Willis Named to Take Over Baseball Program at Canyon

The second time proved to be the charm for Scott Willis, who was named baseball coach at Canyon High on Tuesday after being passed over for the job in 1987.

Willis, an assistant at Canyon last season and from 1987-89, replaces Rich Montanio, who resigned in May to pursue a master’s degree in physical education.

“It feels good to finally get it,” said Willis, 36. “I wanted it back (in 1987), but missed out.”

Willis was an assistant under Wally Hammond at Canyon in 1987, but when Hammond resigned, Montanio was hired over Willis to replace him.

This time, Willis and Birmingham Coach Dave Contreras were the finalists--from among 10-12 applicants--to replace Montanio, Canyon Principal Bill White said.

“We’re glad to have him,” White said. “He has the respect of the players, administration and community.”

Willis takes over a program that finished 11-11-1 last season and has not qualified for postseason play since finishing second in the Golden League in 1989.

“I want to teach the kids to play the game how I think it should be played,” Willis said. “They’re young enough that they don’t know everything yet--although some of them think they do--and I’d like to teach them.”

Willis, a graduate of Canoga Park High and a four-year letter winner at Cal State Northridge from 1974-77, was an assistant at Simi Valley High under Mike Scyphers in 1986 before coming to Canyon.

Before that, he was an assistant at Cal State Northridge from 1979-81 and again from ‘84-85, and at Moorpark College from ‘82-83.

“I’ve coached underneath some pretty good guys in my time,” said Willis, who worked with Bob Hiegert and Terry Craven at CSUN and Gil Mendoza at Moorpark. “And I feel like I’ve learned a lot. I feel like I can teach the players things that will help them in baseball after high school.”