August 31, 2007

Report: Ducks to hire Cal State-Fullerton baseball coach

The Associated Press

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The University of Oregon will hire Cal State-Fullerton baseball coach George Horton to restart its own varsity program, The Oregonian reported Friday night.

Oregon has not had a varsity baseball team in 26 years and is the only Pac-10 team without one.

The U of O Athletic Department announced a news conference for Saturday morning to introduce the new coach but did not name him.

Oregon has searched for a coach for two months.

Oregon recently announced it would revived baseball, drop wrestling and add competitive cheer.

Horton, 53, has taken his team to the College World Series six times. His team won in 2004, and he twice has been named national coach of the year.

In 2006, the Titans posted a team ERA of 2.76, the best in the nation.

He has strong California recruiting ties. Oregon State coach Pat Casey has had a virtual lock on in-state talent.

Horton emerged from a field of several candidates that included Dave Brundage, a former Oregon State player and manager in the Seattle Mariners system and now with Atlanta, Vanderbilt's Tim Corbin and University of California-Irvine's Dave Serrano.

Oregon plans to begin play with limited scholarships in 2009.