Grossmont
College
Griffin Baseball
|
|
|
Coaching Staff
Randy Abshier is in his second season as Head Baseball Coach of the Grossmont College Baseball Program. In his four years as Pitching Coach at Grossmont, the Griffins have steadily improved under his guidance. In the 2001 Season (34-12), Grossmont set school records for wins with 34, lowest amount of loses for a season 12, consecutive wins 16 straight, and won 21 of 25 conference games. Abshier’s staff led the Pacific Coast Conference in every pitching category with two of his pitchers winning honors as Pitchers of the Year. Abshier's staff repeated the honors in 2002 (29-16) with it's second consecutive Pacific Coast Conference Championship and his second straight Pitcher of The Year award. After his playing days were over at Southwestern Community College (1989-1990), Abshier quickly moved into the coaching ranks. He began his career as Head Coach at Marian Catholic High School, in San Diego, California. As Head Coach, he took over a program that had gone 4-72 the previous four years into a San Diego powerhouse. In 1995 and 1996 Marian Catholic was ranked No.1 in the Division 3A Playoffs and 5th in California State rankings. In just two seasons with and overall record at Marian (47-12) Abshier's team won the school’s first CIF Division 3A Championship. Before coming to the Grossmont Griffins, Abshier was the Pitching Coach at Southwestern Community College for 4 years. While at Southwestern, his pitchers won over 70 games and were perennial contender for the Pacific Coast Conference Championship and State Playoff. In the summer of 1997, Abshier coached the Semi-Professional club the Pueblo Chieftains, in Pueblo, Colorado. The Chieftains in it's inaugural season won over 20 games playing teams from the Colorado State, Jay Hawk and Mink Leagues. In the summer of 1998, Abshier was announced as the Pitching Coach for the Barona Stars a Semi-Professional club in San Diego, California. That summer the Stars won the Western Regional Conference and a birth in the National Baseball Congress (NBC) in Wichita Kansas. The Stars finished 13th in the nation. Abshier, a certified Functional Fitness trainer and pitching instructor for the National Pitching Association (NPA), has lectured and instructed at camps in Alaska, California, Colorado, and Utah. He as well lectures professionally to many Major League and Minor League pitchers across the country. Some of Abshier's clients have been Mark Prior (Chicago Cubs), Matt Hensley (Anaheim Angles), and Bob Scanlon (Houston Astros). Abshier, (2002-2003) was an associate scout for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays professional baseball organization. A family man, Randy, and his wife Bernadette, reside in Chula Vista, California, with their Five-year-old son Randy III and new born Savannah Lee. Randy a graduate of San Diego State University in Exercise Science with an emphasis in Sports Medicine and has a Master’s Degree from National University.
Mike Butterfield
Coach Mike Butterfield enters his fourth season as assistant coach for the Grossmont Griffins after having been known as a competitive high school and college baseball standout. He will continue to be the defensive coach but will also move into the duties as third base coach and hitting instructor. Butterfield comes to Grossmont after finishing his collegiate career at LSU Shreveport. Prior to playing at LSU Shreveport, he caught two seasons at Southwestern College (1999-2000). In 2000, Butterfield hit .414 with eight homeruns and 38 RBI's and was named Pacific Coast Conference Player, All League Catcher, and Most Valuable Player for Southwestern College. In 2002-2004, Butterfield had the honor to play for his country at the World Baseball Challenge for Team Stars and Stripes in Grand Forks, Canada. Butterfield played against professional players from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Canada, and Japan. Prior to leaving for the World Baseball Challenge, Butterfield played for the United States Marine Corp's Baseball Club in Wichita, Kansas, in the national Baseball Congress (NBC) Tournament. Butterfield has spent the past for seasons playing for the Barona Stars a semi-professional baseball club in San Diego, California. A force to reckon in the Western Wood Bat Baseball Association, Butterfield in 2004 was named Conference Player of the Year, Catcher of the Year, and MVP for the Barona Stars. Butterfield hit .373, .557 Slugging Percentage, and had an On Base Percentage of .462. A native of San Diego who attended Mt. Miguel High School, Butterfield is attending the United State Sports Academy to finish his Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education.
Scott Nichols Scott Nichols enters his second season as assistant coach for the Griffin Baseball Program. His duties will include over seeing all aspects of the defense as well as working directly with the outfielders and assisting with the hitters. Previously, Nichols was an assistant coach at Southwestern College (85-92) and Mesa College (01-02) where he coached the defense and hitters. Coach Nichols knows winning and has done so as a coach with championships with the San Diego Cobras (13 under) and with the San Diego Aztecs (summer collegiate program). Currently, coach Nichols is a scout for the Florida Marlins and lectures professionally across San Diego county for the San Diego School of Baseball and San Diego State University Baseball Camps as an outfield instructor. Coach Nichols is a native San Diegan and family man, Nichols resides in Chula Vista with his two kids Ryan (12) and Kristin (9). Larry Johnson Larry Johnson enters his 11 season as an assistant coach for the Griffin Baseball Program. A native of Minot North Dakota, coach Johnson served his country in Vietnam where his was attached to the prestigious First Air Cav Division. After his tour of duty, coach Johnson worked as an iron worker for over 20 years and is now retired. Retired from working but not retired from baseball, coach Johnson currently plays baseball in the 40 and older leagues around San Diego and has played for the World Championship and National titles in Adult Baseball. Johnson truly a family man has a son Taggart and two daughters, Amy and Sheela.
|
