Lawrence, Kan. — University of Kansas Athletics Director Al Bohl announced on Monday that Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo head coach Ritch Price has been named the new head baseball coach at KU.
Price, who coached the past eight seasons in San Luis Obispo, replaces Bobby Randall who resigned in May after six years with the Jayhawks. Price has led Cal Poly to three-straight 30-win seasons, including a third-place finish in the Big West Conference this past season.
“I am really pleased and excited to have Ritch Price as our head baseball coach,” said Bohl. “He is committed to building a top 25 baseball program. He will emphasize excellence in both athletics and academics. He will be a team player in the KU athletic department.”
Price, who has a career head coaching record of 501-403-1 (at Cal Poly, De Anza CC and Menlo College), has developed a reputation as a coach who builds baseball programs.
After turning Menlo College into a winner, he later put DeAnza Community College on the map with four conference titles during his eight year reign. Price was named head coach at Cal Poly on July 26, 1994 and was the person chosen to guide the Mustangs from NCAA II into the Division I era.
“I am extremely honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to become the head baseball coach at the University of Kansas,” said Price. “I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead and I look forward to helping Kansas become a Big 12 contender.”
Price has been named conference Coach of the Year six times during his time as a head baseball coach. His first honor came in 1986 when he guided Menlo College to one of the best seasons in school history. He was named Coach of the Year in the Coast Conference four times during his eight seasons at De Anza Community College and was also the top coach in the Western Athletic Conference at Cal Poly in 1996.
“Coach Price comes to us with great baseball credentials and outstanding references from many people in the sport of college baseball,” said Richard Konzem, senior associate athletics director at KU and chair of the search committee. “His energy and enthusiasm convinced the search committee that he was the right man for the job.”
“Ritch is one of the top young coaches in the country,” said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess. “He’ll do a great job out there at Kansas. Not only is he a great baseball person, but he is also wonderful at all the other duties that go along with coaching. You guys got a good one.”
Cal Poly recorded 21 wins in its inaugural D-I season, defeating NCAA Tournament teams such as Washington and sweeping WAC rivals Hawaii and San Diego State. The following season, the Mustangs finished 1996 with a 30-23 record (.566), and a third-place league finish. The team closed the year strong winning 11 of its last 13 contests — to finish just three games out of first-place. For his efforts that season, the WAC awarded Price with Coach of the Year honors.
In 1997, Cal Poly moved to the Big West Conference as Price led the Mustangs to a 37-21 (.638) mark, their best record during his career. Mustang hitters ravaged the record book that season, breaking 10 school records, with three future professionals, six All-Big West members and the league’s batting champion.
The 2000 season resulted in a 32-24 mark and a tie third-place finish in the Big West while his 2001 squad finished 30-26. This past season, Price guided the team to its third-straight 30-win season by finishing 30-29-1.
Price has turned many Cal Poly stars into professional baseball players. During his eight-year coaching tenure at SLO, 21 former players continued their careers by signing professional contracts. At De Anza Community College, Price guided and developed current St. Louis rookie Jason Simontacchi who is 6-1 for the Cardinals this season.
Price’s Career Prior to Coaching at Cal Poly
De Anza College: Price served as director of athletics for five years (1988-94) and head baseball coach for eight seasons at De Anza Community College in Cupertino.
Under his tenure, the Dons won four Coast Conference titles. The first came in 1988, then the team won three in a row from 1992-94. Price’s Dons were dominant from 1992-94, posting a 107-36 (.760) record.
Price was named Coast Conference Coach of the Year for those years (as well as being named in 1988). A total of 61 players earned scholarships to Division I programs and 96 percent transferred to four-year schools.
1983-86, Menlo College: Price served as head baseball coach and assistant football coach. He was named Coast Conference Coach of the Year in 1986.
Price, a Sweet Home, Ore., native and a 1978 graduate of Willamette University (Salem, Ore.) was inducted into the NWCAA Hall of Fame (Oregon & Washington Community Colleges) in 1998. He received his master’s degree in physical education from Cal State Hayward in 1987. Price and his wife Cindy have three sons, Ritchie, Ryne and Robby.