Fullerton Loses Garrido, Hopes to Have Replacement by Sept. 1

Augie Garrido, the Cal State Fullerton baseball coach who coached the Titans to national championships in 1979 and 1984, is expected to be named baseball coach at the University of Illinois in a news conference this morning, ending lengthy negotiations between Garrido and Illinois Athletic Director Neale Stoner, a longtime friend who hired Garrido to coach at Fullerton in 1973.

Garrido, who had a 667-292-6 record in 15 years as coach at the school, flew to Illinois Tuesday afternoon, his secretary said, and checked in at a Champaign, Ill., hotel. Garrido could not be reached for comment.

Fullerton Athletic Director Ed Carroll named a five-member search committee and said he expects to announce a replacement by Sept. 1.

Carroll said Tuesday night that Garrido has not submitted his resignation but that it is expected.

“We’re obviously disappointed. Augie built this program from a struggling Division II program to a two-time NCAA Division I champion,” Carroll said.

“I can’t say enough about him. But the fact he was so successful does not mean he’s leaving a sinking ship. He’s leaving a viable program, and there’s no question in my mind his replacement is going to be one of the great coaches in America.”

Loyola Marymount Coach Dave Snow, a former Garrido assistant at Fullerton, is one of the early names mentioned as a possible successor.

A central issue in the negotiations was whether Illinois would commit to planning a $1.5 million artificial turf field for its newly completed $2-million baseball facility.

Garrido said Monday he would not base his decision on whether Illinois raised the funds for an artificial turf field, but only on whether university administrators agreed “philosophically” that an artificial surface would be necessary to build a nationally prominent program in the Midwest climate.

Garrido said his salary at Illinois would be about $70,000, part of a package including camps and benefits worth more than $100,000. His salary at Fullerton is $57,108.

Carroll declined comment on reports that Fullerton made a counter-offer competitive with the Illinois offer.

“Money was not the most important thing,” Garrido said Monday. “I want to know where I can do the best job, where I would be most valuable.”

Fullerton teams went to four College World Series under Garrido and won 11 consecutive conference championships from 1974-84.

The Titans were 44-17 in 1987, winning the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. title but finishing second to Louisiana State in the NCAA South II Regional tournament.

Garrido replaces Tom Dedin, who was fired in July.

Fullerton pitching coach Bill Kernen will also leave Fullerton for Illinois, he said.

Steve DiTolla, an associate athletic director at Fullerton, will chair the five-member search committee. Other committee members are faculty representative Lee Gilbert, basketball Coach George McQuarn, former Titan Athletic Foundation president Pierre Nicolas and Linda Shimamoto, a student representative who also serves as the baseball office secretary and statistician.

GARRIDO AT FULLERTON

Year W L T Pct. 1973 19 33 1 .365 1974 37 17 .685 1975* 36 16 1 .692 1976 48 15 .762 1977 44 14 .759 1978 44 13 .772 1979** 60 14 1 .811 1980 49 18 1 .731 1981 47 18 .723 1982* 51 23 .689 1983 50 21 1 .704 1984** 66 20 .767 1985 36 32 1 .529 1986 36 21 .632 1987 44 17 .721 Totals 667 292 6 .696

* NCAA Regional champion.

** NCAA champion.