Former World Series MVP Scott Brosius Named Linfield Head Coach

Brosius, a native of Milwaukie, Ore., and graduate of Rex Putnam High School, is a member of the Linfield Athletics, NAIA, and Oregon Sports halls of fame.

Photo: Linfield Athletics

McMINNVILLE - Scott Brosius has been named to succeed Scott Carnahan as head baseball coach at Linfield College. Brosius will take over the program from his former college coach on July 1st, 2007.

In September, Carnahan announced his intention to step down as varsity coach following the 2007 season.

Brosius, 40, was a natural choice to succeed Carnahan, having served under Carnahan on the baseball coaching staff for five seasons.

During that time, he has gradually taken on more responsibility and today manages the baseball team’s entire recruiting effort in his role as associate head coach.

“I’m extremely excited to be able to stay here and be part of a school I love, that I’ve played at and coached at. It’s thrilling to be able to do that,” he said.

Brosius left Linfield following his junior year after being selected by Oakland in the 20th round of the 1987 amateur draft. He returned to Linfield and completed a bachelor's degree in business in 2002.

In three seasons at Linfield, he hit .332 with 14 home runs and 77 runs batted in. During his junior season in 1987, he hit .348 and set Linfield single-season records for most at-bats, hits and RBI.

He received recognition on the NAIA all-Area, all-District and all-Northwest Conference teams, and was a honorable mention NAIA All-American.

Brosius began his professional career in the minor leagues in 1988 and spent a total of 11 seasons in the major leagues with Oakland and New York. He won three World Series titles with the Yankees in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Brosius was a Golden Glove award recipient, was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1998 World Series, and played in the 1998 All-Star Game.

“Scott obviously has a wealth of knowledge about the game of baseball. He has also demonstrated that he will teach the game and break down fundamentals for our student-athletes in a very positive manner,” said Carnahan. “He understands the dynamics of coaching at Linfield, of having a balance between academics and athletics with baseball being a vehicle for teaching lifetime success-related skills.

Carnahan, who also serves as the college’s director of athletics, will begin his 24th and final season as Linfield baseball coach in the spring. He has amassed a coaching record at Linfield of 540-361-2, including a 342-120 record in Northwest Conference play.

Counting six seasons at Lower Columbia Community College, his overall career record stands at 705-431-2.

He is active in his church, community youth sports, and is a board member of the Willamette Valley Cancer Foundation, which raises money to aid families who are coping with the disease.

“What I am most pleased about is that my successor is a great person and role model. He is a person that every player we have in our program now and in the future would want to emulate,” said Carnahan. “As I enter into my final season, it is very comforting to know that the program will be led by a person who will continue to maintain and build on our solid tradition in baseball.”

Brosius knows he is stepping into the shadow of a Northwest small-college coaching legend.

“I have giant shoes to fill,” he said. “Everyone associated with Linfield understands the value Scott Carnahan has to this school. His coaching record speaks for itself. He has enjoyed incredible success and you just don’t replace someone like that.”

This will be Brosius’ first head coaching position.

“Being a head coach is going to be a new role for me with some new challenges. But the great thing is, I’ve had a great role model and a great mentor,” he said. “Carney has always kept baseball in proper perspective as it fits into the Linfield education. Hopefully, he will still be involved and I’ll be able to bounce some things off of him. I want to continue to learn from him.”

Brosius and his wife, Jennifer, live in McMinnville with their three school-age children.

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