Steve_Hertz_(baseball_coach)
Steve Hertz (baseball coach)
American former college baseball coach (born 1950)
Stephen Lawrence Hertz (born October 3, 1950) is an American former college baseball coach. He was the head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs in 1978 before holding the same position at UC Irvine from 1979 to 1980.[2][3][4] Hertz returned to Gonzaga prior to the 1981 season and coached there through the 2003 season.[1] Under Hertz, Gonzaga appeared in two NCAA tournaments (1978 and 1981), six Pac-10 Northern Division Tournaments (1986–1991), and one West Coast Conference Championship Series (2001). His career head coaching record was 697–678–5 (.507).[1][5][6][7]
Born and raised in southern California, he graduated from Taft High School, then played college baseball at Los Angeles Pierce College and Gonzaga.[2][8] A third baseman in high school, Hertz became a pitcher in college; signed by the Minnesota Twins in 1972, he played three seasons of minor league baseball (1972–1974).[8][9][10]
In April 2007, a bronze bust of Hertz was unveiled at the Bulldogs' new ballpark, Washington Trust Field and Patterson Baseball Complex.[8]