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Dick Adams begins his 16th year as the only head coach of the Cerro
Coso Community College Baseball Program. He is a member of the American
Baseball Coaches Associations 300 Century Club. His career record at
CCCC now stands at 328 wins and 276 losses (.543) as the Coyote Skipper.
Coach Adams led the 1999 team to Cerro Coso's most successful season so
far at 31-14, then followed that year by leading the 2000 Dawgs to a
repeat of the conference championship, giving them back-2-back honors as
the Foothill Conference Champions in both 1999 and 2000. Each
championship allowed the Coyotes to host the First Round State Playoffs.
Dick was named the Foothill Conference Coach of the Year in both 1999
and 2000.
The evolution of the infamous Dawg Yard has blossomed throughout Coach
Adams tenure at CCCC. From the fall of 1992, Dick and his assistants
(especially the first, Dave Navarro) along with Maintenance and
Operations employees (Luis Miro, John Daly, and Mark Lathrop), and
Administrators (President Dr. Ray McCue and Vice President Dr. Don
Mourton), and all the alumni, the Dawg Yard received Hybrid Bermuda
grass, electronic scoreboard, backstop, batting cages, electricity,
snack bar, press box, 8’ fencing and batters eye.
Academics continue to be top focus for Dick and his academic advisors
(Bill Campbell, Heather Ostash, and Wendy Adams). Each year
student/athlete baseball players are required to attend study hall and
have grade checks signed. Graduation is Professor Adams’ proudest day
annually, as he and Wendy get to watch their sophomores walk across the
stage proudly wearing their baseball hats.
A native of Southern California, Dick played at Camarillo High School
where he graduated in 1972. He later played two years at Moorpark Junior
College and two seasons at California State University, Northridge,
helping the latter to the 1975 NCAA Division II Western Regional
Championship and a berth in the College World Series. The following
year, he pitched himself to a 10-5 record and earned All-District VIII
honors. Following his senior season, Dick signed with the California
Angels and played three years professionally. In his rookie year playing
in Idaho Falls, Dick was selected to the Pioneer League All-Star Team.
His second season he played for the Salinas Angels and the Reno Silver
Sox of the California League. Dick sustained an elbow injury that
required surgery done by the legendary Dr. Frank Jobe. In his third
season he returned to Salinas on the disabled list for 30 days. Once
rehabilitated, he returned to pitching and was voted by the vans of
Salinas as the “Come Back Player of the Year.” His elbow ultimately did
him in and ended his professional career.
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Dick, Wendy, and Aime |
His coaching career started with a stint at Granada Hills High School
in Los Angeles where he assisted for three seasons. His stay there was
highlighted by an LA City Championship. He later moved to the college
ranks, coaching single seasons at Moorpark Junior College and at
California Lutheran University. Prior to his starting the program at
Cerro Coso, Coach Adams served as Assistant Coach at Carson City High
School in Nevada, helping the Senators to a pair of trips to the Nevada
State Tournament. He was later Head Coach at McQueen High School in
Reno, before landing a job as an Assistant Baseball Coach with the
University of Nevada, Reno in 1991-1992. Dick worked as an Associate
Scout for the Seattle Mariners (1988-1991) and the Chicago Cubs
(1993-2005).
Dick received his Associate of Arts Degree from Moorpark College in
1974, before earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physical Education
from California State University, Northridge in 1977, and a Master of
Arts Degree in Educational Administration from the University of San
Francisco in 1997. Dick is the Department Chair, Instructor of Physical
Education and the Athletic Director at Cerro Coso. He currently serves
as the Foothill Baseball Coaches Representative to the California
Community College Coaches Association. Dick and his wife Wendy reside in
Ridgecrest, with Wendy working for the college in the Counseling Office
where she takes on the tough duties as Academic Advisor to Athletics and
as an Adjunct Instructor. Their daughter Amie will celebrate her twelfth
birthday in May. She attends Murray Middle School. Dick’s daughter
Meghann (24) lives and works full-time in Gardnerville, Nevada. Ricky
(22) resides and works full-time in San Diego. Markus (18), Senior,
plays Varsity Basketball and Baseball at Carson City High School in
Carson City, Nevada.
Education
- MA in School Administration, University of San Francisco. 1997.
- BA in Physical Education, California State University, Northridge.
1977.
- AA, Moorpark College. 1974
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