St. Genevieve Hires Three Coaches

Mike Wagner, a Poly High assistant, was named on Monday to fill the vacant baseball coaching position at St. Genevieve High.

The school also hired Jonas Silverio to coach the boys’ volleyball team and Shane Sawitz to coach the softball team. All three will be walk-on coaches.

Wagner, 28, helped Poly to a 21-5 record and the City Section 4-A championship game last season. He coached the previous two seasons at Campbell Hall.

Wagner replaces Scott Smith, who resigned in October.

“When I was growing up, St. Gens had pretty good athletic programs,” Wagner said, “and when I was interviewing (the administration) seemed to want to turn things around.”

The Valiants were 6-16, 1-9 in the San Fernando League last season. Wagner said his goal for this year is to finish .500 and earn a playoff spot by finishing in the top half of the Camino Real League.

“(Wagner) seems like a real go-getter, which is a big plus,” St. Genevieve Athletic Director Richard Fong said. “He’s not afraid to discipline the kids, but he’s not a maniac.”

Silverio, 23, has coached boys’ volleyball the past two seasons at St. Francis. He also coached girls’ volleyball the past two seasons at Alverno High in Sierra Madre. He said he plans to return to Alverno for the girls’ season next fall. Fong said he would like to have Silverio eventually take over both programs at St. Genevieve.

Sawitz, 24, has been offensive line coach for the St. Genevieve football team the past two years and is in his second season as boys’ freshman basketball coach. He has coached baseball, but never softball, he said.