Ron Fairly, a star of USC’s 1958 national championship baseball team, died from cancer Wednesday in Indian Wells, Calif. He was 81. Fairly played center field and hit .348 with 9 home runs and 67 RBI in 1958, his lone varsity season with the Trojans. He then spent 12 seasons with the Dodgers, where he won World Series titles in 1959, 1963 and 1965. Fairly … Continue reading Former USC Baseball Player Ron Fairly Dies At 81

USC finally announced the hiring of Loyola Marymount baseball coach Jason Gill after a two-week search that looked at UC Santa Barbara coach Andrew Checketts, Grand Canyon coach Andy Stankiewicz, St. Mary’s coach Eric Valenzuela and San Diego coach Rich Hill. Here’s Lynn Swann on the hire: “We are very excited to welcome Jason Gill to the Trojan family as the head coach of USC … Continue reading USC Officially Hires Jason Gill

USC is in the final stages of hiring Loyola Marymount baseball coach Jason Gill. An official announcement could come as soon as Thursday, sources said. Reaction: Gill cannot be worse than former coach Dan Hubbs. But here is a story that will not inspire anyone regarding the search: Last week, then-St. Mary’s coach Eric Valenzuela spent 5.5 hours interviewing with Long Beach State. USC interviewed … Continue reading USC Expects To Hire Jason Gill As Baseball Coach

USC officials will interview Grand Canyon baseball coach Andy Stankiewicz on Thursday, the first coach to interview for the baseball job. Stankiewicz, who played for the Yankees, was an assistant at Arizona State before he took over at Grand Canyon in 2012. His record is 252-188-1. I also hear UC Santa Barbara coach Andrew Checketts might interview soon. Continue reading USC To Interview Grand Canyon Coach Andy Stankiewicz

I’m hearing USC would like to compile a list of about six coaching candidates for its baseball job. A new name I heard today: Baylor coach Steve Rodriguez, who also coached at Pepperdine from 2004-15. Rodriguez might need to take a pay cut to come to USC, believe it or not. Unless Lynn Swann wants to open his wallet. Other candidates include TCU assistant coach … Continue reading A New Name For USC Baseball Job

Candidates are already emerging for the USC baseball job and people in Heritage Hall gave me two names today. I already mentioned UC Santa Barbara coach Andrew Checketts. One potential problem is Checketts and his wife are from Oregon and the Ducks are expected to pursue him. And Oregon will offer more money than USC, believe it or not. Still, he is considered a strong … Continue reading Baseball Coaching Search Heats Up