Saddleback Baseball Coach to Retire at Season's End

Jack Hodges, who has coached baseball for more than 40 seasons in Southern California, including the past 22 at Saddleback College, has announced that he will be retiring at the end of the Gauchos' season.

His coaching career began in 1971 at Rowland High in Rowland Heights, and in 1980 he moved to South Orange County and took over at Laguna Hills High. He began at Saddleback College in 1990 as the program's fifth coach, but will finish with more years on the job than the previous four coaches combined.

Hodges currently has a record of 574-363-4 at Saddleback and a career mark of 914-523-6.  He has led the Gauchos to one state championship (2004) and two runner-up finishes (1998, 2003) in 13 postseason playoff appearances.

He will coach his final game at Saddleback on Thursday, April 28, when the Gauchos host Santa Ana College at 2 p.m. in their Orange Empire Conference finale. 

“Coach Hodges has developed Saddleback College baseball into a highly regarded program.  Not only from the standpoint of being very competitive athletically, but also in the expected behavior of his student-athletes," Saddleback athletic director Tony Lipold said in a press release. “Jack has given his heart and soul to our baseball program.  His leadership and guidance of our student-athletes will always be remembered and appreciated.  It will be hard to replace him.”

Hodges' assistant coach for the past nine seasons, Sommer McCartney, will take over as head coach. McCartney served as head coach at Aliso Niguel High from 2001 through 2005.