After rumors began to spread Friday about the impending announcement of the hiring of Oregon’s new baseball coach, on Saturday the University made it official. George Horton, who spent the last 11 seasons as the coach of Cal State Fullerton, will be the Ducks’ first coach of the baseball team since the program was disbanded in 1981.
“This is a tremendous day for the University of Oregon,” Kilkenny said. “Baseball coaches of George Horton’s distinction and ability don’t come along very often, and his decision to come to Eugene speaks volumes about our commitment for Oregon baseball to become successful on a national level.”
Horton, 53, was a two-time National Coach of the Year with an overall record of 490-212-1 (.698) and six College World Series berths, including a National Championship in 2004. The Big West Conference named him Coach of the Year five times, with the honor last being bestowed after his third 50-win season at the Division I level in 2006.
“To see what he has built and accomplished at Cal State Fullerton is incredible,” Kilkenny said. “Coach Horton has put together an elite program and has posted an outstanding record on the field of play as well as develops student-athletes as both players and individuals.”
Horton will sign a five-year contract through June 30, 2012, pending approval from the Oregon University System’s chancellor. He’ll be paid a base university salary of $150,000 with an additional $250,000 of guaranteed income coming from radio, television contracts and an apparel agreement with Nike.
Horton received his bachelor’s degree from Fullerton in 1978 and a master’s from Cal Lutheran in 1980.
Along with Horton, Fullerton assistant coach Jason Gill will join the Oregon coaching staff. Gill, 37, was Horton’s assistant/recruiting coordinator for the past three years while also the first base, infield and primary hitting coach. Gill is a former all-Big West Conference infielder at Fullerton and graduated with a degree in kinesiology in 1996.
The Fullerton teams under Horton had 75 players drafted in Major League Baseball’s First-Year Draft, including 11 in 2003 and 14 in 2005. Among the 20 standouts reaching the majors include: Left-handed pitcher Ricky Romero, a first-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2005, Chad Cordero, a first-round pick in 2003 and current closer of the Washington Nationals. Others include: Philadelphia Phillies outfield Aaron Rowand, Oakland A’s outfielder Mark Kotsay and catcher Kurt Suzuki and former San Diego Padres third baseman Phil Nevin.