Bruins Elevate Marty Hunter to Head Coach

Hunter joined the George Fox staff as an assistant baseball coach in 2003 and was named the Bruins’ associate head coach in 2005.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

NEWBERG, Ore. - Marty Hunter, a veteran coach with experience at the high school, college, and professional levels, has been promoted from associate head coach to head coach of the George Fox University baseball program, director of athletics Craig Taylor announced Wednesday.

Hunter joined the George Fox staff as an assistant baseball coach in 2003 and was named the Bruins’ associate head coach in 2005.

He replaces Pat Bailey, whose 12-year run at George Fox included an NCAA Division III national title in 2004, eight Northwest Conference championships, and a win-loss record of 353-158.

Bailey this month was named assistant coach at two-time defending NCAA Division I national champion Oregon State University, where he joins another former George Fox baseball coach, Pat Casey.

At George Fox, Hunter’s primary coaching focus has been with the infielders.

In each of the past five seasons, the George Fox defense has ranked in the top six nationally in fielding average. The Bruins led the nation in both 2003 and 2005 and set a Division III record in 2005 with a .979 fielding mark.

Hunter came to the George Fox program from Canby (Ore.) High School, which he guided to a 132-63 record from 1995 to 2002.

His teams made the state Class 4A playoffs every year and won Pacific-9 Conference titles in 1997, 1998, and 2002. He was the Conference Coach of the Year in ’97, ’98, ’01, and ’02. He also continued as a teacher at Canby while working with the Bruin baseball team.

Prior to his stint at Canby, Hunter coached Bend (Ore.) High School from 1991-94, going 68-40.

Bend won the Intermountain Conference championship in 1991 and 1992, and he was named Coach of the Year in the conference both seasons.

In 1990, he served as an assistant coach with the Bend Bucks, a team in the professional Class A Northwest League.

A graduate of Gresham (Ore.) High School, Hunter attended Linfield College, where he received two letters as a football cornerback and three as a second baseman and catcher on the baseball team.

He earned both dual business and health degrees from Linfield in 1984, then worked at Gladstone, Gresham, and West Albany high schools before landing in Bend. He completed a master of education degree from Linfield in 1991.

In addition to his coaching duties, Hunter will serve as an instructor in the department of health and human performance at George Fox.

“From the day that I first started coaching at the high school level, I’ve thought of coaching at the college level,” Hunter said. “I believe the continuity we will have will be a great thing for the program. All our coaches are going in the same direction in terms of goals and philosophy. We have some great kids and a great staff at George Fox, and I look forward to this opportunity of continuing the legacy of outstanding baseball established here by Coach Bailey.”

The Bruins’ other staff members - assistant coaches J.R. Reichenbach and Randy Rutschman and junior varsity coaches Brandon Rupp and Kevin Kopple - are expected to remain with the program.

“We are very excited and fortunate to have a coach of Marty’s caliber accept our position,” said Taylor in announcing the promotion of Hunter. “Over the five years he has been here, he has related well to the players and had strong support from both the returning players and the current recruiting class. While he will bring his own personal perspective to the program, we know that he will build on what Pat Casey and Pat Bailey have done over the last 20 years of Bruin baseball.”

Hunter and his wife of 22 years, Kim, have two sons: Taylor, 18, who will play baseball for the Bruins this year, and Tucker, 15. The Hunters reside in Canby.

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