Canoga Park Places Baseball Fortunes in Hands of Rookie Coach

One year removed from a City Section championship, Canoga Park High has selected a rookie coach to run its baseball program.

Principal Charles Molina announced Thursday that Jim Smith, a former minor league player in the Minnesota Twins organization, will replace Horace Consolo as the Hunters’ coach. Consolo resigned this spring after a 13-8 season in which Canoga Park placed second in the West Valley League and advanced to the semifinal round of the City 4-A Division playoffs.

Consolo had replaced Doug MacKenzie, who ran the program for nearly four decades. MacKenzie retired from teaching in 1987 after 37 years, leading Canoga Park to the City title in his final season.

Smith, 37, signed with the Twins in 1969 after his senior season at Birmingham High. He played for five seasons, the first three as an infielder-outfielder and the last two as a pitcher, advancing to the double-A level.

After an arthritic elbow ended his playing career in 1973, Smith returned to the San Fernando Valley and earned his teaching credential at Cal State Northridge. He has taught physical education at Pacoima Junior High for the past eight years and will assume a similar job next fall at Canoga Park.

Molina expressed confidence in his choice despite Smith’s lack of coaching experience.

“He impressed us as a strong teacher who can relate well to kids,” Molina said. “He is willing to grow and do what’s necessary to improve. Winning isn’t the only thing we’re looking for. We want to be competitive, but we want someone who runs a good program and keeps the kids interested.”

Smith acknowledges the differences between the duties of a junior high physical education teacher and a high school coach but voices little doubt about his ability to do the job.

“I know it’s quite a jump but I have confidence in myself. Even though I haven’t been actively coaching, I know I can step in and grow with experience. I have a good rapport with kids and I’m really excited about the challenge.”

Smith described himself as an aggressive coach who, by virtue of his experiences in the minor leagues, understands the game’s mental aspect.

“I saw the game day in and day out and saw that a lot of guys in the minors had the same talent as the players in the big leagues. But they didn’t have the right mental approach, and I can help the kids with that,” he said.