After 24 years leading the Mayville varsity baseball program, Head Coach Corey Held has announced he is stepping back from the dugout. During his tenure, Held guided the Cardinals to three conference championships, three regional titles, and 297 career wins, leaving a lasting mark on Mayville athletics and generations of players.
Held said the timing felt right as his own children—born shortly after he began coaching—finished their time in the sport. “My kids were born shortly after I started coaching, and I planned to coach until they were done playing,” he said.
Across more than two decades, Held has coached countless innings and unforgettable moments. He said some of the most meaningful seasons came during the Cardinals’ conference championship years. “Definitely our conference championship teams of 2003, 2004, and 2025. Those were some special teams. They played for each other, trusted each other, and pulled for one another,” he said.
One moment still stands above the rest. “Our walk-off win in the sectional semi-final in 2004 was the most exciting end to a game in my coaching career,” Held shared. He added that the 2017 and 2025 teams also brought excitement with their many come-from-behind victories.
Ending his career on the heels of last year’s remarkable season made the decision even more memorable. “This last season could have been the most fun that I have had coaching. Several of the players have played for me since they were six or seven years old. They were picked to finish towards the bottom of the conference, which I didn’t agree with. We won a bunch of games at the end of the season to win the conference championship, then lost a heartbreaker in the regional final. But to end my career with that season really was the icing on the cake.”
Over time, coaching changed not only Held’s perspective on the game, but his approach. “As my coaching career progressed, I learned to focus less on the wins and losses. I learned to focus more on the process than the result,” he said.
That mindset shaped the way he guided his players, year after year. When asked what he hopes they take away from their time under his leadership, Held was clear: “I hope they take away a greater understanding and appreciation for baseball.”
As Held steps away, his impact is also reflected in the words of Mayville Athletic Director Scott Hilber, who praised the consistency, leadership, and stability the longtime coach brought to the program.
“Coach Held has been coaching in Mayville way before I ever came here, but as an alum and interested observer from afar, I always recognized Mayville Baseball as being one of the sports in town that had consistent leadership, and through that leadership came consistently competitive teams. To have one person dedicate over 20 years to one sports program is remarkable, and Coach Held's leadership was invaluable to these kids because they always knew what was expected of them, and I know for a fact they have come to appreciate that leadership. I commend Corey for his commitment to Mayville baseball and Mayville athletics as a whole.”
Held also credited the people surrounding the program for its long-standing tradition of success. While he didn’t pinpoint a single key, his reflections pointed to culture, continuity, and community support as defining traits of Mayville baseball.
As he steps away from daily practices, game-day strategy, and the energy of the ballpark, Held said the relationships built over the years are what he will miss most. “I will miss being at the ballpark. I will also miss the strategizing and managing that goes into a baseball game. One of the most special things I have taken from this position is the friendships I have made with other coaches—whether that be the coaches from the Flyway conference, the non-conference teams we play, and especially the assistants that have worked with me.”
Retirement from coaching doesn’t mean stepping away from the sport he grew up with. “Baseball will always be a part of my life. I work baseball camps in the summer and will continue to do that. My sons play in the Rock River League, and I love going to watch their games. I plan on getting into umpiring this coming spring as well,” Held said.
Reflecting on what Mayville baseball has meant to him and his family, Held offered heartfelt gratitude. “Mayville Baseball has been a huge part of my family’s life since coming to Mayville. I would like to thank the families that have welcomed us and supported us throughout my coaching career in Mayville.”
After 24 years, countless players, and nearly 300 wins, Corey Held’s legacy is woven into the fabric of Mayville baseball — not just in trophies and titles, but in the lessons, connections, and love of the game he leaves behind.
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