Top Division I schools come calling for Coyotes

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2003 | 10 a.m.

A month ago, 32 Division I baseball coaches landed in Las Vegas, rented cars and zipped straight to the Community College of Southern Nevada to watch its "Sophomore Showcase" at Lied Field in Henderson.

Others have visited, too. Many major four-year programs, and those who aspire to reside in the upper echelon, have learned to include CCSN on their recruiting itineraries.

On Wednesday, the heightened exposure will produce the first half of what will undoubtedly be the most talented recruiting class that CCSN coach Tim Chambers has produced in five years.

"Schools like Tennessee, Georgia and Texas are coming into Henderson, looking at baseball players?" Chambers said. "I think that makes it pretty special. And they're not necessarily looking at kids they know about; they're coming to to look at CCSN because they know we'll have good players.

"I think the national championship put us over the edge. You always want winners, kids who have proven that they can win."

When Chambers, also the school's athletic director, started the Coyotes' program more than four years ago, he predicted a national title within three to five seasons. That came in May, in the fourth year of CCSN baseball, in Colorado.

Win it, and they will come. Pipelines to CCSN have been fruitful to UNLV and Texas Tech. Now, many others know better than to head west without checking out the Henderson junior college.

Kansas coach Ritch Price visited last week, and Texas A&M coach Mark Johnson arrived two weeks ago without knowing anyone on the CCSN roster. Price spoke to the entire team.

"He said, 'It's our first time in to see the program. We haven't been in here yet, but we're tired of getting beat by fellow Big 12 schools for CCSN (players),' " Chambers said.

Georgia, which won the D-I title in 1990, will get Sean Kazmar when a quintet of sophomore Coyotes begin the early-signing period Wednesday by committing to four-year schools.

Tennessee, which was ousted in the next-to-last game of the marquee tournament in 2001 and has played in four consecutive College World Series, will add JC All-America pitcher Jabe Beard.

There are two -- center fielder Calvin Beamon and pitcher/first baseman Tyler Coon -- for Texas, which played in the CWS last season and has won two national championships over the past 20 years.

Louisiana State, which has claimed five of the past 13 D-I championships, was turned down by a Coyote.

New UNLV coach Buddy Gouldsmith attracted third baseman Mike Cruz, and outfielder Sean Havens will likely sign with Gouldsmith in the spring. Both are husbands and fathers who valued remaining in the Las Vegas area.

NCAA rules forbid a coach from talking about a recruit until the school receives a written commitment, usually via fax, from the prospect, but Gouldsmith talked about CCSN's increased exposure in general terms.

"It says a lot about that program, what (Chambers) has done to attract that type of attention," Gouldsmith said. "Those kids who will sign with Texas or Tennessee, they'll tell you we recruited them. They all felt like UNLV was an option.

"That's the key for me. Whether they chose here or not, I think, in the past, it may not have been an option. Our goal is to be the best option in Nevada and, first and foremost, in Las Vegas."

Kazmar and Coon interrupted a trip to Minnesota, to play summer ball, with a stopover in Omaha to watch the College World Series. That's when they shelved ideas about signing pro contracts early to try to return to Omaha as players.

When Kazmar returned from a recruiting trip to Georgia, he canceled visits to LSU and Texas. Beard canceled trips to Alabama, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State upon returning from Knoxville. Beamon had wanted to be a Longhorn since his youth in Colorado.

"It's their opportunities to get to another World Series," Chambers said. "Their chances are better because of where they chose to go. I tell kids when we recruit them, if you come here and contribute, and have success, you'll have an opportunity to choose where you want to go and further your education.

"All kids have Division-I aspirations. Nobody grows up wanting to play for CCSN. It's a stepping stone for them. Success and the chance to get a Division I scholarship makes the decision easy for them."

According to Chambers' records, Wednesday will boost the number of his players who have inked Division-I scholarships to 44. That will only increase late next spring.

"Since I've been at UNLV, he's gotten premier players who did qualify to go to Division I institutions, and outstanding institutions," Gouldsmith said. "And winning a national championship at any level is a tremendous achievement."

Two weekends ago, Chambers said he received a phone call from a prospect in Arizona who has been offered scholarships from both Arizona State and Arizona. The pitcher, however, wants to play for CCSN.

"It's what I anticipated our program being four years ago," Chambers said. "You put yourself in a situation where expectations are high. We have a reputation to hold up every day now."