Coach Warrecker takes job at Cal Poly
2010 SBCC BASEBALL
By Dave Loveton, Sports Information
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
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SBCC coach turned program around
After turning a struggling SBCC baseball squad into one of the top programs in the state, head coach Teddy Warrecker stepped down on Tuesday to accept a full-time assistant coaching position at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
He'll join his mentor, head coach Larry Lee, with the Mustangs, who went 23-32 last season. Warrecker will be in charge of catchers, hitters and recruiting.
Warrecker, 37, compiled a 193-198-2 record as the part-time head coach of the Vaqueros over the last 10 seasons. Prior to his arrival, the team had endured 19 straight sub-.500 seasons. In the last seven years, he guided Santa Barbara to six winning campaigns and three regional playoff appearances.
In 2007, his team posted a school-best record of 34-10 and won its first WSC North title in 29 years with a 20-5 mark. Over the last four years, the Vaqueros have gone 102-65 (.611).
"It's been a dream of mine to coach at the Division1 level," said Warrecker, the son of legendary Santa Barbara High coach Fred Warrecker. "I've known for at least five years that's where I wanted to be. Coach Lee approached me about the job and it really came out of left field.
"In this business, it's all about who you know. Larry is my mentor and the best part about the hire is the dynamic and the school and the fit."
In 2003, Warrecker called Lee and asked if he could pick his brain about baseball.
"I wanted to know about the technical aspects and the teaching part of the game," Warrecker recalled. "He agreed to do it and that's how the relationship started. Two, three, sometimes four times a year, I'd drive up to San Luis and sit in his office or walk on the field and talk about anything and everything related to baseball. He's an incredible teacher."
Lee, who played one year at SBCC, enjoyed an outstanding career at Cuesta prior to coming to Cal Poly in 2002. When he was picked for the California Community College Baseball Hall of Fame, he asked Warrecker to introduce him.
"That was an incredible honor," said Warrecker. "Out of all the players who had played for him and coaches who had worked with him, he chose me. We've had a connection and now we're going to be together and I think it's going to be a great fit."
The 2010 SBCC team went 20-16 and broke the school record for homers (56) and WSC batting average (.331). Conner Rehage belted 13 homers and Tommy White had the second-highest batting average in school history at .424. UCSB-bound Zach Edgington was named WSC North co-Pitcher of the Year. Edgington was 6-3 with a 2.92 ERA and his 101 strikeouts were No. 2 in the state. He set a school record with 21 strikeouts against Ventura.
Warrecker played catcher and first base at Santa Barbara High, Hancock and the University of Arizona, then spent six years in the minor leagues as a pitcher, mostly with the Cleveland Indians. He'll start his job in San Luis Obispo on July 26. Warrecker and his wife, Taryn, have a son, Troy, who turns four in August.
"We're sad to see him go but happy he's getting this opportunity," said interim SBCC athletic director Ellen O'Connor. "He's been Mr. SBCC baseball the last 10 years and did a great job of reviving the program and turning it into a contender in the WSC.
"He worked tirelessly to improve the field and surroundings at Pershing Park to provide student-athletes with a home field that reflected excellence."
Warrecker paid meticulous attention to the Pershing Park baseball field and helped build dugouts and install a scoreboard in 2005. His fondest memories are the first trip to the playoffs in 2005 and the record-setting season of '07.
"I remember walking around an outlet mall in Camarillo and getting the call that we made the playoffs in 2005," Warrecker said. "That was the first time we made the playoffs since 1978 and it was a huge high. Obviously, the conference championship in 2007 when we had the best record in school history and set another record with our 13-game win streak.
"I can remember my first day on the job as clear as yesterday and I can't believe that 10 seasons have gone by in a flash. It was such a great opportunity to learn from the head coaching position. There wasn't much here when I started and we've really put the program on the map and moved a lot of guys on (to four-year schools)."
Delwyn Young, who played for the Vaqueros in 2002, is with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Warrecker said pitcher Ryan Gardner is off to a great start with the Cleveland organization.
"We've sent about 10 guys to the pros and a lot to NCAA Div. 1," noted Warrecker. "I'll be coaching against four guys who played for me who are now at UCSB (Edgington, Jeremy Peterson, Bryce Uhrig and Connor Whalen).
"SBCC will be a part of me forever. It's been my heart and soul. I wish I could have seen the program go where I still think it can go. It can go way beyond what it is right now."
