BREAKING NEWS: Chad Kreuter Fired
by Joey Kaufman on Aug 9, 2010 3:41 PM PDT
in USC Baseball
Email
Print
Pat Haden isn't messing around. In just his second week as the school's athletic director, the former Trojan quarterback took decisive action toward fixing the once proud USC baseball program by firing its inept leader - Chad Kreuter, sources told Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times earlier this afternoon. An official announcement is expected to come later today, which will likely read as:
"Chad Kreuter is not a very good baseball coach, and we aren't going to employ individuals who aren't competent at their so-called professions."
Yes, it's about time. Granted, it's about two years too late, but at the very least, the man responsible for turning the USC baseball program into a perennial Pac-10 bottom dweller is no longer on the school's payroll.
Since Mike Gillespie, who led the Trojans to a College World Series title in 1998, was forced to retire by then-athletic director Mike Garrett following the 2006 season, Kreuter has gone on to compile a 111-117 record as manager at USC - a far cry from the days when the Trojans had arguably the best program in the country under legendary coach Rod Dedeaux.
And to make matters even worse for Kreuter, his predecessor, Gillespie, has led the Anteaters to three consecutive NCAA regionals and even one super regional in just three years as the manager at UC Irvine.
But in all likelihood, it was the 2010 season that proved to be most damaging to Kreuter's coaching career. Despite featuring a competent collection of pitchers and one of the top power hitters nationally in sophomore first baseman Ricky Oropesa, the Trojans finished last in the Pac-10, compiling a mark of 7-20 in conference play. In short, the team that had one of the fielding percentages in the country and seemed incompetent at fielding the most routine double plays, wasn't very good. In fact, they were awful.
Luckily, the Trojans now have an athletic director, who isn't simply going to accept 10th place finishes.
"I said one one of my goals was to return the USC baseball program to national prominence," noted Haden. "No reason we shouldn't be there."
I couldn't agree more.
In the meanwhile, volunteer assistant Frank Cruz, who served as the head coach at Loyola Marymount for 12 seasons before being let go in 2008, will serve as interim manager.
Fight On!
UPDATE below the fold...
Anyone who thinks that 'SC isn't the job check this out...
One very prominent coach in college baseball: "USC has ALWAYS been THE job in college baseball and out here in California. Period." #usc
Kendall Rogers
ysportsncaabb
Here is another...
Another very prominent coach: "USC has great advantages because of weather, etc.. But 12 national titles is all you need to know." #uscKendall Rogers
ysportsncaabb
'SC will be fine...we will get the right guy.
48 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Wow I can't believe he let Chad go he was such a winner.
So Fight On USC followers and Don’t worry WE Will Still Play on Saturdays and Bowls will come later, for WE ARE SC not That other Softball University. Oh and don’t say you now have a baseball team, it’s not Real Baseball unless you use Wooden Bats
by so.cal.native1952 on Aug 9, 2010 3:48 PM PDT reply actions
At USC we're not snobs, we're just better than you.
by TrojanCBB on Aug 9, 2010 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
First guy that needs to be looked at is...
UCLA’s John Savage. But not sure he would want to leave for ’SC, especially since UCLA has a lot more built-in advantages nowadays, as a public school. However, he did once coach here so who knows.
Follow me on twitter @Joey_Kaufman
Well there is always Horton, I think they can get him away from OSU or how about Wallach.
So Fight On USC followers and Don’t worry WE Will Still Play on Saturdays and Bowls will come later, for WE ARE SC not That other Softball University. Oh and don’t say you now have a baseball team, it’s not Real Baseball unless you use Wooden Bats
by so.cal.native1952 on Aug 9, 2010 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Ok but he is a so-cal- guy that went to CC and CSUF and coach at CC and CSUF
So Fight On USC followers and Don’t worry WE Will Still Play on Saturdays and Bowls will come later, for WE ARE SC not That other Softball University. Oh and don’t say you now have a baseball team, it’s not Real Baseball unless you use Wooden Bats
by so.cal.native1952 on Aug 9, 2010 11:58 PM PDT up reply actions
No to Savage...
we can do better…
lets not get carried away with one year at Westwood…
"Mention USC to a Bruin and they get angry; mention UCLA to a Trojan and they laugh."
Still
Top recruits are loving Savage. Will be interesting to see if Kreuter’s recruits stick with ’SC. I think yes.
At the very least
it would be entertaining to see the UCLA people spin Savage’s departure. Would go from a hero to a complete jerk. Because, your current program has to be your dream job, right?
Follow me on twitter @Joey_Kaufman
From the LA Times Article:
“Oregon Coach George Horton, UCLA Coach John Savage, Cal State Fullerton Coach Dave Serrano and University of San Diego Coach Rich Hill probably will be pursued to gauge interest.”
Horton has all of Phil Knight’s money, so I doubt he’d leave. I can’t imagine Savage coming back after we passed him over in favor of the Modesto Nuts manager. And Dave Serrano has one of the best jobs in all of college baseball at CSF. I’m not saying we can’t get any of those guys, but it sure seems unlikely.
Rich Hill, though, has only ever managed at private colleges (actually, I think he’s only managed at religious private colleges), so he’d be ready to take on the disadvantages that USC faces. The USC job would be a clear step up, but he’s nowhere near as well-established as those other three guys.
Anybody have clues as to who we might hire?
THIS GUY!
With the grease fire that is the Dodgers organization, he may well consider the job.
Salve Caesar Augustus Kiffinus!
Ad astra per aspera
He's not a particularly good manager in my opinion
and I think he’d be more likely to retire than take a college job.
[DELETED ZOMG NO POLITICS]
What about the guy at Fresno State?
He just won a CWS a year ago. To be fair his team this year didn’t do so well.
by ev on Aug 9, 2010 6:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Here's Frank Cruz, our interim Manager
Frank was head coach at LMU from 1997 to 2008. He can certainly handle the job until we find the right guy. No mistakes allowed!
Salve Caesar Augustus Kiffinus!
Ad astra per aspera
got a bit of a psycho look about him!
"Mention USC to a Bruin and they get angry; mention UCLA to a Trojan and they laugh."
Definitely
The eyes of MAD MAN!
"You can't sanction heart, and you can't sanction the will to win" - USC QB, Matt Barkley
I'm going to throw a name out that I'd like to at least see interviewed
Morgan Ensberg. Former Trojan, former MLB player, and based on his writings online a really intelligent guy with a lot of baseball knowledge.
If someone doesn’t offer him a major league job I think USC should really look into hiring him.
[DELETED ZOMG NO POLITICS]
Interesting option
But with the drawing power of ‘SC, you’d think we could just reel in a big name.
Follow me on twitter @Joey_Kaufman
by Joey Kaufman on Aug 9, 2010 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions
The drawing power of a team that just went 111 – 117 under the former coach? It’s been a long time since the baseball team was good, in college player generational terms. Let’s not get carried away by “sleeping giant” metaphors.
"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea"
Oh man
He’s a character, and I’d love to see him come back to SC in some capacity. He was briefly with the Padres, as well, which was nice.
I was at USC when Ensberg was there, went to every home game. During one of the games, one of the umpires needed to leave the game (forget why), leaving them without a third base umpire. USC is in the field, Ensberg at third. Batter checks his swing, the catcher (pretty sure it was Munson) appeals in the direction that the third base umpire would have been. With no umpire out there, though, Ensberg indicates that he went around, and the home plate umpire rings him up.
Just a little moment, but pretty awesome. That team was amazing, and it’s be nice to bring back someone who was a key part of that USC team.
Hell yeah!
I love baseball and I hate that the team sucks while I am at school, hopefully the new hire can turn it around and get something going in the next couple of years.
"Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.
Sorry, but that’s simply not how it works."
"This is America, if we can’t self-righteously look down on others and blame them for our faults, the commies win."--Cormican on Aug 13, 2009 7:28 PM PDT
Don't forget Larry Bowa.
So Fight On USC followers and Don’t worry WE Will Still Play on Saturdays and Bowls will come later, for WE ARE SC not That other Softball University. Oh and don’t say you now have a baseball team, it’s not Real Baseball unless you use Wooden Bats
by so.cal.native1952 on Aug 10, 2010 12:00 AM PDT reply actions
Any chance we can borrow Haden for a couple of days to go up to Berkeley and take care of a small problem with our baseball coach??
Careful, man. There's a beverage here!
by SoCal Oski on Aug 10, 2010 8:18 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
This will not be a popular comment...
But you can have Haden…I think the luster will wear off quickly.
Let’s just say I think he is a good stop-gap measure for right now.
I am not going to say anymore than that…
"Mention USC to a Bruin and they get angry; mention UCLA to a Trojan and they laugh."
Actually you've got at point
Haden is there to build up academics and crack heads in football, basketball and baseball, and to promote girls sports.
We’re all about Project Stanford, and it’s not a bad thing.
Were not going back to the days when football was everything; that’s for your SEC and Big 12 type “football schools”, a term our BOT finds “distasteful.” Can’t say I disagree.
Salve Caesar Augustus Kiffinus!
Ad astra per aspera
Hmmm, I think we should rename the Heritage Hall after him. :-)
Death to the NCAA!!!
by DFWTrojan on Aug 10, 2010 9:24 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
+1 We're going to pile up those Title IX trophies!
And think of all those Olympians! “Haden Hall” has a nice ring to it.
Salve Caesar Augustus Kiffinus!
Ad astra per aspera
Btw, in case anyone doubts President Max's intentions
Here’s an excerpt from his announcement of the search for a new Provost:
“I believe this appointment is particularly critical at this juncture in USC’s history, as we embark on our journey to take the university into the ranks of undisputed elite universities.”LINK
This laudable goal is DESTINED to collide with our love of elite football. President Max couldn’t have been more clear through the AD, our models are Stanford and Notre Dame, culture of compliance, winning the right way, yada, yada. The Seantrel Henderson’s of the world will not make it at President Max’s USC, no wonder Kiffin had to let go.
Btw. Just received the 2010 Media Guide. The cover is unaltered 11 NC’s and 7 Heismans. RB retained his spot in the Heisman Salute on page 144. FTW!
Salve Caesar Augustus Kiffinus!
Ad astra per aspera
Mine came last week
Same 11 NC, 31 Bowl Wins, 7 Heisman, 156 All-Americans, 437 NFL Players. Asterisk on pg 144, but he’s there.
"You can't sanction heart, and you can't sanction the will to win" - USC QB, Matt Barkley
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
