By Andy Walter

DOVER — For Nick Spadafino, just landing a teaching/coaching job at his alma mater right out of college was something of a dream come true.

But the former Dover High baseball standout figured any chance at becoming the Senators’ head coach was pretty far down the road.

This week, though, after three years as an assistant, the 26-year-old Spadafino finds himself as Dover’s new head coach.

Spadafino replaces his own high school coach, Dave Gordon, who stepped down after 11 seasons at the Senators’ helm.

“I couldn’t imagine this was ever going to happen — I didn’t think Gordon was ever going to leave,” said Spadafino, who is a phys ed teacher at Dover. “And rightfully so. He’s had plenty of success here.

“When I was lucky enough to get the job out of college. ... it was kind of like this is too good to be true. Since getting my foot in the door in the school on the teaching side, it’s been a dream to just become a head coach.”

A former Delaware baseball team captain, Spadafino takes over a program that was one of the most successful in the state under Gordon. He finished with a record of 144-59, reaching the DIAA state semifinals five times in a six-year stretch.

Spadafino was a pitcher on the first two of those squads.

“Obviously there’s been a great foundation laid from what Gordon’s done over the last 10 years,” said Spadafino, who was the Henlopen Conference assistant Coach of the Year last spring.

Spadafino said the fact that the program has top-level facilities, an indoor batting cage and some talented young players makes the opportunity exciting.

Most of the Senators’ coaching staff will stay the same. Kyle McGuire, Bobby Brown and Stephen Wilson will still be assisting.

Polytech grad Gabe Rivera, who just finished his playing career at Delaware State, is now teaching in the Capital School District and plans to coach, too.

Also a football assistant coach, Spadafino said Gordon has been preparing him for this moment the last few years. He said they still talk every week.

“He’s let be involved in a lot of different decision-making and having me help with certain things just to kind of get my feet wet,” said Spadafino. “A lot of things I’ve already seen the way it’s been handled. Going into my first year of (head) coaching I can say I’ve already seen this scenario play out, I already know how to handle it.