Craven Makes Choice for All Concerned

In announcing his resignation Saturday night as baseball coach at Cal State Northridge, Terry Craven said that in the past year he had “learned new meanings for words such as loyalty, trust, support and commitment.”

In an interview this week, he remained vague as to what prompted him to step down after four years as the Matadors’ coach.

“Obviously, you can get into some very, very minute details about, ‘What do you really mean by this . . . and what do you mean by that?’ ” Craven said Monday. “I don’t think it needs to go beyond that.”

Denying speculation to the contrary, Craven said he was not forced out by Athletic Director Bob Hiegert, whom he succeeded as coach. Craven and Hiegert met 2 1/2 weeks ago for Craven’s annual performance review and Hiegert said Saturday that he had not asked for Craven’s resignation.

“All the factors and all the situations and all that kind of stuff lent themselves to this being the logical thing to happen right now,” Craven said. “For me, for the program, for the whole bit, it’s the best choice. The best way to go.”

With Northridge expected to elevate its program to Division I status, it was speculated that, for Craven to keep his job, the Matadors would have to win the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. championship, which they have not done outright since 1975, or qualify for the Division II World Series, which they have not done since Hiegert resigned after winning his second national championship in 1984.

In his 18-year career, Hiegert’s teams also won six conference championships and compiled a record of 609-411-9. Craven, an assistant under Hiegert for 14 years, has a four-year record of 118-98-1. The comparisons between the two have been a source of frustration for both. Craven said the comparisons were “part of one of the reasons,” for his resignation, but “not a major factor.”

Said Craven: “Obviously, I didn’t like it and Bob didn’t like it, but it was something that existed and there’s nothing you can do about it. I’ll obviously be glad not to have to listen to that and he’ll be glad not to have to answer questions about it.”

Regardless of the circumstances surrounding his departure, Craven was both sad and pragmatic about the day he officially will end his 20-year association with the university.

“The reality of actually packing your bags and leaving is definitely going to be a very dramatic and traumatic type thing,” said Craven, whose resignation becomes effective July 1. “It’s not something that you ever want to look forward to or look at as a possibility of happening. But you have to deal with reality and say, ‘Hey, this is what is going to happen.’ ”

Craven was an All-American outfielder in 1965 for what was then known as San Fernando Valley State. He joined the Northridge staff in 1970.

Craven said his four years as coach have been generally positive but also frustrating.

Last season, the Matadors were 37-22 overall and 18-12 in the CCAA. The team finished second in the conference and second in the Division II Western regional, losing both to Cal State Dominguez Hills.

“Other than here or a few other places, to be where we were at the end of our second loss to Dominguez in the playoffs is an accomplishment,” Craven said. “I mean, it’s a very positive thing. And yet it’s frustrating because . . . you feel that you should have gone further. It’s tough to wipe out that won-loss syndrome.”

The Matadors, who lost Tuesday to Cal Poly Pomona, 2-0, are 17-28 overall, 8-12 in conference play this season.

“Every team in our conference experienced some of the things that we did as far as injuries, guys leaving the team and guys not performing to the level you thought they were going to,” Craven said. “You need people to do certain things and if they don’t do them it doesn’t happen for you.”

Many Northridge players said that they had heard rumors that Craven’s job was in jeopardy this season but were surprised that Craven announced his resignation with 13 games left in the season. Most said the team’s performance this season had little to do with Craven’s ability to coach.

“I don’t think the players did the job,” senior outfielder Lenn Gilmore said. “There’s situations when you can second-guess a coach, but this season wasn’t one of them. It was just hard luck for him to coach this team this season.”

Said senior second baseman Jimmy Mitchell: “He had mentioned before that coaches at Northridge have a one-year contract and that his job was on the line year by year.

“But no one was really expecting the announcement. It kind of let the air out of things. I think it was good for him to get it out.”

Craven said the timing of his announcement was precipitated somewhat by daily calls and letters from potential recruits and coaches interested in scheduling games next season.

“It’s been tough to be honest without saying, ‘Hey, I’m not going to be here next year, don’t talk to me,” Craven said. “You don’t want to just shut people down but I got tired of saying, ‘I’ll get back to you,’ or ‘We’ll get back and let you know,’ and all that kind of stuff.

“I think it needed to be said.”

The question Craven faces now is: What’s next? He said he won’t worry about that until after the last game of the season May 14.

“I want to get through this year before I go all out in pursuit of something else,” Craven said. “I want to stay in college baseball. That’s what I really want to do. Professional baseball, college and junior college baseball and high school baseball. Like everybody else, I have contacts in all those areas.”

Craven said he is looking forward to new challenges and learning experiences. He knows, however, that there will be sadness when he leaves the Northridge campus for the last time.

“Everything that you’re normally doing at this time of year--the recruiting, the scheduling, the budget preparations, the seeing what you need for next year, I still have the natural inclination to start to do that,” Craven said. “And then I have to say, ‘Whoops, that’s not your concern anymore.”