A longtime dream becomes a reality for Washington Middle School’s Lex Glasco. The special education teacher is expanding his role to include serving as the Head Baseball Coach at Johnston City High School. He brings passion, knowledge, and a deep-rooted history of the program to the high school dugout.
The Board of Education announced his hiring at its November meeting, marking a milestone for the dedicated educator and former standout player.
“I have a lot of passion and a lot of thoughts about this program, and I've loved it ever since I was a kid,” Glasco shares his excitement. “It was always one of my goals after I graduated to come back here and to be hopeful to be able to take over the program. I'm just blessed with the opportunity to be able to do it.”
Glaco’s baseball journey started at age four, with parents who drove him to every practice, game, and workout, fiercely believing in his potential. His talent truly showed on the JCHS diamond. He earned a starting spot on the varsity team as a freshman and, by his junior year, set the school’s single-season and career home run records. Yet, for Glasco, individual statistics are secondary to the team's success.
“That's not the biggest accomplishment that I set,” he humbly recalls. “For me, it's all about the team; everything has to start with and end with the team.”
He is referring to the celebrated 2012 Indians baseball team he anchored during his senior year, a group that set the program's single-season win record at the time and left a lasting impression.
Driven by his academic and athletic goals, Glasco attended John A. Logan College for two years. Then, went on to graduate from Southern Illinois University with a degree in exercise science and special education. His first baseball coaching opportunity came as an assistant at Herrin High School, but his dream remained to come back to Johnston City.
That dream began to take shape in 2015, when he served as an assistant baseball coach at JCHS. It came full circle in 2021, when he returned to the district as a special education teacher at Washington Middle School, rejoined the baseball team as an assistant coach for the season, and took on the role of an assistant Football coach, which he still holds today.
“I was fortunate enough that Coach Todd Thomas and Coach Marshall Mummert let me be a part of their staff,” he explains about the importance of mentorship. “I owe a lot to them, showing me what it takes to build a successful program. Being a part of that, I'm hoping to build continuity from football to baseball.”
Now, Glasco is ready for the baseball team’s head spot. He’s taking over a program with a solid group of student-athletes, noting a regional win in 2024. On top of this, he expects outstanding talent rising through the middle school ranks under Coach Billy Brayfield.
However, his vision extends beyond mere wins and losses. The coach will focus on mastering the fundamentals of the sport, expanding the team's knowledge of the game, and preparing them mentally for the situations that arise over the seven unpredictable innings. Most importantly, he is dedicated to instilling values that will serve his student-athletes long after they hang up their cleats.
“My goal is that they go on to have successful careers, become great fathers and husbands,” Glasco shares, adding that these are the same standards he holds for himself. “Teaching them how to lead a family, the right way.”
For Coach Glasco, the ultimate home run is not a personal record, but the chance to lead and inspire the next generation of Johnston City Indians, shaping not just great players, but great young men.