June 24, 2011

Fullerton Hires Vanderhook

Cal State Fullerton welcomed back an old friend Friday.

Rick Vanderhook, who spent 21 years as an assistant under four coaches, was named head coach of the Titans, replacing Dave Serrano, who left for Tennessee.

“I have never met anyone with more passion for Titan baseball than Rick, and I couldn’t be happier to bring him home where he belongs,” Cal State Fullerton Athletic Director Brian Quinn said in a release issued by the school.

Vanderhook spent the past three seasons at UCLA assisting John Savage. All told, Vanderhook has coached in 20 postseasons, eight Super Regionals and 11 College World Series. He has been a part of two national champions, and narrowly missed a third in 2010 with the Bruins. In 24 years as a Division I assistant, Vanderhook has contributed to 1,026 wins.

Vanderhook played for George Horton at Cerritos College before joining Fullerton in 1983. He was part of the 1984 national championship team and won two more as a Titans assistant.

Vanderhook, 50, and his wife April are the parents to Noelle (15), Autumn (13) and R.J. (11).