Oxnard Names Interim Baseball Coach

Richard Jaquez has been named interim baseball coach at Oxnard College, replacing Jerry White, who in September was granted a semester’s leave of absence from teaching and coaching.

Jaquez, 42, who played two years for the Houston Colt 45s (now the Astros), coached baseball and football at Rio Mesa High for 10 years and was an assistant coach at Cal State Northridge when the school won the NCAA Division II title in 1970. Under Jaquez, Rio Mesa won a Southern Section title in 1980 with a record of 28-0.

The Santa Clara High graduate was named most valuable player at Ventura College and played at the University of Denver before turning pro.

White led Oxnard to a 28-11 record and a sixth-place finish in the California Community College Championships last season. It also was the third time Oxnard had captured the Western State Conference in seven years under White.

The Ventura County Community College District approved White’s request for a leave. White has taught in the district for 10 years.

According to Oxnard College President Ed Robings, White will return to the school as a teacher and coach in the fall of 1986.

“Jerry wanted some time off to pursue areas of interest within the coaching profession,” Robings said in September. “He has indicated that he will return to Oxnard to continue what has been an excellent baseball program.”