WOODBURY— As last years 2024-25 school year began new changes came to NHS, one being Kyle Tehan. Although not new to Nonnewaug, he was a great new addition to the physical education program.

Tehan adapted to the Nonnewaug way, but as the 2025-26 school year rolled around quiet whispers started circulating around the red and blue halls. Nonnewaug’s newest addition to the staff is also Nonnewaug’s returning baseball coach — but rumor has it, he’s coming back to a job he walked away from years ago, long before any of the current NHS Chief could remember.

“I coached from 2016 to 2020 as the assistant varsity coach while I taught at Crosby and I loved it but the drive was long having to get here for practice while having to drive about an hour so it got tough,” said Tehan. “It has always been a dream of mine to be able to fully be at Nonnewaug, teaching here and coaching. I’ve always loved it at Nonnewaug and now that I get to teach and coach, I think it will be an amazing experience and I will get to do what you have always wanted.”

As speculation swirled within NHS that this mysterious new baseball coach may be Tehan, students and players started to get excited.

“When I heard the new job was posted I knew Mr. Tehan would apply for it,” said Henry Keil, a senior for the team. “We had spoken at the beginning of the year about how he was really interested in the position and would love to return to coaching. Then the rumors started to come out that he had been hired, I believed it but wanted to be sure so I went to him and asked, he confirmed that he was our new head baseball coach.”

Following Tehan’s formal agreement to coach this year’s team, he was officially named the new baseball coach for the 2026 season; the Nonnewaug Chiefs baseball team was more than happy to walk into gym class saying “hey coach.”

Kyle Brennan, who will be coaching alongside Tehan this upcoming season, isn’t experiencing anything new. Brennan worked with Tehan his first year of coaching NHS baseball.

“I think we are very lucky to have a coach as organized, hardworking, and as good of a teacher as Coach Tehan is at baseball,” said Brennan. “He was an excellent player during his playing career. And I know that even in the one season that I did coach with him, he is an excellent baseball Instructor. I think he knows how to create a good team culture. I think we’re gonna benefit a lot from all of that.”

But Tehan isn’t only just the new baseball coach, he never fails to amaze students not just on the field but also in the classroom, or more like the gymnasium.

“I think the season will go really great, I have lots of high hopes for this team and all of the players,” said Tehan. “Being able to have them in class, teach them, see them just in the hallways I feel like has helped me to make a stronger connection with my players and that will transfer onto the field and create a great season for us.”

Brayden Whipple, a returning captain and first baseman, acknowledges he’s already an amazing teacher and will be an even more amazing coach.

“Mr. Tehan has been one of my favorite teachers that I have had in all [my] four years at Nonnewaug,” said Whipple. “He is always easy to talk to and is always able to bring up the mood of anyone he comes in contact with. I think he will bring these characteristics to the team and help us all play to our best abilities, which will in the end result in a very successful season.”

In a couple of months Keil won’t just be calling Tehan “Mr. Tehan” but a new name.

Coach.

“I love being in class with Mr Tehan and so does everyone else, he makes class fun and interesting and he’s a very fun person to talk to, I think it will translate well in leading us to our goals this season,” said Keil. “ He has been communicating very well with us and starting to connect with whoever he has in class. I’m very hopeful for this season, we have a great returning core and we all want to win and I think he will fit very well with us bringing his experience and just who he is as a person.”

Brennan sees all the positives of Tehan being a teacher as well as a coach. The connection he has built with his students will only get stronger on the field.

“I think it’s always a positive when high school coaches are also teachers because they understand how to build relationships with kids,” said Brennan. “Good relationships and good mental toughness in sports are even more important than the X’s and O’s and the fundamentals. I think when everyone’s bought in and knows the coaching staff, it has a positive impact.”