September 19, 2007

Ducks baseball sends ripple across West Coast

John Ames

Quite the little soap opera has been playing out this summer in college baseball on the West Coast.

The first domino fell when Oregon decided to revive the dormant Ducks baseball program.

Among the candidates for the head-coaching job were Baseball America’s 2007 Coach of the Year, Dave Serrano of UC Irvine. He met with them. He told them no.

He met with them again. According to Baseball America’s College Blog (where I have been following this drama), Serrano said, “I’m extremely happy at UC Irvine, but I’d be neglecting the opportunity of a lifetime if I didn’t see what’s best for my career and family.”

Despite the attraction of coaching in Nike’s backyard Serrano again declined Oregon’s advances, choosing family over money. “I hope this shows my commitment to UC Irvine and our team,” he said.

Oregon ended up hiring Fullerton’s George Horton, who left behind longtime assistant Rick Vanderhook. Both Horton and Serrano lobbied for Vanderhook as the logical choice to succeed Horton as Fullerton’s coach.

Serrano quickly and emphatically ended speculation that he was in the running for the Fullerton job.

Seven days later Serrano became Fullerton’s new head coach. But what about Vanderhook? Would Serrano keep him on?

And what about the assistants Serrano left behind at Irvine? Serrano stated that his first priority was to protect his Irvine assistants. But he had spoken so glowingly about Vanderhook previously.

Well, I’m sorry to say Vanderhook is the odd man out in this shell game. When Serrano learned neither of his assistants would be considered for the top job at Irvine, he brought them to Fullerton.