Colombo Bellotte), while below he is flanked by Iquinto and Shields after being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Unless otherwise noted, all photos courtesy of Robert Shields.