Vanguard University of Southern California
(Redirected from Vanguard University)
- Location: Costa Mesa, CA
- Nickname: Lions
- Conference: Pacific West Conference 2025- ;Golden State Athletic Conference 1987-2024
- Division: II (Transitional)
- Ballpark: Dean Harvey Field
Vanguard University of Southern California has gone to the NAIA World Series twice: 1985, 2015. Vanguard was known as Southern California College until attaining University status in 1999. Southern California College was the first NCAA or NAIA school to use a female pitcher in a college game when Ila Borders took the hill for VU in 1994. The team can be traced back to the 1950s when they began playing once they moved to their current campus.
Southern California College fired its coach near the end of the 1987 season. Rather than hiring an interim coach, the team chose redshirt pitcher Mark Deushane to coach the team the rest of the way. The team then won the District 3 tournament and finished 3rd in the Area tournament. Vanguard announced in July 2023 that they plan on joining the the NCAA DII in the Pacific West Conference starting in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Notable Alumni[edit]
- Ila Borders, minor league pitcher
- Chad Chop, coach
- DeWayne Coleman, minor league pitcher
- Jim Dedrick, pitcher
- Tim Fortugno, pitcher
- Sammy Hackl, Austrian national team catcher
- Sean Isaac, minor league coach
- Erik Komatsu, outfielder
- Jordan Oseguera, minor league pitcher
- Rob Pegg, college coach
- José Rojas, infielder
- Alec Rosales, Philippines national team outfielder
- Nikko Tountas, Greek national team catcher-infielder
Coaches[edit]
- Fred Keener, 1975-1976
- Doug Adams, 1977-1981, 1988-1989
- Rocky Miniciello, 1982
- Rick Emard, 1983-1985
- Dennis Rogers, 1986
- John Hardin, 1987
- Charlie Phillips, 1990-1995
- Kevin Kasper, 1996-2004
- Scott Mallernee, 2005-2008
- Ralph Grajeda, 2009-2012
- Rob Pegg, 2013-present
Assistant Coaches[edit]
- Jorge Araiza, 2010-2012
- Jordan Oseguera, 2013-?
- Rob Pegg, 1999-2005?
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