Phil Orbe, the highly successful baseball coach at Montville High School, has stepped down to accept the athletic director's job at the school.

"I made a decision that I thought was best for me personally, knowing that our student-athletes were going to be in good hands,'' said Orbe.

Orbe, 45, is a Montville High School graduate and just completed his 21st season as the baseball coach. He led the team to CIAC Class M state titles in 2006, 2010 and 2011 and lost in the title games in 1998, 2003 and this season, when his team went 25-3 and had a 21-game winning streak. 

"Losing Phil as the baseball coach is a great loss,'' said Montville Superintendent of Schools Brian Levesque. "But he leaves the program in a great position for the new coach.''

Orbe replaces Walt Sherwin, who retired as the AD this spring.

"Phil has had a great career as the baseball coach, but has personal and professional goals that he would like to achieve,'' said Levesque. "This position is one that he's been preparing himself for for many years.''

As an administrator, Orbe will also step away from teaching but will remain as the social studies department head for the upcoming school year. He also hasn't ruled out returning to coach the Mystic Schooners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League next summer. He's in the midst of his second season as their coach.

"The decision to not coach in the spring, particularly after doing it for 21 years, was difficult,'' said Orbe.

— Dave Davis