Fullerton Officials Finish Talking to Job Candidates

Cal State Fullerton officials have interviewed four finalists for the Titan baseball coaching position--UC Santa Barbara Coach Al Ferrer, Cerritos College Coach George Horton, Riverside City College Coach Dennis Rogers and Illinois Coach Augie Garrido.

Ferrer, who has guided the Gauchos to two conference championships and four NCAA playoff appearances in 10 years, and Horton, who was a finalist for the Fullerton job after Garrido left in 1987, said they were interviewed Monday.

Rogers, who was a Titan assistant under departing Coach Larry Cochell in 1988 and ‘89, was interviewed Saturday, according to Gary Henderson, who worked under Rogers at Riverside and is now at Chapman College.

Garrido met with Fullerton Athletic Director Ed Carroll, associate athletic director Steve DiTolla and the selection committee last week.

Horton, who has led Cerritos to three state community college titles in the last five years, withdrew from the running in 1987 because of the fund-raising requirements of the job. But after Monday’s interview, he seemed satisfied with the progress of the position.

“The job is a lot better now than it was three years ago,” said Horton, who played for Garrido at Fullerton. “Things are more stable and they’re heading in a better direction. The head coach will still be involved in fund-raising, but it won’t be nearly as cumbersome as it looked the last time.”

Horton said he wasn’t told when the school would make a decision, but he wouldn’t be surprised if Garrido, who guided the Titans to two national titles, got the job.

“Honestly, I feel Augie is the guy and he should be,” Horton said. “It’s not that I think I couldn’t do a good job, but if I was in his position and had put all that time into building the program, I would think he should get the job if he wants it.”

Ferrer, who has a 410-252 record in his 10 seasons at Santa Barbara, said he considered Monday’s interview “an educational field trip.”

“I wanted to go there, go through the interview process, see what they have to offer,” Ferrer said. “I was very impressed with their commitment to scholarships, salary, facilities and academics. They’re working very hard to make that a very good Division I program.”

Rogers, who spent three seasons (1982-84) as a coach in the Oakland Athletics’ organization and one as an instructional league director for the Pittsburgh Pirates, is conducting a baseball camp in Northern California this week and could not be reached Monday.