Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca issued the following statement today (Oct. 4):
The ºÙºÙÊÓƵ baseball program has been approved to resume practice and some team activities while the investigation continues. These activities will be closely monitored to ensure compliance with the University’s rules prohibiting hazing.
We are fortunate that a few talented members of our local community have agreed to assist with team practices and baseball activities while the coaching staff remains on leave. These individuals have diverse baseball backgrounds and will provide a depth of experience for our student-athletes. I am pleased to introduce the following interim coaches who will help us prepare for the spring season:
- Tony Bloomfield is one of the most respected and successful coaches at the California community college level, with over 25 years of experience as a head coach. His Cosumnes River College teams made playoff appearances 17 of the 19 years he served as head coach.
- Randy Choate is a former professional baseball pitcher. The New York Yankees selected him in the 1997 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft from Florida State University. Choate made his MLB debut for the Yankees in 2000, and also pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, Florida/Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals. He won the 2000 World Series with the Yankees, beating the New York Mets.
- Ray McIntire has served as director of baseball operations at the University of Arizona and has volunteer assistant coach experience at the University of San Diego and his alma mater, the University of Nevada.
We ask for privacy for the interim coaches and our student-athletes as they start practice later this week. There will be no additional updates or comments until the conclusion of the investigation.