Going going Juan

By Joe Mason
For the Times

Juan Namnun has prepared for this his whole life.
Namnun, a 1995 graduate of Frankford High School, served as an assistant coach of the Pioneers baseball team for the past six years. During that time, he honed his coaching skills under Bob Peffle.
Midway through the spring season, Peffle decided to retire from teaching and, in the process, gave up his job as skipper of the most celebrated Public League baseball team, in addition to the school’s stellar wrestling teams.
While Namnun was disappointed to see his mentor call it a career, his own opportunity was here at last.
"I didn’t want to see coach go," said Namnun, who played for Peffle during his own days at Frankford. "But when he left, I was pretty excited. If you look at this school, we have so many guys who went here, then came back to coach. It’s really humbling and an honor to be part of that fraternity."
Last week, Namnun was named the head baseball coach at Frankford.
The 30-year-old skipper, who also serves as an assistant coach of the school’s football team and coach of its bowling team, inherits quite a squad.
Frankford won eight baseball championships under Peffle, including four of the past five Public League titles. They won the most recent title in June, and next year all but three of those players will return.
"I can’t say he left me in a bad situation," Namnun said with a laugh. "I’m really ready to go with this team. Coach left me in a great situation, he gave me everything I need. He also was such a huge help to me . . . he and my father (also named Juan) have been huge parts of my life, especially in baseball, but in everything."
Peffle was happy to do it.
"Look, any time you have a guy who comes in and works as hard as Juan does, you want to do something to help them," Peffle said. "But as a coach, especially as a guy who went here, I want to see this team and the wrestling team in good hands. So when Juan was hired, I couldn’t be happier.
"He’s going to have to learn how to coach third base, but everything else, this guy is prepared," Peffle added. "Juan is ready, he’s been ready, and he’s going to do a great job."
Namnun is happy to have the entire summer as vacation, so he can spend a lot of time with his wife Lena and their two sons, Jared and Derek. But he’s also looking forward to the start of the school year.
After all, football practice is right around the corner. And then it won’t be long before spring rolls around.
"I can’t wait for everything, I’m chomping at the bit," Namnun said. "I’m not sure if I’m coming back for bowling, because I want to put a strength and conditioning program in. I think that’s really important, especially if we want to have continued success."
Being ready for baseball is important, but so is running a tight ship.
During his days as an assistant coach, Namnun was known for being serious, but he had his jovial moments. Next year, he can’t be the cool assistant; he has to be the stickler head coach.
"You know, I’ve had the best of both worlds because I was fun, I could crack a joke, but when I said be here, they knew they had to be here," he said. "I don’t think I’ll have to change a lot. I’ll just have to do it all without coach. That’s not easy, but I think I’m prepared for everything." ••
Joe Mason can be reached at joemason70@hotmail.com