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Newbury Park baseball coach won't be rehired
STORY TOOLS 
More from BaseballScott Drootin has not been rehired as the Newbury Park High baseball coach for the 2008-09 school year, confirmed athletic director Richard Urias on Monday.
"We have decided to go into another direction," said Urias.
Urias would not elaborate on specific reasons for Drootin's departure.
Newbury Park finished the 2008 season at 16-13. Jack Marder led the team with a .516 batting average and a school-record 14 doubles.
The Panthers' baseball program won the 2005 Marmonte League title with a 20-7 record and placed second in 2006 at 20-7 behind two-time All-CIF selection Andrew Lambo.
Posted by frank14 on August 19, 2008 at 6:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NP wants to go in another direction than two 20 win seasons in the last 3 years?
Posted by ballfan on August 19, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, stunning and sad. Anyone who knows Coach Drootin is aware that there's not a better coach or a better man in high school sports anywhere.
When the truth about the situation comes out, the parents who engineered this should be VERY embarrassed. Be sure to thank them when our team tanks next year.
Posted by ugtalotaballz on August 19, 2008 at 8:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, makes you wonder who really wrote this; The paper never said why they didn't rehire him, nobody even knows why he was not rehired except him and the high school.
Posted by Gonzo88 on August 20, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Coach Drootin has been a maligned coach in the Marmonte league because of the "R" word since his arrival. How can he go from league cellar dweller in 2004 to league champion in 2005 and not win the Coach of the Year award? Newbury Park beat the Stoeffel and Stock lead Agoura Chargers twice that year to win the league title. The coaches in the Marmonte league understand what has been happening in Newbury Park since Drootin arrived. (Remember the letter to a local paper regarding 2005 Marmonte League Coach of the Year, Scott Deck and why he was the right choice - something about character and sportsmanship). Agoura High School's baseball team has fallen on hard times. Why? Because they do not allow their coaches to bring in players from outside. Lambo and Marder, who were both ironically mentioned in the Star's Tuesday article, were Coach Drootin's prized recruits (Oops, I used the "R" word). How many other players has he brought to Newbury Park? How many young men, who grew up in Newbury Park, will not find room on the team because of the "R" word? Was this why he was not rehired? Or, was it something else? Why don't we ask him.
Posted by ksofley on August 21, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When the emphasis is on winning games rather than nuturing young talent and demonstrating the concepts of good sportsmanship, integrity, honor and CHARACTER we all end up losing. I applaud NPHS' decision to "go in another direction" especially if that direction is fair and equitable opportunities for ALL!
Posted by gopoly on September 27, 2008 at 3:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was lucky enough to play under Coach Drootin. Not only is he a tremendous baseball guy, he brings in the BEST assistant coaches/instructors to make his players better. He has mentored many of the best players ever to come out of Ventura County and the San Fernando Valley.
You can toss the "R" word around all you want, but facts are that the players flock to him. In the years I played for him, I know that not one player was "brought" into the program. He fights for his players, brings in the right people around him, and goes above and beyond to help get you the exposure needed to play college/pro ball...plus he get results.
How many coaches have turned as many programs around as him? Calabasas was good...he made them better...Chaminade was borderline, he made them into Mission League Champs... Then does it again at Newbury Park...
Droot is an excellent coach and will be back...with another winning team!
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