Trumbull named Santa Cruz’s skipper
Santa Cruz High alumnus plans to continue coaching football for at least two more seasons
Santa Cruz High alumnus Bubba Trumbull has proven what he can do as football coach at his alma mater — winning his second Central Coast Section title in the fall — and now he’s ready to show what he can do as Cardinals’ baseball coach.
The 47-year-old was hired to replace Dustin Torchio earlier this month. Trumbull served a firstbase coach the past three seasons under Torchio and inherits a team that has posted back-to-back unbeaten seasons in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League.
“I think it’s going to be a pretty smooth transition,” said Trumbull, a first baseman for the Cardinals in 1989-90. “I like it a lot because it’s so different from football. It’s more cerebral. And you get to develop relationships a lot differently than you do in football.”
Trumbull already knows most of his players well. SCCAL MVP Brady Chavez, a pitcher/outfielder, and a pair of all- SCCAL
“It’s a can’tmiss hire. I’m lucky for him taking the job. Basically, it was a no-brainer (to hire him).” – Erik Redding, Cardinals athletics director
first-team players, catcher Dillon Danner and infielder Kinsal Plunkett, as well as pitcher/ infielder Scotty Pramuk are among the returners from a squad that went 21- 6 last season.
“Torchio didn’t leave the cupboards empty, that’s for sure,” said Trumbull, who has retained the services of pitching coach Dayne Quist and hitting coach Darryl Ratliff.
Trumbull has coached the football team for 13 seasons (2007-present) and won his third league title and second CCS title this past fall. He said plans to remain at the helm of the football program for at least two more seasons.
Despite the coaching change, expectations are again high for the baseball team, Danner said.
“I’m very excited he’s the head coach,” said Danner, who played quarterback for Trumbull on the football team. “We want our success from football to carry over and win another championship.”
Danner said Trumbull has a perfect demeanor to serve as head coach and has surrounded himself with a great staff.
“He does a great job of keeping things light,” Danner said. “He has great relationships with the players and he’s easy to talk to. He’s very friendly and everyone loves him. He is a very supportive and positive mentor who is great at bringing the best out of each player.”
Trumbull also served as an assistant for George Arnott in 2013 and Bob Kittle from 1998-2008. He was also the head coach for the freshman and junior varsity programs during that stretch under Kittle.
“It’s a can’t-miss hire,” Cardinals athletics director Erik Redding said. “I’m lucky for him taking the job. Basically, it was a nobrainer (to hire him).” Under Kittle, the Cardinals won seven SCAL titles and made the CCS playoffs 10 times in 13 seasons from 1997-2009. The Cardinals won the CCS Division III title in 2003 — the school”s first in the sport — and reached the D-II final in 2004 and D-III final in 2008.
“I’ve gleaned quite a bit of knowledge from those guys,” Trumbull said.
The Cardinals host Evergreen Valley of San Jose in a noon scrimmage on Feb. 22 and host Monte Vista Christian School to open the regular season on Feb. 28 at 3:30 p.m.