Pavel Chadim has replaced Mike Griffin as head coach of the Czech national team, becoming the fourth Czech to lead the nation’s men’s national program, Baseball Czech has announced.
Griffin, a Canadian native who has coached in Asia in addition to his work with the Czech Republic, steps down after nine years in the job. In 2014, he led the Czech national team to a fourth-place finish at the European championship, the country’s best ever showing.
Chadim has his eyes set on improving on that performance and winning the country’s first medal at the biannual tournament, with the next edition set for 2023. “After three decades of fruitless fights for a medal at the European championship, there is no other goal than getting it finally,” Chadim said.
Baseball Czech had already announced the transition earlier in the year, with the 50-year-old Chadim using the time to prepare to take charge ahead of a busy 2022 season.
The national team will take part in Prague Baseball Week in June and the Super Six tournament in Barcelona in September. Last year’s postponed World Baseball Classic qualifiers are also on the schedule.
Chadim will be assisted by Hrosi Brno’s John Hussey, who will become the national pitching coach, and David Winkler, who has coached the Czech U18 squad in recent years, will be the third-base coach. Kansas City Royals’ hitting instructor Drew Saylor will be providing assistance, as will Alexander Derhak.