Rochester sports briefs: Bailey steps down as boys golf coach

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Boys golf

Citing a desire to spend more time with his family, Rochester boys golf coach Dan Bailey has resigned.

Bailey coached the team by himself in 2021-22. Prior to the 2020 pandemic that canceled spring sports, he shared the job duties and salary 50-50 with Lyle Lingenfelter.

Rochester placed fourth at both the Three Rivers Conference and sectional tournaments in 2022. Sophomore J.R. McLochlin advanced as an individual to regional.

Rochester has had somebody – either an individual or the entire team – advance to the regional every year since 2014.

Rochester now has boys golf, cross-country and softball coaching vacancies.

Cross-country

Linn resigns as coach: Rochester cross-country coach Eric Linn resigned after one season, effective the July 5 school board meeting.

Linn has accepted a teaching position in the Warsaw schools.

Linn is a North Miami grad and was also the former cross-country coach at Caston.

He was an assistant coach under Scott Stalbaum in 2020 and ascended to the head coaching position after Stalbaum left and took coaching and teaching positions at Munster High School following the 2020-21 school year.

Linn was also an assistant track coach.

Boys soccer

Backus named new coach: Eric Backus was named the new Rochester boys soccer coach at the June 21 school board meeting.

Backus will be the program’s third coach in three seasons.

He replaces Elmer Roque, who resigned after one season.