Community College Notebook / Steve Kresal : School District Policy Puts an End to Rowe’s Year in The Show

Don Rowe has returned to the Golden West College football staff, a year earlier than he had hoped.

Rowe had taken a leave of absence to be the Chicago White Sox pitching coach last season.

He was hoping for another season working with Chicago’s young pitching staff, but school district policy won’t allow it.

The district now denies leave to people wishing to pursue employment outside the school, a district spokesman said.

“It was a good experience,” said Rowe, who was replaced by Sammy Ellis. “We had a young staff and they did a really good job. I was really looking forward to having another season with them. It’s too bad. I always wanted to do it and I’m glad I did.”

Rowe, 53, has been a defensive coach at Golden West since 1966, when the college started playing football.

He spent 13 seasons in organized baseball but only 99 days in the majors, with the New York Mets in 1963. He appeared in 26 games, pitching 54 2/3 innings without a decision.

He left baseball after the 1967 season and worked at Golden West until the 1983 season when he began his career as a pitching coach with the Angels’ Class A team at Redwood. He worked 2 years for the Brewers’ organization and 2 years for the Giants before being hired by the White Sox to be pitching coach at triple-A Hawaii in 1987. All the while, he continued to work at Golden West during the school year.

Rowe needs only 2 more years at Golden West to become eligible for retirement, and he isn’t in a hurry to get back to the unstable world of professional baseball.

“I might be here (Golden West) 2 more years or it might be 20,” Rowe said. “I like it here. California is a pretty nice place to live.”

Golden West running back Blaise Bryant continues to receive more honors. Bryant, who led the nation in rushing with 1,691 yards, was voted to the J.C. Grid-Wire All-American team.

Bryant already has been voted the Mission Conference Central Division player of the year and was named to the all-state team.

Bryant was joined by wide receiver Scott Miller (Saddleback) and kicker Kirk Hainline (Fullerton) as the other Orange County players on the first team.

Running back Jeff Andrews (Fullerton) was voted to the second team along with teammate Tim Imperiali, who was picked as the kick-return specialist.

On the honorable mention list were running back Mike Miscione (Rancho Santiago), tight end Dan Westmoreland (Golden West), centers Brian Woods (Fullerton) and Chris Rose (Rancho Santiago), defensive lineman Pat Mason (Fullerton), linebacker Gari Calhoun (Orange Coast) and defensive backs Craig Glatzhofer (Fullerton) and Richard Lane (Rancho Santiago).

Westmoreland also was named to the Scholar Athlete All-American team with linebacker Ernest Johnston (Fullerton) and kicker Kevin McKelvie (Orange Coast).

Community College Notes

Kerry Reed, a wide receiver from Rancho Santiago, has signed a national letter of intent to attend Cal State Fullerton. Reed, from Orange High School, had a team-high 45 catches for 394 yards and 2 touchdowns this season. Gunnar Wolfe, a defensive back from Orange Coast, has signed with Utah State. Wolfe, from Edison High School, had five interceptions this season, including one for a touchdown. Daryl Pessler, an offensive tackle for OCC, has signed to attend California. Pessler, from Newport Harbor High School, was a 2-year starter at OCC.