Ray Conner
Sports Editor

There is a fresh face in charge of Kern Valley’s junior varsity Broncs baseball team this season.

Pat Kaufman took over the reins from long-time coach, Jimmy Thompson.

Pat Kaufman JV baseball head coach

Kaufman comes from the way of Michigan and has been a teacher at Kern Valley for two years.

He graduated from Northern Michigan University where he played lacrosse. Kaufman, went to high school in the Grand Rapids area of Michigan where he played both football and baseball.

He found a teaching position at Kern Valley High School after attending a job fair at the University of Michigan where the Kern High School District had a booth set up. He interviewed and got the job.

He married his wife Megan on Aug. 2, 2008 and on Aug. 4 they loaded up their Ford Ranger and drove out here to begin their new journey in life.

He said, “My wife and I were looking for a little adventure in our lives. Both my wife and I are from bigger cities, so the small town life is a little bit of an adjustment, but overall everyone has been great and extremely helpful. There are a lot of good people around here.”

His prior coaching experience has seen him coach football in Michigan for two years and has helped coach football here at Kern Valley for the past two years.

“This is my first ever baseball coaching job and I’m a little excited about that. I’ve always had a passion for coaching football, but baseball is my sport,” said Kaufman