Reggie Christiansen once pondered an office career with plenty of briefcases, neckties and board meetings.
"I was a business major at Menlo College and thought I'd make a lot of money," the second-year Sacramento State baseball coach said this week. "But baseball and coaching … fell in love with it."
Christiansen was the kid who organized Wiffle Ball games in grade school back home in Ferndale, driving shots into the coastal fog. If it involved athletics and people, Christiansen was intrigued. After his baseball-playing days at Menlo in Atherton, Christiansen attacked his duties as the school's football equipment manager in 1997 and 1998, working alongside former NFL players-turned-Menlo coaches Keena Turner, Tom Rathman and Doug Cosbie.
But baseball prevailed. With his business career on hold, Christiansen bounced around the country with coaching stints, getting married and having kids along the way. Eight-year-old son Ryan Ripken Christiansen is named after National Baseball Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan and Cal Ripken Jr. Six-year-old son Reese Robinson Christiansen is named after Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson. And 16-month-old daughter Aba? Amber Christiansen, the coach's tolerant wife, took over naming rights.
While Christiansen reflected upon the game's greats to name his sons, he mostly looks ahead. The coach has ambitious goals. Christiansen wants to play home games at Raley Field to show off his team. He'd also like to funnel funds to erect lights at Hornet Field as Sac State remains the only Western Athletic Conference team without them. Hosting night games could be a game-changer for a program eager to climb out of the conference dregs and contend.
In Christiansen's first season last year, the Hornets went 19-39 overall and 6-18 in WAC play.
Christiansen says he wants to achieve a new era of success while tapping into the region's deep pool of talent that has produced many big-leaguers through the decades.
"We're working every angle to connect to the local high schools," Christiansen said. "I really believe we don't have to recruit outside a 30-mile radius."
The Hornets' roster reflects that philosophy. On Opening Day next Friday against visiting Cal State Northridge, the Hornets' lineup will include sophomore pitcher Hunter Greenwood of Franklin-Elk Grove, senior infielder-designated hitter Trevor Paine of Jesuit, sophomore infielder Will Soto of Elk Grove High, freshman slugger Rhys Hoskins of Jesuit, sophomore outfielder Justin Higley of Jesuit and senior catcher Brent Hottman of Oak Ridge.
Christiansen raves about his team's focus, drive and work ethic. The Hornets resemble their coach, who moved within a relay throw of campus, all the better to embrace his craft.
Rod's squad
Rod Beilby will be inducted into California Community Colleges State Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on May 17 in Bakersfield. Yuba College's athletic director since 1995, Beilby coached Cosumnes River baseball for eight seasons – winning three league titles and guiding five playoff teams – with 23 of his former players later settling into the coaching ranks. Beilby will join other local Hall of Famers Gary Engelken (1996) of Yuba, Jerry Weinstein (2001) and Paul Carmazzi (2010) of Sacramento City College, and Kevin Higgins (2006) of American River College.
Blue Devil flashback
Davis High on Wednesday will honor the school's 21-0 boys basketball team 50 years ago. That 1962 club was led by prolific wing Ralph Villanueva, who was flanked by role players such as Bob Johnson, and coached by Royal Morrison. Davis had 320 students then, about how many pack the quad at lunch daily with the school's current enrollment of nearly 3,000.
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