Scott Chiasson pours every ounce of energy into coaching baseball. A former major league pitcher, he loves the sport.

"I'm constantly thinking the whole game," Chiasson said. "By the end of the game, I'm worn out. I go home and go to bed."

His passion will serve him well in his first head coaching job. After spending two years as an assistant at Ledyard High School, he was hired as the head coach for the Colonels, replacing Sam Kilpatrick who resigned after 21 seasons.

"I'm extremely excited," Chiasson said Thursday. "Last year working with the kids and seeing them every day and watching them grow... they responded well and played great. We came out ready to play from the start and it showed in our record."

Ledyard won the Eastern Connecticut Large Division title, went 14-9 overall and lost to eventual Class M champion Rocky Hill in the second round of the state tournament.

Ledyard athletic Jim Buonocore announced the hiring of Chiasson.

"Scott has an outstanding background in the sport of baseball, not only as a player, but also as a coach," Buonocore said in a released statement. "I have been very impressed with his coaching style over the past two seasons he has been with our program at Ledyard as an assistant coach.

"He has great rapport with our student-athletes and is a wonderful teacher of the game of baseball. Scott has a clear understanding of the role academics and athletics plays in helping our students become fully educated adults. He is a wonderful role model for our student-athletes and he has been a super addition to our athletic department at Ledyard High School.

Buonocore added that Chiasson has the experience, knowledge and ability to take the baseball program to the next level. Chiasson, who works at Electric Boat, retired from professional baseball in 2011 after a 14-year career that included two short stints with the Chicago Cubs.

A former Norwich Free Academy and Eastern Connecticut State University standout, Chiasson expects a smooth transition. He's already familiar with the returning players. Nearly the entire pitching staff will be back. Pete Vincent and Nick Traystman will serve as his assistants.

"I don't think it is going to be any different from last year," Chiasson said. "We worked well together. I know all the kids coming back. I know the kids are excited. I know I'm excited. Hopefully, we can have a great season and we can build off last year."

g.keefe@theday.com