Bruin Notes

Hunter takes baseball helm

The university’s baseball program is under new leadership, but fans of the program will recognize the man in charge.

Marty Hunter, an assistant in the George Fox program since 2003 and an associate head coach since 2005, has replaced Pat Bailey as head coach. Hunter is a veteran coach with experience at the high school, college, and professional levels.

At George Fox, Hunter’s primary coaching focus has been with the infielders. In each of the past five seasons, the George Fox defense has ranked in the top six nationally in fielding average. The Bruins led the nation in both 2003 and 2005 and set a Division III record in 2005 with a .979 fielding mark.

Previously, Hunter earned multiple conference coach of the year awards at Canby (Ore.) High School and Bend (Ore.) High School. He has served as an assistant coach with the Bend Bucks, a team in the professional Class A Northwest League.

A graduate of Gresham (Ore.) High School, Hunter attended Linfield College, where he played football and baseball. He earned both business and health degrees from Linfield in 1984. He completed a master of education degree from Linfield in 1991.

George Fox to Honor Bailey

Pat Bailey, who coached the George Fox baseball team to the 2004 NCAA Division III national title, will be inducted into the George Fox Sports Hall of Fame at an afternoon on-campus banquet on Saturday, Dec. 8.

Bailey this summer joined another former George Fox coach at two-time defending NCAA Division I national champion Oregon State University. Bailey accepted an assistant coaching position with OSU head coach Pat Casey, who coached George Fox from 1988 to 1994. Bailey completes his 12-year George Fox career with eight Northwest Conference championships and a win-loss record of 353-158.

Bailey will be honored with national high jump champion Nancy Rissmiller (’98), decathlete John Smith (’95), sprinter Adolphus Onua (’87), sports announcer Tom Hewitt (’77) and the 1980 women’s track team. Call 503-554-2910 for tickets.

If you build it . . .

Groundwork has begun for a new athletic complex that will be home to practice and game facilities for the university’s baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s soccer programs.

Street improvements have been completed near the 23.8-acre site, located north of the Newberg campus. The property, estimated to be worth more than $7 million, has been committed to the university by Ken and Joan Austin, owners of the Newberg-based dental equipment manufacturer A-dec.

George Fox spent more than $750,000 for Crestview Drive and Center Street half-street improvements — paving, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters — on the side of the street bordering its property.

The next step is grading for the fields. Depending upon funds from private donors, some or all of the individual fields could be completed in the summer of 2008. Estimated cost for the complex is around $9.5 million, although the configuration of fields is not final.

The complex will allow the university to open up land near campus for future development and to replace current fields, which do not meet NCAA standards for postseason play.

“When completed, our athletics facilities will rival the best in the Northwest Conference,” says Dana Miller, vice president for advancement.