By SCOTT NOVAK

Dowagiac Daily News

When Dowagiac went looking for a new baseball coach it found an alum with an impressive record of coaching at a nearby school.

Fred Bournay, who is a 1978 Dowagiac Union High School graduate, has been named the new Chieftain varsity coach according to first-year athletic director Scott Lawler.

Bournay, who is a 1982 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, coached at Lake Michigan Catholic for 10 years — eight of which were as the varsity head coach.

He resigned following last season and was going to help the new coach transition until he received a call from Lawler, who he had steered toward the Dowagiac AD position.

He replaces Bryan Henry, who stepped down after two seasons at the helm of the Chieftain program.

To say Bournay put up some big numbers at LMC would be a bit of an understatement.

The Lakers were 181-72 the past eight years with five district championships, three regional crowns and a pair of state quarterfinal victories.

Lake Michigan Catholic went 28-9 last year and reached the Division 4 state championship game before falling to Beal City 5-0.

Bournay’s son Ben was a senior for the Lakers this season.

The elder Bournay, who is 50, played three years on the Chieftain varsity squad and started two of those years. He played every position but shortstop his junior season and started at first his senior year.

Bournay said that he did not follow the Chieftains per say. He would learn about the team through relatives who still live in Dowagiac, and he also talked with some friends in the coaching profession to get an idea of what type of team he was inheriting.

“I had a chance to talk to several coaches in the area that I am friends with and I know they are a very talented team that graduated just three seniors,” he said. “I know they competed very well against a semifinalist in the district finals. So I am excited about the talent that is there.”

Bournay is big on fundamentals and believes that if you make the routine play you can win a lot of baseball games.

“I am big on fundamentals, pitching and defense,” he said. “You have to play smart baseball and you have to have a good work ethic.”

Bournay plans to meet with the parents and the players very soon and then he also wants to meet with his senior class.

“I am all about senior leadership,” Bournay said. “This is their opportunity to make a statement because they have earned it.”