College of the Sequoias Selects Scott Laird as Head Baseball Coach

VISALIA - College of the Sequoias has named Scott Laird as its Head Baseball Coach, Athletic Director Brent Davis announced on Friday.

Laird, a long-time Giant assistant and third base coach, was selected from an original field of 50. He replaces Jody Allen, who had coached COS the last 32 years and retired in late April.

Laird, a graduate of Mt. Whitney High School, played on the 2008-09 COS teams and twice earned all-conference honors as a second baseman.

His sophomore season he was also awarded a Gold Glove, was team captain and team MVP.

Laird continued his academic and baseball career at Fresno Pacific University, where he played two seasons. He earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology at FPU and a master's in Kinesiology.

Laird returned to COS as an assistant coach and has been in the dugout the past 13 years, coaching third base and assuming major recruiting responsibilities.

"I am extremely excited, and have been really honored to put on the COS uniform as both a player and as a coach," he said. "I am looking forward to building on the tradition set by COS coaches of the past, including Jody Allen, Al Branco, Bert Holt and Roy Taylor."

"It's been a life-long goal for me and my family to be the Head Baseball Coach here at College of the Sequoias, and this is a dream come true. I'm very grateful to President Brent Calvin and Athletic Director Brent Davis for their support and confidence, and I can't wait to get started. Go Giants!"

"We are extremely pleased with our selection of Scott as the new baseball coach," said Davis. "He has been a mainstay of our program for a long time, is a quality young man and we look forward to his continuing the COS baseball tradition."

(Tommy Lu, COS Athletics)