September 1, 2007

Ducks to name skipper today

Fullerton coach Horton expected to head new program

Statesman Journal

EUGENE -- Cal State Fullerton baseball coach George Horton is expected to be named today the new baseball coach at Oregon, according to multiple reports Friday.

Oregon officials would not confirm Horton's appointment, but the school has scheduled a 9:30 a.m. press conference to announce "the hiring of its first baseball coach in 26 years."

Horton, who led the Titans to the College World Series in six of his 11 seasons, would be given the challenge of starting a program from scratch. Oregon dropped baseball in 1981 because of budget cuts and Title IX considerations.

The Ducks will not start playing until the 2009 season. Oregon does not have a baseball facility and likely would play its games at Civic Stadium, home of the Eugene Emeralds, a short-season A Northwest League affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

Horton accumulated a 490-212-1 record at Fullerton and led the Titans to the 2004 national championship. He was named Big West coach of the year five times. Fullerton was eliminated in the 2007 CWS by UC Irvine.

Oregon's return to baseball will give the Pac-10 its full complement of 10 teams.

Dave Brundage, a former OSU player who is the manager of the Atlanta Braves Triple-A team in Richmond, Va., reportedly interviewed for the Oregon job. Brundage is a McKay High School graduate.