Barnstable High's new baseball coach eats, sleeps and dreams about baseball

Former GNB Voc-Tech baseball coach, Rick Avila is joined by his daughters, Rileigh and Brooke on the baseball field. Ryan Feeney/Standard-Times Special.

After coaching the Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech High baseball team for 25 years (11 at the varsity level and 14 more at jayvee), Rick Avila retired in 2019.

Following a three-year break, Avila will make his return back to coaching varsity baseball, but at a new home. Avila has been named the head baseball coach at Barnstable High.

“When the Barnstable job opened up, I went down there and fell in love with the baseball field. It is tremendous,” Avila said. “I’m blessed and I can’t thank Barnstable enough for giving me this opportunity. I am really excited about it and I want to be the face of a program like this.”

Avila is no stranger to success when it comes to baseball. As just the third varsity baseball coach in the program’s history, Avila led GNBVT to its first state championship (Div. 2) in 2017. 

“I accomplished so much at GNBVT and I want to accomplish that at a Division I program like Barnstable,” Avila said. “I want to do the best I can to make our team very respectful.” 

Ryan Methia has been the GNBVT athletic director for the past eight years. Prior to that, he played under Avila as an athlete and coached under him as a colleague.  

“Depending on the team he has, he thinks about baseball a lot differently than most,” Methia said. “He uses different angles and different strategies that not everyone sees. Once our kids bought into that, it was phenomenal to see him lead them to the promised land.”

In addition to coaching baseball, Avila has spent most of his life at GNBVT. He graduated in 1984 and played baseball, football and ice hockey. He also was the school’s first teacher in the plumbing department.

After 29 years of teaching, Avila will retire at the age of 57 on Dec. 16. 

“I had a great run at this school. They gave me everything I own in life today,” Avila said. 

Methia said that Avila is the ultimate player’s coach, and it goes for his students as well, as a plumbing instructor.

“He will do absolutely anything for any kid that is in his shop, or his team or any kid he knows,” Methia said. “He’s had kids work for him in his plumbing shop, so they can make some extra money. He’s that type of guy.” 

In addition to GNBVT, Avila also was the general manager and an assistant coach for the New Bedford Baysox Baseball program, a summer collegiate baseball team.

New Journey on the Cape

When making the decision on who to hire, Barnstable AD Steve Sentes, along with his hiring committee, did research on all of the candidates. 

“After talking to his AD and some of his references, I realized how amazing he was with the kids,” Sentes said. “They always talk about how he is a giver and a player’s coach. He just sounded like the right guy for our school and for where I want to take us. I know that our team made the playoffs last year and I think that he is the guy that can take us a little bit further this year or in the coming years.”

Last season, the Red Hawks finished the season 11-9. In the postseason, they won their preliminary-round matchup over Hingham, 6-4. In the next round, their season ended with a 5-1 loss to Catholic Memorial. 

“I can’t wait to meet the kids. I don’t know what type of talent that is coming in, but I’m here to help them,” Avila said. “I have a lot of respect for these kids and hopefully they have the same respect back for me.”

Avila is already back into full coach mode. Over the next few weeks, he will help hire a coaches for the JV and freshmen teams and a varsity assistant.

“I can’t wait until March for the tryouts. Hopefully these kids are doing some offseason conditioning,” Avila said. “I like kids that play two or three sports because it keeps them in shape and gets them ready for baseball. It’s very important to me.” 

Avila will have to wait until next year to meet his new team, but until then, he will enjoy his retirement with his wife and two daughters.

“I am going to take some vacations before baseball,” Avida said. “My family is a big part of me. They always support me. They love it down on the Cape and we are looking forward to this.” 

As for the Red Hawks, they will await a new coach that is passionate and eager for a fresh start.

“I eat, sleep and think baseball. My job is to make the kids believe in me, and I am going to believe in these kids,” Avila said.