The sidelines at Trinity Christian basketball games will look a little different going forward, as the girls’ and boys’ programs will have new head coaches next season.
Codey Horton has resigned as Trinity’s athletic director and boys’ coach, while the school decided to move on from Mike Baldy, despite him leading the Warriors to four consecutive appearances in regional finals.
Horton is taking another athletic director position in Arizona, while Baldy said he was keeping his options open.
“I’ve had some tremendous times as the head girls’ coach at Trinity Christian,” Baldy said. “Whatever the future holds for me, I’m excited for it.”
Horton was the head coach of the Warriors boys’ basketball program for two years, while serving as the school’s athletic director for three years.
He won 26 games in his two seasons, with back-to-back co-regional titles and state tournament appearances in 2023 and 2024.
Horton’s resignation from both positions is effective this month.
While working as a teacher and athletic director at a high school in North Carolina, Horton first heard about the opening at Trinity through a friend.
“It’s funny because I told him the only way I would return home was if I could be in Morgantown,” Horton said. “I had heard of the athletic director position at Trinity and knew of the school from my time as an assistant at Webster County. I applied and had a few interviews, and when I got the job, I was so happy to be home and do what I wanted to do.”
Originally from Richwood and a Richwood High graduate, Horton worked as a P.E. teacher and was an assistant boys’ coach at Webster County before moving to North Carolina.
“Coming in as the athletic director, I wanted to focus on seeing what needed attention and what kind of holes needed to be filled,” Horton said. “I learned things I never thought I would, like lining a football field and preparing for different games.”
Baldy, a University High graduate, was the head coach for the TCS girls for nine seasons and compiled 120 wins — the most in program history — during that time.
He made three state tournament appearances, most recently last season, with six sectional championships. Trinity officials made the decision to move on from Baldy this offseason.
“Alexis Basil was the athletic director at Trinity at the time and brought me on as the middle school boys’ coach,” Baldy said. “After two years, I thought I would move on and be an assistant for the boys’ high school team, but the girls’ job came open, so I went for it and was blessed to receive that position.”
Baldy said he only returned one player to the team in his first season as head coach, but eventually increased that number to eight as the Warriors went 4-19.
“It was a little rough to start, but we all learned so much that season, and it helped us going forward,” he said as the Warriors turned around to win 16 games and earn a trip to the regional championship. “That was a big jump for the entire program. We attended the state tournament the following two seasons and won many games.”
Baldy led the Warriors to the state semifinals in 2019 and four-straight regional finals from 2021-24, the most recent of which yielded a third regional title.
“Along the way, the story for me after wrapping my mind around everything is the relationships I’ve built with everyone,” he said. “I have so many lasting relationships with players who have become adults I consider friends now and take great pride in that.”
Horton said his time at Trinity Christian has shaped him positively, both professionally and personally.
“Trinity Christian truly has helped me tremendously with my career and as a person,” he said. “I am truly blessed for the opportunity three years ago. We’ve done a lot here in that time and grown as a school and a community. I’m thankful for everyone there. I don’t have family in town, but I have many people I consider family. I’m thankful for the friendships with other coaches, players, and media I’ve built. Everyone has blessed me somehow, and that’s all you could ask for.”
Baldy echoed the words of his friend and fellow head coach.
“I’m most proud of seeing the players who have become productive adults and still want to come back to visit practice or games or run up to me when they see me in public,” Baldy said. “I think most coaches around the state would agree with that.”
TWEET @DomPostSports
