Mission Bay High School (MBHS) head coach Dennis Pugh will begin his final season leading the Buccaneers toward another conquest of the 2006 Western League baseball title and the CIF playoffs following the start of League play Wednesday, April 19.
Pugh announced his retirement from the San Diego Unified School District system after 32 years of teaching with 27 as head baseball coach at MBHS.
But a gone-fishing retirement is the last thing on his mind. Pugh has taken on the new job of developing a baseball program from scratch at California State University, San Marcos (CSUSM).
“We were so lucky to have an opening when he was ready to move on,” said CSUSM athletic director Dr. Stephen Nichols. “He has achieved so much as a prep coach. Now he has taken on new challenges.”
During his tenure Pugh has earned more than 600 victories with less than 200 losses, giving him the best winning-percentage among San Diego County coaches.
“It is no exaggeration to say he’s a legend in coaching circles,” Nichols said. “He has all the skills; on the field, developing facilities and the player-knowledge for recruiting ” it was an easy choice.”
Pugh has begun his work for CSUSM by making arrangements to work his team at San Marcos High next winter while the new field is being built to his specifications. He has also begun recruiting and signing players.
But he has by no means neglected his Buccaneer squad ” they are 10-1 so far in preseason competition.
Pugh’s record stands at 612-193 with eight CIF championships and 18 Western League titles. Twice his squad was rated the best prep team in California. One of those great teams in 1997 gave him a birthday present of 29 runs on 29 hits.
“I was planning on two more years (at Mission Bay), Pugh said. “But when this opportunity came up I couldn’t pass it up. It is a challenge to make the most of what ever you get (among school students). But I’m looking forward to competing at the level where you can recruit and really build a balanced team.”
The San Diego State University (SDSU) graduate who earned his masters at Azusa Pacific has received several national coaching awards and has been named Coach of the Year five times in San Diego County and once for all of California.
During most of his tenure at Mission Bay, Pugh has served as athletic director and also coached football. Usually taking up the vital roll of defensive coordinator, in the late 90s he stepped up to head coach and twice led the Buccaneers to CIF football championships.
Former Mission Bay baseball players are scattered across the country in college programs and the professional minor leagues. Pugh took the honor in stride in 2004 of having his shortstop Matt Bush taken as the number one pro draft choice.
The difficulty in making it to the major league level is demonstrated in by the fact that among the hundreds of good players Pugh has coached only one has made the “big show.”
On Pugh’s first team in 1979 Joel Skinner set records at Mission Bay and went on to play nine major league seasons including three as catcher for the Cleveland Indians. Skinner is still among the top coaches in The Jake dugout.
The star pitcher of Pugh’s 1996 championship team Kevin Reese is the AAA center fielder for the Yankees’ Columbus Clipper squad in Ohio.
SDSU currently has several young Buc alumni, including first baseman Brock Ungricht, left fielder Joseph Scaperotta and relief pitcher Jared Suwyn and assistant coach Rusty Filter.
“Dennis didn’t just teach us what to do ” he teaches what to look for and how to anticipate the game,” Ungricht said.
Locally, the University City High School head baseball coach Jeff Dufek is one of the leading disciples of Pugh’s coaching genius. Dufek went on from MBHS to pitch for the Aztecs and earn has degree and teaching credential at SDSU.
“Dennis taught me the fundamentals ” the ins and outs of the game – the importance of the small things ” the value of a good practice and repetition,” Dufek said.
One of the keys to Pugh’s success is his remarkable talent to spot an athlete’s ability and develop that skill so that they contribute to the team’s success. Along the way players develop a relationship and winning spirit, according to Dufek.
“He makes good players great,” Dufek said. “He works very hard to be successful. You don’t want to let him down.”
Pugh has been instrumental in setting up winter and summer leagues and tournaments to elevate the level of competition that comes out of San Diego.
“The reputation he has built makes people listen,” Dufek said. “His dedication and organization keeps (San Diego) city baseball running.”
Pugh makes winning look easy, but it is not. Teams typically throw their best pitcher for the chance to beat a quality program like Mission Bay. He is always drawing the best out of the teams that the Bucs face.
Pugh is known for his phenomenal memory of player’s abilities throughout the county, year after year.
“Dennis is someone who knows this county. It’s great for him and Cal State San Marcos,” Dufek added. “For him it is a dream come true. Getting to build a program from the ground up is the kind of challenge he will love ” a chance to build another something great.”
Pugh’s successor has been named as MBHS grad and long-time baseball coach and biology teacher Greg Farrar.
“It is a real honor to take his place,” Farrar said. “I grew up in this program and have learned everything I can from Dennis ” I am certainly not going to change much.”
Farrar was second baseman for Pugh’s first League-title winning team in 1983. After graduating from SDSU, Farrar has been an assistant coach to Pugh since 1996.
“Dennis is very thorough,” he said. “He has fantastic practice plans which we adjust everyday after we evaluate the previous day’s effort.”
Farrars’ expertise includes talents with many new technologies. He plans to add video analysis of some pitchers and batters who may benefit from it.
“I am really excited,” Farrar added. “The team he is leaving is good quality. The infield and most of the pitching will be back. And the JV team is 11-0 so far this season. You couldn’t ask for a better chance to continue the traditions of Mission Bay baseball.”
Mission Bay sports information is available at (858) 273-1313 ext.137 or ext. 353.