Cal Lutheran Baseball Assistant Succeeds Schoenberger as Coach

Rich Hill, a former player and assistant baseball coach at Cal Lutheran, will replace Al Schoenberger as the school’s head baseball coach next season.

Hill played for two years and coached for two more under Schoenberger, who three weeks ago announced his resignation, effective at the end of the current season. Hill was an NAIA honorable mention All-American as a second baseman in 1984. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals’ Class-A team in Savannah, Ga., in 1985 before returning to Cal Lutheran as an assistant last year.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to coach here,” Hill said. “We have a solid nucleus returning next year, but we need to fill some holes. I’m looking forward to recruiting because I have a chance to bring in some quality athletes.”

Hill, 25, didn’t specify which athletes he had in mind, but the Kingsmen (13-21 through Monday) need help.

One CLU official said Athletic Director Bob Doering selected Hill over other applicants because “he played here, graduated from here, and he’s working on a Master’s degree here. Doering even had him in some of his classes. He just liked him.”

Apparently, the players also are pleased with the selection. At an April 10 meeting between Doering and the team, a majority of players said they favored Hill as their future coach.

Hill’s status at the school will be part time. In addition to coaching at CLU, he will continue in his current position as athletic director and teacher at Lutheran High in Simi Valley.