Jon Polson, the only baseball coach in Damonte Ranch High's history, retired Monday, the Mustangs' athletic director, Jeff Thiede, announced in a news release.
"With great sadness, Jon Polson, head coach of the Damonte Ranch Mustang baseball program, has announced he is stepping down in his role," Thiede said in an email to the media. "In 2003, Jon Polson was named head coach of the newly built Damonte Ranch High School. Coach Polson built the facility into what it is today with hard work, dedication and an outpouring of support from our community. In his 20-plus years as head coach at Damonte, he grew this program from the ground up having only one player in 2003 that had ever played high school baseball.
"Today, he has expanded upon this program by providing the framework for many young men to follow, allowing them exposure to collegiate and professional realms after graduation. Coach Polson’s positive attitude spreads like wildfire to all those around him which has led to a successful baseball program. In turn, Coach Polson has been recognized numerous times by his peers, including multiple coaches of the year awards and the NIAA Model Coach of the Year award. Coach Polson will be missed on the field, but we are excited to have him stay on as a member of the teaching staff continuing to lead the way for our students and families. Thank you, Coach Polson, for 20 years of dedicated service. You are truly a master of helping build great people, students, and athletes."
Polson led Damonte Ranch to six 20-plus-win seasons as the Mustangs were one of Northern Nevada's better baseball programs during his tenure. Damonte Ranch went 16-15-1 overall and 12-5 in league play this season, finishing second in the Northern 5A during the regular season and conference tournament. The Mustangs played in the state tournament for the second time in school history, also doing so in 2014.
Polson, whose program sent dozens of players to the college level, won more than 300 games, hitting that mark in April 2021, which would rank him among the top 10 in Northern Nevada history, per the NIAA record books. Damonte Ranch will begin its search for the second varsity head baseball coach in school history.