Long Beach State’s Snow Announces Retirement

Long Beach State baseball Coach Dave Snow announced his retirement Friday, ending a 29-year career that included five trips to the College World Series.

Mike Weathers, associate head coach at Long Beach last season, will take over the program.

“Most people who know me are probably surprised, because they know that I’ve always been a 24/7 guy when it comes to baseball and my teams,” Snow said. “It’s a personal decision, a family-type decision.”

Snow, 50, was chosen NCAA co-coach of the year in 1986 after leading Loyola Marymount into the College World Series in his second season at the school. In 1989, he took over a Long Beach program that had finished better than .500 only once in nine seasons. The 49ers began the season with 18 consecutive victories and advanced to the College World Series for the first time. Long Beach finished 50-15 and Snow was selected NCAA coach of the year.

Snow had a record of 510-291-4 in 13 seasons at Long Beach, guiding the 49ers to six Big West Conference titles, 11 NCAA playoff appearances and College World Series appearances in 1991, ’93 and ’98.

Weathers, a former Chapman College head coach, was a finalist for the UC Irvine baseball job last year. He was an assistant to Snow the last nine seasons.