Cline Replaces Willard as Baseball Coach at Camarillo

Scott Cline, a former standout athlete at Camarillo High, was named the Scorpions’ new baseball coach on Friday, replacing Jack Willard.

Cline, 27, a varsity assistant last year, will take over a 12-12 team that finished fifth in the Marmonte League with a 7-7 record under Willard, who resigned after five seasons.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Cline said. “When Jack resigned to spend more time with his family, I was hoping I could get the job. It’s nice to be able to come back to your alma mater. I hope I can help this become a pretty good program.”

As a high school senior in 1985, Cline played shortstop for a Scorpion team that finished second in the Southern Section major division. He also played quarterback for the football team that won the ’84 Southern Section Coastal Division title.

After graduating from Camarillo, Cline was a four-year starter at third base for UCLA, where he roomed with Dodger first baseman Eric Karros for two years.

Cline was drafted following his junior and senior years, but did not sign because of knee problems. Cline had surgery on his right knee three times during his career at UCLA.

Cline became a graduate assistant for the UCLA baseball team in 1990, while he earned his teaching credential at Cal Lutheran.

In 1991, Cline assisted Willard with the Camarillo baseball team. After getting a teaching job at Thousand Oaks High in the fall of 1991, he assisted Lancer baseball Coach Jim Hansen during the 1992 season.

Cline was hired as a math and economics teacher at Camarillo in the fall of 1992, and he coached the junior varsity football and baseball teams. He coached the junior varsity football team again last season.

Staff writer Paige A. Leech contributed to this story.