LA City College Names Baseball Coach

LOS ANGELES (June 20, 2006) - - Selwyn Young, of Santa Barbara, has been named head baseball coach at Los Angeles City College. Young served a portion of the 2006 season as interim coach and will immediately begin his duties.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to return to a place where I grew up as a player," said Young. "My first job as a baseball coach was at LA City when Phil Pote gave me my first chance in 1989. As an alum, former Cub and coach, it feels great to return to Los Angeles and give something back to the program.

"I look forward to reaching out and working with inner city baseball players as well as our highly touted recruits. I sincerely believe the program is moving up based upon how we finished this past season and the infectious enthusiasm of our returning players. Our core is solid for 2007. I expect 10 payers to return including four All South Coast Conference selections."

Young, who replaces former coach Melvin Aaron, is a graduate of Los Angeles Belmont High where he was a three-sport varsity letterman. He was named "All City" shortstop his senior season as well as being an All League defensive back in football. School honors included being named Belmont's "Athlete of the Year" in 1976.

Young played for the 1977 LACC Cubs at shortstop. A 30-game hitting streak that year helped him earn a full scholarship to Pepperdine University, in Malibu. In 1980, he set the single season record for stolen base percentage at .952 with 20 out of 21 stolen bases. Post college honors were awarded to Young's team in 1999 when it was inducted into Pepperdine's prestigious Hall of Fame. The '79 Waves was the first Pepperdine team to win a berth in the NCAA College World Series.

His professional baseball career began in the Oakland A's organization in 1981. Young proved to be an effective "switch-hitter" and middle infielder enroute to three consecutive Minor League Championships from 1981 to 1983. The last title was the Double-A Eastern League Crown.

Young continued his playing career with a variety of professional baseball organizations including the Baltimore Orioles, the Mexican Major Leagues, and several independent leagues before hanging up his glove in 1995 while under contract with the Seattle Mariners.

Prior to joining LA City as an assistant coach this past season, Young spent three seasons as recruiting and offensive coordinator at Oxnard College. Oxnard's 2003 team graduated all 10 of its sophomores. Overall, Young brings more than 10 years of junior college experience to LA City. This includes stops at Compton College, Antelope Valley, Santa Barbra City, and LA Valley College.

Young is presently a part-time scout for the Cincinnati Reds and manages the Reds Scout team during the fall. Over the past five summers, Young has also served as a hitting and base running specialist for the Santa Barbara Foresters. In 2003, the Foresters won the American National Championship held annually in Wichita, Kan. During Young's tenure with Foresters, the team's achievements include setting the National single season stolen base record with 250 stolen bases in a 60 game schedule. The Foresters have also accumulated a .300 team batting average using wood bats. The A's 2004 first round draft pick, Richie Robnett, mentored under Young.

His professional baseball affiliations are extensive. He spent a part of one season Managing the Yuma Desert Dawgs in the Golden State Professional Baseball League. He
served as the Hitting Coach for the Seattle Mariners Area Code team for three seasons, and managed the Mariner Scout team for five seasons .He also coached the local RBI Scout Team for two seasons.

Baseball is a family affair for Young. His father, Fate Young, was a professional baseball scout for over 35 years. His younger brother, Delwyn, was selected in the second round by the Cincinnati Reds and played for 13 seasons. His nephew, Delwyn Jr., is currently on the Dodgers 40-man roster. His son, Selwyn Brandon Young, was recently awarded a full baseball scholarship at Grambling State University, in Louisiana.

Young has an Associates degree from Antelope Valley College, a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies from Thomas Edison State College, a Master's degree in Sports Management from United States Sports Academy, and a Master's degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific University.

Young is a member of the Southern California Professional Baseball Scouts Association, the California Community College Coaches Association and a Lifetime Member of the Professional Baseball Players of America.

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