Former Cal State Fullerton baseball coach George Horton joins OC Riptide staff

George Horton has joined the OC Riptide staff. (Photo courtesy OC Riptide).

George Horton, who led national power Cal State Fullerton to the 2004 National Championship has joined the Orange County Riptide as a special assistant, officials announced.

Horton’s duties with the OC Riptide “will be broad in scope assisting in various aspects including player development, mentoring the coaching staff and enhancing organizational growth,” officials said in a release.

The Riptide plays its home games at the Great Park Stadium in Irvine.

“It is with great pleasure that the OC Riptide has asked me to come on board and assist in every area possible to elevate an already terrific organization as well as elevating the entire California Collegiate League quality,” Horton said in a statement.

“Hopefully, my involvement will aid the Riptide’s leadership, staff, coaches and players in many areas. It’s exciting to know that I can possibly help the young, hungry players and coaches within the ball club.”

In his combined 28 seasons as a collegiate head baseball coach, Horton had a career
record of 1,091-546-2 (.666).

Horton is a member of several Halls of Fame including the American Baseball Coaches Association, Cal State Fullerton Athletic Department twice (assistant coach on the 1995 national championship team and as head coach), California Community Colleges Baseball Coaches Association and Downey High School.

Horton was the college head coach for 48 former players that have reached the Major Leagues. In addition to player development, as a head coach, Horton has seen over 60 colleagues and former players advance to become head baseball coaches and teachers at various levels.

Horton is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton with a Bachelors in Kinesiology and holds a
Masters in Education from Cal Lutheran. He and his wife, Francie, have been married since 1977 and currently reside in Yorba Linda. George and Francie have four daughters, nine grandchildren and a new Vizsla dog named Lucy.

—Courtesy OC Riptide