Smith departs at Victor Valley
Victor Valley College baseball coach Bob Smith has resigned after accepting an assistant baseball position at Division II Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore.
Smith had been part of the program since 2003, serving as head coach since 2008. He led the gradual improvement of the program, going from 7-30 in 2008 to 11-32 in 2009 and 15-21 in 2010 despite having modest resources with which to work. He was recipient of the Howard Lowder Award presented annually to a coach for his long-standing dedication to the program.
Smith was also the school's equipment manager, so he was a fixture off the diamond as well.
Smith and wife Melissa have family in Oregon. Smith's stepson Robert Lloyd works as a fireman just minutes from the school's campus. Other immediate family are in the area as well so it's a nice move for him.
Smith was also a fixture at the high school level as well with stints at both Hesperia and Granite Hills.
Jesus Beltran will take over in the interim with the start of the regular season just a coupe of weeks away.
About Michelle
Michelle Gardner has been a staff writer for The Sun and the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin since 2002 and has covered the local college sports scene since 2004. She ventured West after working at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale for eight years and is a graduate of the University of Florida.
E-mail Michelle here.
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