Rath takes over as new MGCCC baseball coach

Gary Rath

A Coast native and former major leaguer is the new head baseball coach at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Long Beach native Gary Rath takes control of the Bulldogs after being approved by the college’s Board of Trustees this week.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity to come back home after playing for so many years and be given the chance to lead,” Rath said. “Gulf Coast has a great tradition in baseball and in all of the athletic programs. I’m thankful and humbled that they think well enough of me to lead this team.”

Rath was a standout college pitcher while at Mississippi State and enjoyed a 15 year professional career highlighted by stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins. Seven of those seasons were spent pitching in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

His next challenge is to manage a Gulf Coast squad that went 32-17 last season and won the MACJC South Division title. Seventeen of those players are coming back as sophomores in 2010 along with a new batch of incoming freshmen from South Mississippi high schools.

“The sophomores have a lot of experience from last season and I think that’s going to play a huge factor,” Rath added. “We did a lot of recruiting and we have a good class of incoming freshmen. That blend of talent gives us plenty of reason to be excited for 2010.”

The 36-year-old was one of 12 candidates interviewed for the position. Last season he was an assistant coach at Gulf Coast under Cooper Farris, who retired after 20 seasons as the Bulldog skipper.

Gary Rath

“Gary has a passion and integrity for the game that I think is going to take our program in the right direction,” said Ladd Taylor, Gulf Coast athletic director. “He’s already created strong relationships with the local high schools that are necessary for a successful college recruiter, and he’s coming in at a time when we will open our new baseball and softball field house. It’s a great time for Gary to come in as head baseball coach at Gulf Coast.”

Rath is currently serving as an assistant coach of the Wareham Gatesmen of the prestigious Cape Cod League. He’s hoping to return to the Coast to begin his new job as early as next week.

“Baseball is my passion,” he said. “I hope to be able to pass on all the knowledge I learned during my career to these players. We’re going to be enthusiastic, and we’re going to be positive, and we’re going to put a great product out on the field next season.”

Rath and his wife Robin have one daughter (Ava) and twin sons (Andrew and Wyatt).