From records obtained by the university, The Post learned Monday that 23-year-coach Joe Carbone filed for early retirement May 9. The Post soon learned that Carbone would be rehired after his official retirement took effect July 1 for a final season in 2012. Carbone discussed his decision Monday evening, on his 63rd birthday.
The Post: Why did you decide to retire?
Joe Carbone: Basically, where I'm at in the (State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio), the number of years I have in, where the retirement system is going with the economy and everything, it's best for me and my family that I retire at the end of next year.
Post: We'd actually heard something at the paper about the employee retirement packages changing. Is that what you're referring to?
Carbone: Well, yeah, with the economy the way it is, the state teaching retirement system is cutting back on their benefits and such. So, you know, if I don't retire by next year, the amount of time, what I work for, was going to be negatively affected, on the number of years I put in.
I sat down with my wife, Pat, and we decided as a family this is what's best for our family. And next year will be 24 years, and that's how long coach Wren was a coach at Ohio University, 24 years. And I was an assistant coach for 18 years, so I've been a college baseball assistant coach or head coach for 42 years. So, you know, I'm comfortable with the decision, and it's probably time for me to move on, and give somebody else a chance to coach here at Ohio University.
I think after next year, the following year, I'll take some time off, but I think I'll continue on coaching in some capacity, somewhere, someway.
Post: At the college level?
Carbone: I'm probably going to go into either a college summer league situation or a professional baseball situation.
Post: Really? Cool. Do you have contacts in the Major Leagues?
Carbone: Mm-hmm.
Post: If I understand it right, it sounds like your decision had less to do with you and your feelings about Ohio baseball, and more to do with retirement and financial stuff?
Carbone: It's, you know, you dedicate your whole life to coaching and you kind of sacrifice your family a little bit with your travel and your time away from home and what you do and everything, and then you get to a time in your life, where, "Okay, I need to do what's best for my family." And family is number one.
Ohio University is special for me. I was a student-athlete here for four years and a head coach for 24, so I spent 28 years at Ohio University. I've given Ohio University 100 percent of my ability, and Ohio University has been great to me. They allowed me to be a student athlete here and allowed me to come back and coach here. I love Ohio University. I love the students, I love my players, I love my coaches, I even love the Post writers.
At this time in my life, where I'm at, it's best for me to step away from Ohio University at the end of 2012, that's it. I'm just going to move on with my life. I have other things I want to do in my life. After July 1, 2012, I'll move on and do some other things with my life.
Post: Yeah. Jason Corriher said you were re-upping for another year. Is that going to be a separate contract situation?
Carbone: Yeah it is, kind of. But it's still the same thing, I'm still doing the same thing. It's just a paperwork thing.
Post: Obviously you decided to come and stay for the extra year. I was talking to a player, and he said it was partly because you wanted to keep that commitment to the recruits that you told you would be here. Was that partly why you decided to stay?
Carbone: I had contractual commitments, and commitments I made to families of student-athletes that are coming in next year. And I wanted to fulfill those commitments that I made, that have been in the best interests of Ohio baseball and Ohio University. I didn't want to renege on those commitments. I've been honest since I've been here, and that's what I felt we needed to do. And the athletic department and the university were very understanding on that.
Post: Was that pretty much the main reason, or was there something else that made you want to stay another year?
Carbone: (That's the) main reason. What's best for my family, and the commitments that I've made to student-athletes and the parents. And baseball contractual agreements that I've made with some sporting goods companies.
Post: Was there any reason in particular you didn't tell the players about your decision?
Carbone: I wasn't going to say anything until the season was over, but the Post writers were scrambling around. ... I didn't want to talk to my players. I didn't want this to get out until after the season was over with. I didn't want anything to be about me during the season. I wanted it to be about my team and the players. I didn't want to distract them, and neither did the athletic department. But, when people put things out that you don't want said before you really want to do it, and half the guys read it on The Post web page... It was, now, we made a decision and I have to bring the guys in and let them know. And I apologized to the guys, that this is not how I wanted it to go down. I wanted to tell them first. After I told my family and I told my assistant coaches what my plan was, as soon as the season was over with, I was going to tell my players.
Post: When did you actually make the decision to retire and come back for a year?
Carbone: After I saw the facts, of all that's going on in the retirement system, and so on and so forth, after I met with the state teachers retirement system. I think it was March when they were here. Or February, it was February. My wife and I had a meeting with the state teaching retirement people, and what the facts were and where the retirement system in the state of Ohio was going. And what's best for my wife and I (was) to retire in 2012. That's when we kind of made the decision. She and I made the decision, and then after I talked to Mr. Schaus about what I was thinking and where I was planning on going. But it wasn't totally official until May.
Post: And you mentioned that you'll have been here 24 years, like coach Wren...
Carbone: That's a long time for any one coach to be at any one school. I mean, if you look across the country now, any coach in Division I athletics to be in there for more than 20 years at any one school in today's age, that's a long time. How old are you?
Post: I'm 22.
Carbone: Can you believe this? I've been at Ohio University as the head baseball coach longer than you've been alive (laughs). I've been the head baseball coach here longer than any of my players have been alive.
