​Newman baseball coach Kenny Koerner has stepped down from his position after six successful seasons leading the Comets.Koerner cited wanting to spend more time with his grandkids after submitting his letter of resignation.“My wife and I have been blessed with three granddaughters the past couple of years, and I’d really like to be able to spend as much time with them as I possibly can,” he said. “I’ve been coaching every spring and summer since 2009, and I’m just at a point where I’d like my springs and summers back to spend some time with the grandkids.”The Comets have had an unprecedented level of success under Koerner, winning their first three state trophies. They took third in 2023, and fourth in 2024 and 2025. As a result, Newman was bumped up to Class 3A in 2026.Koerner helped establish the Sterling Sharks travel baseball program in 2009, where he oversaw seven teams through 2016. He joined Newman as an assistant coach in 2015 before taking over as head coach in 2020.Below are parts of his resignation letter to Newman.“I am incredibly proud of what our players, assistant coaches and the entire Newman baseball community have accomplished together. Over the past six seasons, our varsity program compiled a 138-44-2 record. We advanced to the IHSA Elite Eight five times, qualified for the State Finals in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and consistently competed at a high level. As a result of our success, Newman moved from Class 1A to Class 2A in 2024 and 2025, and to Class 3A in 2026 — a testament to the strength and growth of our program,” Koerner said. “While I am proud of our success on the field, I am equally proud of what we accomplished off the field. Together, we made tremendous improvements to our baseball facilities, creating a field and environment that our players, school and community can be proud of for years to come.“None of this would have been possible without the tremendous support of our assistant coaches, players, parents, administration, boosters, volunteers and the entire Newman community. I am sincerely grateful for the trust, encouragement, and friendships that have meant so much to me throughout this journey.“After 17 consecutive years of coaching, I know this is the right time for me to step away. While I will certainly miss the competition, the practices, and being around the young men in our program every day, I look forward to spending the springs and summers making memories with my granddaughters and family.“It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to represent Newman Central Catholic High School as its head baseball coach. I will always be grateful for the opportunity and will forever be a proud supporter of the Comets.“I have complete confidence that the foundation built over the past several years will continue to serve the program well, and I look forward to watching its continued success.”