| BUTTE COLLEGE ATHLETICS |
| 3536 BUTTE CAMPUS DRIVE OROVILLE, CA. 95965 |
| PHONE (530) 895-(530) 895-2521 e-MAIL physed@butte.cc.ca.us |
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Official Site of the Butte College Roadrunners
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Anthony Ferro Coach Ferro returns for his fifth season as the head coach for the Butte College Baseball Team. The Roadrunners finished last year's season on a positive note, as they reached the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The Roadrunners have continued to improve each and every year under Coach Ferro. Coach Ferro's first four years rebuilding the Butte program have proved successful, as Ferro's teams have compiled an 88-72-1 record, been ranked as high as 7th in the state rankings, and spent the entire 2006 campaign ranked in the top 20. The 2006 season also brought the school's first Golden Valley Conference (GVC) title in nine years, and the 2007 season marked the first time in 12 years that the Roadrunners reached the playoffs in consecutive years. Coach Ferro's goal is to have a complete program that produces not only quality baseball players, but quality people as well. Ferro believes that, “Success in the classroom is mandatory for the players in this program, we want to help our players move towards gaining a college degree.” This attitude is engrained in his players as they have proved successful in the classroom as well. Ten of Ferro's players had a GPA of 3.0 or higher last season, and Matt Brubaker had the highest male student-athlete GPA at Butte College (3.8). Because of Coach Ferro's attitude towards excellence, nearly every sophomore has graduated and moved on to a four-year university to not only continue their dreams of playing baseball, but also to pursue a college degree. In Ferro's four years on the job, he has had 31 players move on to play at the next level. Ferro has boasted five Division I players, eighteen Division II players, and eight more who have gone on to play at NAIA universities. In addition, two ex-Roadrunners have had the opportunity to play in the College World Series. 2005 graduate, Josh Tavelli (UC Irvine) made it to the Division I College World Series last year, and Jacinto Rivera, ( California State University , Los Angeles ) also a 2005 graduate played in the Division II College World Series. The 2007 season once again showed great individual success to go with the team's overall success. Three of Coach Ferro's players were selected as scholar athletes, outfielder Michael Maehl was voted GVC Player of the year and selected to the All-Nor-Cal Team. Three Roadrunners were selected 1st Team All Conference, with six more voted to the 2nd Team. Additionally, Michael Maehl was also voted Butte College Male Athlete of the Year, which is the second year in a row that a baseball player has received that honor. Before rebuilding the Butte program, Coach Ferro spent parts of two seasons as an assistant coach and head recruiting coordinator under Lindsey Meggs at Chico State. Ferro was an intricate part of the Wildcats 2002 campaign where the team finished with an impressive 55-10 mark and were the National runners up in the Division II College World Series. Prior to coaching at Chico State, Ferro was the head assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Cal State Stanislaus from 2000-2001. Before Ferro's jump to NCAA baseball, Ferro spent four years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Butte. During that time, Ferro was also the head coach of the Chico Stix semi-professional baseball team. Ferro is also beginning his ninth year of professional scouting as an associate scout for the Milwaukee Brewers Organization. A native of Woodland, California, Ferro received his Bachelor's degree in Physical Education in 1997 from Cal State University, Chico, and a Master's degree in teaching pedagogy in the year 2000. Anthony and his wife, Sarah, have a two-year-old daughter, Grace, and reside in Chico, California.
Luke Carriere Coach Carriere is in his first season as an assistant for Butte College Baseball. Luke's main responsibilities will be to work with the catchers, outfielders and hitters. He will play an integral role in the recruiting process as well as all other daily aspects of the program. Before coming to Butte College, Luke held the assistant coach position for two years at Mendocino Junior College. There he was the third base coach as well as the catching and hitting coach. For the 2006 season, Luke was an assistant coach for the Paradise High School baseball team. As assistant coach, Luke helped the team in clinching the Northern Section Championship. During the 2007 summer season, Carriere was the head coach for the Chico American Legion Suns team which ended the season with an overall record of 26-9 and made the playoffs. A native of Chico California, Carriere graduated from Pleasant Valley High school in 1998. In 1999 Carriere played for Butte College and in 2000 he played in a wood bat league at Lane Community College in Oregon. Carriere finished his college baseball career in 2005 playing for the Sonoma State Seawolves. At California State University Sonoma, Luke graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology. Luke is single and resides in Chico.
Brian Thomas Brian Thomas will begin his first year at Butte College serving as the pitching coach. He brings a plethora of baseball knowledge and is a welcome addition to the Roadrunner staff. Brian was the closer at Chico State in 2002 where coach Ferro was the infield coach. “I am absolutely thrilled to have Coach Thomas join our staff, I thoroughly enjoyed coaching Brian at the collegiate level and look forward to working with him again under different circumstances. We are fortunate to have hired such a great person and one of the top up and coming coaches in California.” Born in Ford Ord. California, Brian spent his high school years at West Torrance High school, located in Los Angeles. At West High he was a standout baseball player, selected to the first team All-Area squad for two years (with an over all record of 20-2). Brian then attended Los Angeles Harbor college where he made the Southern California All-Star team. He then signed a letter of intent to play at Chico State University . In his two years at Chico Brian received All-American honors as well as Co- MVP. After Chico coach Thomas then played one year of professional baseball with the Yuma Bullfrogs in the WBL. Brian graduated in 2006 from Chico State University, Chico with a B.A. in Kinesiology. He is currently working on his teaching credential at CSU Chico.
Steve Johns Steve will begin his first season with the Butte College baseball team. Coach Johns primary duties will be to work with the bunters, coach first-base and assist with the pitchers. Steve comes to Butte College from Chico State where he was a pitcher for the 2005-2006 season. Coach Johns attended Orange Coast Community College where he helped the Pirates get to the final four in 2005. After OCC he then attended Chico State, where he helped the Wildcats get to the College World Series in 2006. Coach Johns is now currently attending Chico State where he is studying to get his B.A. in Kinesiology. Johns then wants to get his teaching credential, and one day teach and coach at the high school level.
John Soldate A truly successful sports program emphasizes, and holds as one of its highest priorities, quality education for its student-athletes. At Butte College, this is the case. The athletic department and student services have joined together to provide support programs aimed at achieving excellence in the classroom and on the playing field. The Athletic Academic Advising program, headed by full time advisor John Soldate, offers counseling and guidance in: orientation, educational planning, COA and NCAA eligibility issues, athletic issues, and personal concerns. In collaboration with the Center for Academic Success, student-athletes also have access to a special on-campus tutoring program along with a monitored study hall program. John's full-time caseload is specifically for Butte College student-athletes. He is a member of the Counseling Department, but his office is located in the Butte Athletic Department. This is a unique arrangement aimed at securing the best interests of the student-athlete while insuring proper communication with the coaching staff. John has been working with college student-athletes for the past nine years, starting his career at Butte College as an instructor and coach. John most recently comes from The University of Southern California were he was an assistant athletic director of student-athlete academic services working within that athletic department in various roles including counseling and advising. As a college student-athlete John played baseball at Santa Rosa J.C., Chico State , and went on to play professionally. John graduated from Chico State and went on to receive a master's degree in exercise science also from CSU Chico. He also has a master's degree in education with an emphasis in counseling and student services from USC. John is a member of the 3C4A (Community College Counselors Athletic Academic Advisors Association) and the N4A (the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics). John Soldate is a big part of Butte College 's effort to care for its athletes off the field, as well as on.
ATHLETICS BASEBALL M.BASKETBALL W.BASKETBALL CROSSCOUNTRY FOOTBALL M.GOLF W.GOLF SOCCER SOFTBALL TENNIS TRACK&FIELD VOLLEYBALL |
