Coaching, teaching, learning: Tony Gwynn is trying to push San Diego State to the College World Series—as he adjusts to being in charge at his alma mater

Sporting News, The, May 5, 2003 by Tony Gwynn, Kirk Kenney

I first thought about coaching at San Diego State 10 years ago. My brother Chris was with the Royals, I was with the Padres, and it was College World Series time. Our teammates were going on about how their school had played in the College World Series. We were like, "Damn, why can't our alma mater, San Diego State, get there?"

"Can you imagine going back there one day and coaching?" I asked Chris. He said, "That would be great?" It was years later before I thought much more about it.

During my last season with the Padres, in 2001, I started weighing my options about life after retirement. I was keeping an eye on San Diego State because there were stories that coach Jim Dietz, who had been my college coach, was going to get fired. If he did, I had to try to take the job. When word came out he would retire after the 2002 season, I called Rick Bay, State's athletic director, and got an interview. I told him we needed something more than baseball to sell the program. I said I know a lot of people in San Diego who have supported me in my baseball career, and I think they will support me in my coaching career. I've been in this town for 24 years, and people look at me as being pretty honest about what I do. I ended up getting the job even before my playing career was over, with the understanding that I would work as an unpaid assistant in Dietz's last year.

My first recruit was a pitcher in Iowa named Ryan Sweeney, who was one of the top 10 prospects in the nation. Along with Rusty Filter, my pitching coach, I flew to Cedar Rapids, rented a car and drove to Ryan's house. We knocked on the door and his little brother, who is not afraid to say what's on his mind, answered, "So you're Tony Gwynn, huh?" We walked in and sat down. They gave us sodas, we talked about San Diego State; what we're trying to do; what kind of kids we're going after. I told Ryan there was no way I was going to get on a prop plane and fly to Iowa if I didn't think he could play. I told him San Diego State is a wonderful place to play baseball, and you're the type of guy we need. He kind of nodded. His dad asked me about my ESPN job and how long I was going to stay at State. His mom asked if her son was going to eat good. We were trying to close the deal that day, but we left without an answer.

On the way out, his dad said, "If he decides to go to San Diego State, I think it would be a great place for him" That being the first house I went into, those words meant a lot. That's where my reputation for being straightforward really comes into play.

One thing I've had to fight are rumors about doing ESPN full time. About four days after we left his house, Sweeney called because a school in Arizona that was recruiting him said I definitely was leaving when my son Anthony, our center fielder, left. I said, "Ryan, I'm not leaving. I'm going to be here. I know with other schools that's part of the process. They're going to throw little daggers at me" Then I told him, "These schools throwing daggers? We're going to kick their ass" He loved that. A couple of days later, he committed.

The best part about the job is being out on the field, coaching and teaching. This year, I've probably learned more about pitching, catching, infield play and other stuff than I've taught hitting. I teach hitting in the fall. We're grinding in the fall. Once the season starts in January, I've got to pay a whole lot more attention to everything, such as how our catchers are setting up. Rusty taught me just a simple thing about catchers. Early in the season, one of our catchers could not get on the same page with the starter. Rusty said the catcher, Jordan Swaydan, was doing a little thing with his knee when he caught the ball. He was taking his left knee and bending it over. Even when he was catching the ball where he set up, if the umpire saw him move, we weren't going to get the call. It's little things like that that really stick because I never paid attention to them before. Now Jordan is so much better.

As we head down the stretch of my first season, I couldn't feel better about nay decision. Yes, there are frustrations. There's probably a time every day when I think, "Why do I put myself through this?" Well, I love this game, and I love the possibilities here. If we ever have a team that goes to the College World Series, this town is going to go bonkers.

Kirk Kenney is a sportswriter for the San Diego Union-Tribune.