Kasper resigns as Vanguard coach

Steve Virgen

Kevin Kasper has resigned as baseball coach at Vanguard University,

effective at the end of the season, athletic director Bob Wilson said

Tuesday.

The move surprised Vanguard’s athletic program, as Kasper’s

resignation was made with 16 games left in the regular season. In

addition, Kasper, a former player at Vanguard, is in ninth season of

coaching.

“We were all caught off guard,” Wilson said. “This was all

[Kasper’s] doing. We didn’t know about it. I think he had been

pondering it for awhile. I think this was the best time to see what’s

out there for him. Kevin felt that it was important that the team

knew what his intentions were now as opposed to the end of the

season.”

The Vanguard baseball team is 7-19, 1-10 in the Golden State

Athletic Conference. The Lions have lost three in a row and seven of

their last eight.

“I don’t think it had anything to do with the season,” Wilson

said. “He played pro ball and he feels like what he wants to do is

get to coach at a different level. He didn’t say specifically. We

talked about the pros and cons [of resigning] and I think he wants to

learn what’s it like to coach from a different perspective. Maybe go

on [an NCAA] Division I program as an assistant and work his way up.

He’s still a young guy. This was a good time to explore that and see

if there are opportunities for him.”

Kasper was not available for comment. Calls to his home Tuesday

were not returned.

“I believe it is time for me to take a new direction in my

professional career and pursue other coaching opportunities,” Kasper

said in a press release distributed by Vanguard.

Kasper played four years as shortstop at Vanguard, formerly

Southern California College. He was an All-GSAC performer as a senior

in 1989. Following a five-year minor league baseball career, he

started coaching at the high school level. He became Vanguard’s head

coach in 1996. He has compiled a record of 183-232-1, which has

included a Region II championship in 2002 and three playoff

appearances.

“Not having Kevin Kasper as our baseball coach will be different,”

Wilson said.

A search will begin immediately to fill the coaching position at

Vanguard, which also includes teaching duties within the exercise

sports science program.