| Redlands athletics photo |
ORANGE, Calif. – Following a nationwide search, Chapman University has tabbed former University of Redlands head coach Scott Laverty as its new head baseball coach. A long-time adversary within the NCAA Division III West Region and SCIAC ranks, Laverty will switch dugouts to become the 14th head coach in Chapman's rich baseball history.
"We are excited about this appointment," said David Currey, Chapman University's Director of Athletics. "Scott is a highly thought of teacher and coach with deep-rooted Southern California ties in recruiting. He understands the philosophy of NCAA Division III and brings SCIAC experience to our campus, which we need. He is a proven team builder, winner and understands the big picture of college athletics."
Laverty succeeds Tereschuk who resigned at the end of the 2013 season as the Panthers' all-time winningest coach with 350 career victories. Chapman finished 18-21, the only losing season of the Tereschuk era.
Laverty carries with him an impressive resume of success within the collegiate and Division III ranks, including an overall head coaching record of 298-261-1 in 14 seasons, all at the University of Redlands. There he turned around a fledgling program that suffered losing records eight times from 1997-2004 and made it into a perennial contender, leading the Bulldogs to nine straight seasons of .500 or better. Redlands finished in first or second place in the SCIAC five times from 2005-13 including conference titles in '06 and '11 and set the school record with 30 wins each time.
Prior to earning the head coaching job at Redlands, Laverty coached three years as an assistant at UC Riverside (1997-99) alongside legendary Highlanders head coach Jack Smitheran. He also spent the 1997 season on the coaching staff for the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League (Independent). Laverty played his collegiate ball as a shortstop for Riverside, helping UC to the Division II national finals in 1994.
He becomes the next in a succession of Chapman head coaches that have enjoyed tremendous success, particularly at the Division III level the past 18 years. Under previous head coaches Rex Peters (1994-02) and Tom Tereschuk (2003-13), the Panthers made 14 NCAA Division III playoff appearances, won 10 West Region championships and one national championship (2003). Chapman also placed third at the national championships twice and finished in second place once.
"This was the largest applicant pool of any position we have filled here at Chapman," said Currey, who headed the search. "It speaks to the respect our baseball program has earned and the young men and past coaches who have helped to build that."
The Laverty era will officially begin July 1, as he takes over a Chapman team that suffered its first losing season (18-21) since 1995. Dave Edwards, the Panthers' associate head coach and pitching coach since 2003, will remain on the staff.
Laverty and his wife Julie currently reside in Placentia with their 9-month old daughter Emerson.