Rival’s Aide Takes Post at Kennedy

Kennedy High turned to Mid-Valley League rival San Fernando to find a replacement for baseball Coach Dick Whitney, naming Tiger assistant Manny Alvarado on Friday to run the Golden Cougar program.

Whitney announced his retirement in May after four years as coach.

Alvarado, 34, who had been an assistant to Coach Steve Marden since Marden took over the San Fernando varsity in 1976, said he rejected an offer to become Canoga Park’s new coach because he preferred to stay in the same league.

“I feel that the Mid-Valley is where the best baseball is played,” he said. “Steve and I had two goals at the beginning of the season and we met them both--to make it to Dodger Stadium and to find me a program.”

Alvarado, who has coached and taught at Sepulveda Junior High the past two seasons, will continue to teach physical education at the school and will coach at Kennedy as a walk-on.

He plans to start immediately.

“I’ll be out there tomorrow to watch the kids who play Legion ball,” he said. “It’s hard to start a program as an off-campus coach, so I want to get right out, introduce myself and get rolling.”

Kennedy, the City Section 4-A Division champion in 1981 and ‘85, advanced to the semifinal round this season before losing to Canoga Park. San Fernando advanced to the final at Dodger Stadium, losing to Monroe, 3-2.

Whitney, who retired as baseball coach after Kennedy was eliminated from the playoffs last month, remains at the school as athletic director. He said he is confident that Alvarado will keep the Golden Cougar program on track.

“We wanted a guy who is committed to baseball,” Whitney said. “Manny is one of those 100% baseball men.”

Kennedy (19-10), this year’s Mid-Valley champion, could emerge as a league favorite next year. Among starters returning are Times’ All-Valley shortstop Gino Tagliaferri (.368, 5 home runs, 32 runs batted in), outfielder Shawn Madden (397, 5 HRs, 21 RBIs) and infielder Pat DeBoer (.313, 17 RBIs).

Outfielders Mike Murray and Danny Gugler and infielders Travis Bourne and Mitch Cizek, all of whom saw action last season, also return.

“I actually thought Kennedy had a real good chance of going all the way this year,” Alvarado said. “I hope it doesn’t take long for me to get back to Dodger Stadium again.”