New Loyola Baseball Coach Promises More of the Same

The Dave Snow era is over at Loyola Marymount University, but the new Chris Smith era may not look much different.

Loyola officials, at least, hope the results are similar.

Smith, Snow’s 29-year-old former assistant, was named the school’s baseball coach on Wednesday, following in the footsteps of his mentor. Snow, who coached Loyola for four seasons, resigned last week to take a similar post at Cal State Long Beach.

Loyola Athletic Director Brian Quinn did a quick series of interviews with prospective coaches, but leaned toward the continuity of a Snow assistant, and Smith was the leading candidate all along.

“We knew the type of people we wanted right away,” Quinn said. “This is a unique place, it’s not for everybody. People have to buy into our philosophy, which is graduating our student-athletes. I think the people we’ve got here understand that.”

He also expects Smith to maintain the winning momentum Snow established the last three years.

“He’s one of the best young coaches in the West,” Quinn said. “We feel Chris will continue the successes and the program will continue its rise that Dave started.”

Smith, a Long Beach native, played for Snow at Valley College and later became his top assistant there and at Loyola. He was Snow’s recruiting coordinator as well as hitting instructor and third base coach for Snow’s first three seasons at Loyola. He recruited most of the players he will inherit.

Last year, Smith became a minor-league manager in the Angels system, working with the Salem Angels. He then switched to the Yankees organization, where he was a minor-league instructor and scout.

Smith, who has a master’s degree in history, said Wednesday he is happy to be back in a collegiate atmosphere.

“I think I learned a lot in professional baseball but, just from my background, I really missed campus life,” he said. “I’m real familiar with the system here and the kind of kid you have to recruit. I’m real comfortable with the kind of kid (who comes to Loyola). You get overachievers in this situation.”

Smith said the differences in his Loyola teams and Snow’s will stem mainly from their different personalities. They should be similar in style--attention to fundamentals, heavy hitting, sound defense.

“I was with Dave so long, we’ll be similar,” Smith said. “My personality’s different than Dave, but I really admire the type of program he runs.”

Smith, who has coached in the prestigious Alaska summer league in the past, won’t coach anywhere this summer, spending the next several months preparing for the fall season and beating the bushes for recruits.

“My goal this summer is to locate two good pitchers,” said Smith, adding that pitching is at such a premium that the pro teams sign most of the top prospects out of high school. “Whatever it takes, I’m going to find some arms. It’s hard work but they’re out there.”

Smith said the team returns a solid nucleus, though he’d also like to sign a catcher.

“We’re very comfortable in his ability to teach baseball, and if there’s a better hitting coach, I want to see him,” Quinn said. “I like his youth, I like his enthusiasm. I’m very comfortable with him, and I know he has a lot of support with the administration.”