Dustin Baldwin isn't shutting the door on the possibility of him being a head coach again. At the same time, the Nixa offensive coordinator is open-minded about remaining on Eagles coach John Perry's staff for the foreseeable future.
Baldwin came to Nixa a year ago, after previous stints as head coach for four years at Miller, four years at Neosho and four years at Republic.
"I'm blessed for the opportunity to work here," Baldwin said, as Nixa preps for its Class 6 District 3 title tilt with Lee's Summit North on Friday. "The players and staff are awesome. Coming in, I thought there would be a lot of cohesiveness between coach Perry and I. Our mindsets are very similar. I ran a lot of things he had run. The transition has been very easy. We see eye to eye on almost everything."
Baldwin adds that even as a veteran coach he has learned under Perry.
"I'd coached for 23 years before I got here and in (two seasons) I've learned a heck of a lot from him," Baldwin said. "I admire the way he carries himself and the relationships he builds."
Nixa (10-1) has been very good, if not great, offensively each and every week this season. The Eagles' offensive averages per game include 45.6 points, 463.3 total yards of offense, 262.7 rushing yards and 200.5 passing yards.
Running back Ramone Green has rushed 221 times for 2,133 yards and 32 touchdowns and quarterback Connor Knatcal has completed 139-of-212 passes for 2,149 yards with 22 touchdowns and two interceptions. Wide receiver Rylan Michel has 38 receptions 600 yards.
Baldwin doesn't take for granted the array of talent he gets to work with.
"There are a lot of good players. At times, it almost seems unfair," he said. "I'm certainly blessed with the most weapons I've ever been able to coach on one team. We've seen that play out."
When Baldwin left Republic, Perry didn't hesitate to bring aboard a former head coach to his staff. He had already worked well with Nixa defensive coordinator Phil Wickwar, a former Willard head coach.
"When I had the opportunity to try to hire (Baldwin), I was excited to get him in our program," Perry said. "He has added a lot of value to our program. He's a first-class individual and is an offensive-minded coach."
Baldwin was a running backs coach his first year at Nixa. When Aaron Wells left as the Eagles' offensive coordinator at the end of last season, Perry immediately knew he wanted to promote Baldwin.
"It didn't take much thought to do that after coach Wells told me he was retiring," Perry said. "That was my first thought when coach Wells walked out the door. (The promotion) happened that same day."
Baldwin has grown to have respect for each member of Nixa's coaching staff. He relates their pow-wows in the coaches' room each week leading up to game night have been beneficial.
"Our group as a whole takes a lot of personal accountability to make sure we're putting our kids in the best position possible," he said. "We get in there and hash it out. We throw in a lot of scenarios and possibilities and narrow it down throughout the week to what we feel will give us our best chance to be good on Friday."
Perry has experienced plenty of success since his arrival at Nixa. Over the course of three seasons, the Eagles own at least one win against each opponent they have faced. Overall, Nixa is 27-7 on Perry's watch.
He points out his assistants are also very much responsible for the program's rise to co-champions of the COC this season.
"The dudes that don't get enough credit are the assistant coaches," Perry said. "They fly under the radar."
Baldwin gives the distinct impression he would have to be overwhelmed with an offer to leave Nixa for a head coaching job elsewhere.
"'I've thought about it. You don't want to ever say never," he said. "I know I'm enjoying the place I'm at now. I'm truly blessed to be in the situation I'm in. It's a perfect situation for me and my family."
