Snow Cites Loyola Ties, Rejects Fullerton Offer

The forecast calls for more Snow at Loyola Marymount and school officials couldn’t be happier.

Baseball Coach Dave Snow, believed to be the first choice to replace recently departed Augie Garrido at Cal State Fullerton after three successful seasons at Loyola, had spoken with the Fullerton athletic department about the position in late August.

It was widely assumed he would return to the school where he was an assistant to Garrido on two NCAA championship teams.

But Snow subsequently met with Loyola officials, asked for improvements in the program and facilities, was offered a raise and decided to stay at Loyola.

“When it finally came down to it, I realized I liked it here and if I left there would be some unfinished business for some of the goals I’ve got here,” Snow said.

Athletic Director Brian Quinn and other officials put together a formal contract for Snow by the end of August.

“We wanted him very much to stay,” Quinn said. “We feel our program is one of the best around here. We feel we did some things to help the program. Those things helped keep Dave.”

Snow was hired at Loyola for the 1985 season after handling the pitching staff for the 1984 Fullerton team that won the College World Series. Previously he had won four conference titles and one state title as head coach at Valley College.

Taking over a Loyola team that had won only 11 games in 1984, Snow produced a 27-28 record in 1985. In 1986, he took the Lions to the College World Series and finished with a 50-15 record. Last season his team won 36 games.

Larry Cochell, who coached last season at Northwestern, was named Thursday to replace Garrido. Yet when Garrido was hired by the University of Illinois, Snow was thought to be the first choice of Fullerton--a move many would regard as a step up. But not Quinn.

“I don’t see it as a step up,” he said. “We have a good program, an excellent conference, a strong schedule. . . . I believe Dave all along wanted to stay. He had a tremendous recruiting year. He’s got a major schedule--we go to Hawaii next year.”

Snow said Fullerton’s timing wasn’t good, either. “For me to leave this late, with the emphasis we stress on loyalty and commitment, would go against the grain,” he said.