D’Errico Named by Simi Valley : Baseball: Science teacher with limited experience replaces longtime coach Scyphers.

At least Tom D’Errico seems to know what he’s gotten himself into.

D’Errico, a Simi Valley High softball assistant coach and former youth baseball coach, was officially named successor to Mike Scyphers as Simi Valley’s baseball coach on Wednesday.

“It’s almost like a lounge act trying to follow Elvis,” D’Errico said.

After the school board approves his hiring, D’Errico will become the first new baseball coach at Simi Valley since 1979, when Scyphers began a 17-year tenure that included eight Marmonte League titles, two nationally-ranked teams and dozens of players who went on to college and pro baseball.

D’Errico, 46, said he plans no drastic changes to the program.

“I don’t want to reinvent the wheel here,” he said. “This is a well-oiled machine.”

Simi Valley Athletic Director George Ragsdale said D’Errico’s application for the coaching position was boosted because he was already on staff as a science teacher at Simi Valley.

Two other candidates--former Kennedy Coach Don Tamburro and Van Nuys Coach Jim Friery--said they turned down the job, which was offered to them as a walk-on position.

Ragsdale said D’Errico’s strength as a teacher made him a good candidate to be coach, regardless of his baseball experience.

D’Errico said he planned to discuss the program with Scyphers, who was forced to resign in the spring after two seasons of controversy. D’Errico also said he will consider coaches from the Simi Valley freshman and junior varsity teams to be his assistants.

D’Errico’s only coaching experience is the past four years as a varsity assistant softball coach at Simi Valley and nine years coaching his son’s youth baseball teams.

D’Errico said he was surprised to get the job, but he is not concerned about his relative lack of experience coaching on the high school level.

D’Errico also said he thought he was prepared for the pressure he would face taking over one of Southern California’s most-successful programs.

“I teach a human anatomy and physiology program and there is a lot of pressure there,” he said. “These kids have to perform. I have local physicians come in and quiz my kids. They come in and ask some tough questions and my kids better be ready, and usually they are.”

Still, he agreed that his selection as baseball coach was bound to raise eyebrows.

“People have asked me if I’m crazy,” he said. “I’m not worried about my knowledge of baseball. It’s a great program with great kids. I want to make the transition as smooth as possible.”