Coach Kennel: Turning persistence into purpose

This story was produced by Miami University journalism students Cole Likovetz and Colin McDonald in partnership with the Oxford Free Press.

Everyone within the Talawanda High School baseball program knows him by the same nickname: Cheese. 

Behind his smile is someone whose path to baseball was built on persistence, patience and a determination to prove people wrong.

Evan Kennel is starting his fifth season coaching in Talawanda’s baseball program this spring and his first season as a junior varsity head coach. Before taking over the JV team, he worked his way through different roles on the staff, including JV pitching coach and varsity pitching coach.

Now, he’s leading not only the JV team, but also a classroom. After graduating from Miami University in 2025, Kennel was hired as a sixth-grade math teacher at Talawanda Middle School. 

Natural connection 

For Kennel, the connection between teaching and coaching feels natural.

“Coaching is just another version of teaching for me,” Kennel said. “When I’m able to instruct someone, correct them and see growth, I think there is nothing more rewarding to me than seeing someone have that ‘aha’ moment.” 

For Kennel, a monumental ‘aha’ moment came when he was around 4 or 5 years old.  

When Kennel was younger, he found that developing muscle was difficult. Kennel learned he had a muscle tone disorder that would require him to work twice as hard as others his age.  

Doctors told his parents he should rethink sports.

“The doctors told my parents there was no way I was going to be able to play a sport,” Kennel said. “That fueled me so much. It set me down a path where I wanted to prove them wrong.”  

Passion discovered

During a family spring cleaning day a few years later, Kennel found his dad’s old baseball card collection. At first, he was more interested in finishing quickly so he could go play Mario Kart, but the cards quickly diverted his attention.

He started flipping through the collection, learning the players and teams. On the back of each card were lines of player statistics, numbers that immediately caught his attention.

He became fascinated with the numbers – batting averages, on-base percentage and other statistics – that told stories about the game.

“My dad explained everything to me about what the numbers were, what they meant and I was hooked from there,” Kennel said. “I started watching games and playing that year. I’ve had a love for the game ever since.”  

Principled priorities 

Kennel was not able to attend games on Sundays due to his father’s rule: Church came first. This still grounds Kennel today, as he believes what you value is important, whether it’s your friends, your family or your faith. 

These same lessons are now being passed down to his players, including junior outfielder and pitcher Jack Segall. 

“He has always been a good mentor to me and the team not only on the field, but off it too,” Segall said. “He hosts open Bible study sessions for the team on Saturdays.” 

Talawanda varsity head coach Matt Lykins said Kennel showed the traits of a coach long before he joined the staff, when Kennel was a student and player for Lykins.

“He always worked the hardest and you can tell there was a coach in the making,” Lykins said.  “Someone who was kind of an old soul, showed great support to his teammates and was always prepared.”

Because of his work ethic, Kennel is now a mentor, teacher and holder of a cheesy nickname. 

Of course, Cheese keeps on smiling. 

“I feel really blessed,” Kennel said. “I get to do what I love with my best friends and I would not trade it for the world.”