In the world of coaching, your first season is always the biggest unknown at a new school. Sporting a new team with new faces, it may take time for programs or teams to adjust to this, but for Perry High School head baseball coach Denny Bryant, the first year has brought success in recent years.
Having spent countless years within the game of baseball, Bryant would receive his first ever head coaching job back in 2015 at First Presbyterian Day (FPD), taking over the program from long time head coach Jimmy Turner. Making the playoffs in each of his five seasons (headlined by a Final Four appearance in 2018), Bryant enjoyed success as the head man of the Vikings program, but would resign in 2019.
When looking back at his time at First Presbyterian Day, Bryant stated, “I am grateful for my time at FPD for the opportunity at my first head coaching job. Spending five years at FPD as head coach gave me the opportunity to learn the ups-and-downs of being in charge of a program. Over the five years that I was there, I was able to build relationships with many players that are ongoing, including one of my current assistant coaches at Perry High School.”
Landing an assistant coaching job at Perry, Bryant was excited to join a program that had success across the last couple of decades, a stretch that included a 1991 state championship. A community with a very proud feeling surrounding the Panthers baseball program, as well as good players coming through the rec leagues, Bryant was excited entering his first year at Perry, but that excitement was cut short however when the 2020 season was canceled.
Bryant would be named the new head coach of the Panthers entering the 2021 season, tasked with trying to return a Perry program back to the heights it had once seen. Step No. 1 in that process was the upcoming 2021 season, one in which Perry finished with a phenomenal 22-9 record and a Sweet 16 appearance in year one under Bryant.
“I had a great group of seniors in 2021 that were able to buy into the philosophy and the culture I was trying to create. The 2021 team created a firm foundation for the 2022 team to build on,” Bryant said.
Looking ahead to this year, Perry returns 13 seniors for the 2022 season, the most of any of Bryant’s previous teams. When speaking of this senior class, Bryant stated, “The good thing about this senior class is that they all get along and do a great job of being an extension of the coaches.”
A talented group headlined by five seniors who have already signed to play collegiate baseball in 2023, the Panthers also have a few underclassmen to play key roles this season also, only adding to the depth Perry displays entering 2022.
Coming off a strong season a year ago, expectations will certainly be high for Perry entering this new season, something Bryant has reiterated to his team.
“We are focusing on how to win as a program,” Bryant stated. “That doesn’t mean just winning games. That means being able to prepare physically and mentally knowing that we have a target on our back. Our expectations in 2022 are much higher than they were last year. These young men have worked hard in the weight room all offseason to make sure that we give ourselves the best chance to advance much further than the Sweet 16.”
It certainly appears that Perry is set for a special 2022 season in year No. 2 under head coach Denny Bryant. Where will the Panthers finish this season in 4A?
