Gillespie Honored a Third Time as National JC Baseball Coach of Year

Mike Gillespie, who in 16 years as baseball coach at College of the Canyons won 11 conference championships and three state titles, was honored Saturday as the national junior college baseball coach of the year.

It was the third time Gillespie has won the award. He also won in 1981 and 1983.

Gillespie, who received the award during halftime at Canyons’ home basketball game against Oxnard on Saturday night, led the Cougars last season out of the loser’s bracket to win the state title with a pair of same-day wins over Rancho Santiago in Long Beach.

After the season, Gillespie replaced Rod Dedeaux as coach at USC. Gillespie, 46, who played on a national championship team at USC in 1961, compiled a 418-165 record at Canyons, including last season’s 41-6--a state record for most wins.

The award, which is presented by the National Assn. of Junior College Athletics, came eight months after Gillespie was named the state coach of the year.