Tom Held-2012

Defiance High School

Tom Held graduated from Edon High School in 1980 where he participated in Baseball, basketball and golf. Held graduated from Defiance College in 1984 where he played baseball and basketball and earned a degree in Comprehensive Business Education. He received his Masters Degree from the University of Toledo in Administration in 1995.

Held was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 20th round in 1983 where he spent 3 years in Bristol TN, Wausau WI, and Lakeland FL.

Held is in his 26th year of teaching where he spent three years at Elmwood HS, 9 years at Bryan HS, and 14 at Defiance HS as a Business/Computer teacher. He coached basketball for 13 years at Elmwood and Bryan.

Held has a career record of 528-129 (24 years) Elmwood (39-29), Bryan (164-44) and Defiance (325—56).

In Held’s 24 years of being a head coach, his teams have won 17 league, 18 sectional nine district, and three regional championships.

Held as won numerous League and District Coach of the Year awards as well as two State Coach of the Year Awards. (1999 –Division 1, 2008-Division 2)

Coach Held was inducted into the Acme Baseball Hall of Fame in the fall of 2010.

Held has had approximately 70 players go onto play college baseball and has had eight past players drafted including two present MLB players. Chad Billingsley (Dodgers) and Jon Niese (Mets). There is two more presently playing in the minor leagues. Tyler Burgoon –Seattle Mariners, Justin Hancock –San Diego Padres.

Since Held has arrived at Defiance, the Bulldogs have had three players chosen as Ohio Player of the Year. Chad Billigsley (2003), Jon Niese (2005), and Tyler Burgoon (2007).

Held is married to his wife Deanne (Elementary principal at Defiance) and has three children, Chayse, Cassidy, and Calvin.