Mohney Will Replace Gillespie at Canyons

Len Mohney, 10 years an assistant baseball coach at College of the Canyons, stood in the dugout at Blair Field in Long Beach talking to reporters moments after the Cougars had won their third state title this year.

In the warm May air, rumors flew about the fate of the Canyons baseball program, arguably the best among California community colleges. Mohney didn’t know that Coach Mike Gillespie, long-rumored to be headed for USC, was only days away from being named to replace Rod Dedeaux at Southern California.

Mohney wasn’t sure what would become of Canyons baseball, and his apprehension was apparent.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Mohney, as he policed the dugout while the team and Gillespie celebrated in the clubhouse. “It’ll be tough around here without Mike. I’ve been here 10 years. That’s a long time with one guy. One thing’s for sure: It’ll be different.”

The difference begins tonight when Mohney, 31, will be named as the new coach of the Cougars, filling the vacancy that Gillespie left.

College administrators and Mohney himself have declined to confirm the announcement, fearing publicity may alter the board’s decision. But college president Ramon LaGrandeur said he “doesn’t anticipate any problems” at 7:30 tonight at Canyons when the Santa Clarita Community College District Board receives the president’s recommendation that Mohney be hired as Gillespie’s successor.

On Wednesday, a source close to the college’s athletic department confirmed that Mohney would indeed be named coach at Canyons.

Gillespie won 11 conference championships and three state titles in 16 years at Canyons, compiling a 418-165 record at Canyons. He was hired by USC June 3, replacing Dedeaux.

Mohney, like Gillespie who returned to USC where he played in 1960 and 1961, will be coaching at Canyons where he played in 1973 and 1974.

After Gillespie was named to the USC job, he said, “I know they have to accept applications and interview prospective coaches, but if I could choose my replacement, it would be Lenny.”

Mohney has been recommended unanimously to the Board by a six-person search committee that reviewed more than 20 applicants, including Valley College Coach Scott Muckey; Hart High Coach Frank Sanchez; Mike Pupcich, an assistant at Fresno State, and Ken Gaylord, the coach at Long Beach City.

Said LaGrandeur: “We didn’t hire Len as just a baseball coach. Len is a teacher, too. He has some very good strengths. He has been a part-time teacher on a regular basis here for five years and is highly regarded.

“Mike has mentioned many times that Len is a fine coach and he is very popular with players and students.”

Chris Zavatsky, who will return to the Cougars as a pitcher, said the college made the right choice.

“I don’t think they could have made a better decision,” Zavatsky said. “He’s been with the program, he knows the philosophy, and he has the respect of all the players.”

Although Mohney refused to say whether he knew who would get the job, he does believe his selection would be the most logical.

“With my knowledge of the game and my ability, I don’t think they can choose anybody else,” he said. “I’ve been with this program for 10 years and I know how to run it.”

Asked what he would do with the program, Mohney said, “I’m hopeful that I can keep the tradition going. Maybe tradition is a bad word because I don’t want anybody to think that I think we’re going to go right out and win three state championships.

“But I want the scouts and four-year schools to continue to respect us. I want the other teams in our league to respect us.”

As far as replacing Gillespie, Mohney said: “I’m not going to fill his shoes. No one will--ever. But I do think I can keep the program at a level where he would be satisfied. For the last 10 years, he’s been my big brother and I’ve been his apprentice. I’m not going to let him down.”