Background
Gillespie, Mike J. was born on May 7, 1940 in Los Angeles, California, United States.
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Mike J. Gillespie
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Mike J. Gillespie, American college baseball coach. Achievements include member of College World Series National Collegiate Athletic Association national championship winning University of Southern California Trojans, 1961; head baseball coach of College World Series National Collegiate Athletic Association national championship winning University of Southern California Trojans, 1998.
Education
Gillespie started his coaching career at the College of the Canyons, a California junior college. He started the school"s baseball program in spring 1971 after the school"s fall 1969 founding. In sixteen seasons as head coach, he had a 420–167 record.
Gillespie posted a 763–471–2 (618) record as the coach of University of Southern California. In addition to the 1998 championship, he led University of Southern California to the Chemical Warfare Service in 1995, 2000 and 2001, with the 1995 team advancing to the title game.
In 2005, 13 former players coached by Gillespie were playing in Major League Baseball, while six of his former players were All-Stars including (Mark Prior, Barry Zito, Aaron Boone, Bret Boone, and Geoff Jenkins in 2003, and Morgan Ensberg in 2005).
He left University of Southern California following the 2006 season.
Gillespie also played baseball at University of Southern California under coach Rod Dedeaux, and was a member of the 1961 College World Series champions. Along with Jerry Kindall, he is one of only two individuals who have both played for and coached a College World Series champion.
He was succeeded as University of Southern California"s head coach by Chad Kreuter, a former major league catcher who is also married to Gillespie"s daughter Kelly.
In September 2007, Gillespie was named coach University of California Irvine"s baseball team, replacing Dave Serrano, who had just guided the Anteaters to their first Chemical Warfare Service appearance but left to take over at Cal State Fullerton, his alma mater, after George Horton left Fullerton to head the new program at Oregon.
On January 8, 2010, Gillespie was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Hall of Fame.
Career
Freshman baseball coach Palos Verdes High School, California, 1964. Baseball coach Rolling Hills High School, 1965-1970. Head baseball coach College of Canyons Cougars, Valencia, 1970—1986.
English, physical education, health education professor College of Canyons, athletic director, 1977-1986. Head baseball coach University Southern California Trojans, Los Angeles, 1987—2007, University California Irvine Anteaters, since 2007. Manager North Pole Nicks, Alaska Semipro Baseball League, 1983—1985.
Assistant coach, United States national team United States of America Baseball, 1997, head coach, United States national team, 2002.
Achievements
Membership
Gillespie also played baseball at University of Southern California under coach Rod Dedeaux, and was a member of the 1961 College World Series champions.
Connections
Married Barbara Westcott, June 25, 1986. Children: Kelly Kreuter, Mitch, Matt, Tiffany.
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Born
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Nationality
United States
Awards
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Named California Community College Coach of Year, 1981, 1983, 1986, Coach of Year, Pac-10 Conference, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2002, West Region Coach of Year, American Baseball Coaches Association, 1996, 1998, 2009, National Coach of Year, 1998, Collegiate Baseball, 1998. Named to American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, 2010.Named California Community College Coach of Year, 1981, 1983, 1986, Coach of Year, Pac-10 Conference, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2002, West Region Coach of Year, American Baseball Coaches Association, 1996, 1998, 2009, National Coach of Year, 1998, Collegiate Baseball, 1998. Named to American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, 2010.