Hollister
– Michael Luna finally landed the job he’s wanted.
Hollister – Michael Luna finally landed the job he’s wanted.
Luna, who started his coaching career at Gilroy, was approved Friday as the new San Benito High baseball coach.
Luna is taking over for Derek Barnes, who resigned after one year to spend more time with his family and pursue further education.
For Luna, the San Benito High coaching position has been a special attraction for him.
“I’ve always wanted to come down to Hollister,” Luna said. “In my experience, towns with one high school have a different mindset with the athletes. And that’s not just baseball. They seem to be tougher and hungrier and play with a different passion. I am excited about coming down there.”
About seven years ago, he first expressed interest in the position. Last year, he turned down the head position at West Valley College which was offered to him again this year.
Luna was selected as the finalist for the coaching position last year at San Benito, but Barnes had priority because he was already teaching.
“I was disappointed,” Luna said. “It was a long process, but things happen for a reason. It wasn’t meant to be last year. I am going to move forward.”
Neither coach holds any animosity toward the other, Luna said. They often correspond by e-mail.
Luna said he hopes yp move to Hollister and eventually become an on-campus coach as early as next fall, possibly teaching math and physical education.
“One of big reasons I wanted to come down there was the rich tradition in baseball and great support from community,” Luna said. “That is one of the reasons they are so successful.”
Luna was all ready to accept the head coaching job at Sobrato High School this year. But on the day that Luna was ready to commit, he found out that Barnes had resigned and he turned down the job at Sobrato High.
Luna, who lives in south San Jose, received some criticism for his choice to give up an eight-minute drive to Sobrato for a 45-minute drive to Hollister. But for Luna, it was worth it.
“I think San Benito baseball will get better and better and I want to be part of that,” Luna said. “Hollister is a sleeping giant ready to take off. I want to see if I can make that happen.”
Luna has spent the last five years coaching at Leigh High and led his team to a Central Coast Section Division 1 championship in 2000, the first school championship in 24 years. The team made the playoffs during each of the years.
Luna is no stranger to the area. He has coached several youth baseball camps in Hollister, and several of his former players live in Hollister.
While Luna made his coaching debut at Gilroy High (two years as an assistant and two as head coach), one of the players he coached was Mark Dover, who coached at Gavilan College before becoming an assistant at North Monterey County.
Luna, a ’78 Lincoln High grad, attended SJ State then Cyprus Junior College before coming back to San Jose State, where he received a degree in Physical Education with a minor in math. He took masters classes at Cal-State Fullerton but never completed the degree.
The tradition that Luna has established in his 20 years of coaching is well respected throughout the area.
“I have found him to be a highly dedicated and competent baseball coach, educator as well as being a respected voice among his colleagues in the collegiate and high school baseball community,” said West Valley baseball coach Michael Perez, who has known Luna for 33 years.
Wilcox High coach David Currie said Luna is respected both on and off the fields and as a result has successful teams.
“He is extremely dedicated to his program,” Currie said. “When playing against teams in which Michael is the coach, you always know that his players are well prepared, disciplined and competitive.”
Scot Gillis, the head coach at Leland, told Luna that he hoped he didn’t get the job at San Benito High because he didn’t want to face him in the playoffs.
“On a technical level, Michael is amoung the best, if not the best, coaches in the Central Coast Section,” said Valley Christian coach John Diatte. “He is very well mannered and treats his athletes with the utmost respect.”
Luna met with San Benito High baseball players for the first time Tuesday at the high school. About 60 players packed room 377 for the 15-minute lunch-time meeting.
Luna told the players that if they were open to what he had to say and with hard work and a little luck, the Haybalers could be contenders again. He also said the best players would be playing in the games.
“I believe they can be one of the best programs in CCS on a year-to-year basis,” Luna said. “Obviously they have to have the talent, which they do. I’ve followed Hollister and the better programs around CCS, and I think we can maintain what’s been started.”
Luna plans to come down Thursday to help returning coach Eric Diaz with an informal hitting session with some of the players.
In addition, to Diaz, who will again mostly be working with hitting as well as helping out in other aspects, Luna has his varsity staff pretty much filled out.
Former Baler Daniel Barone, who was drafted by the Marlins, will be helping with pitching before he reports to camp in early spring.
Two former players of Luna will also be working with the Balers. Paul Codiga, an ’84 Gilroy grad, will be working with outfielders and with the first baseman. Curtis Heen, who graduated from Santa Teresa High in 1990 and lives in Hollister, will be coaching baserunning, outfielders and other positions.
“That is one of the reasons I’ve been successful is because I surround myself with good people,” Luna said. “I couldn’t do it myself. Coach (Neal) Andrade and coach Barnes have done a great job with the program, and I want to try to maintain that excellence.”
Luna will be holding a parent/player meeting for anyone interested in playing baseball on Wednesday, Oct. 27 at the high school cafeteria 7-8pm.
“I enjoy the high school level,” Luna said. “I love to teach the game of baseball and how to play it the right way. Hopefully I will have most of them for four years. I’ve heard about the great work ethic at San Benito. That should be one less worry for me. I want to make this my last stay.”
Mark Dover 408 718-2302
Coaching
1999-2004 Leigh High head coach
1996-1999 West Valley College assistant coach
1994-1996 Overfelt High head coach
1988-1992 San Jose City assistant coach
1986-1988 Cal-State Fullerton graduate assistant coach
1986-1988 Gilroy High head coach
1984-1986 Gilroy High assistant coach
