Berrington hired to coach NPHS baseball

Chuck Berrington proved you can come home again.

The Marmonte League welcomed back a familiar face last week when Newbury Park High announced its new head baseball coach would be Berrington, who had previously been the head coach at Westlake and Taft highs.

Berrington replaces Scott Drootin, who wasn't re-hired.

The new Panther head coach said he's glad to be back in the Marmonte, where he led Westlake to the playoffs all seven years he was with the program (from 19962002). The skipper also guided the Warriors to two CIF-Southern Section finals, in 1998 and 2001.

"The Marmonte is one of the greatest baseball leagues in all the nation," Berrington said. "You can beat the first-place team one day and then lose to the last-place squad two days later."

The coach, who's lived in Newbury Park since 1997, said he's always kept an eye out for the NPHS job.

"I wasn't hoping Drootin would ever get fired or anything, and we're actually good friends, but I checked to see if the position was open from time to time since I live in the area and love the community," Berrington said.

"When the position became available, it was actually Drootin who told me I should pursue it."

Although Berrington hopes to have a winning program, he first had to win over some NPHS players who were very close to Drootin. Berrington said that hasn't been a problem.

"The respect came immediately," Berrington said. "I came into my interview and there were two Newbury Park players already sitting down with big smiles. I thought that was weird because I hadn't even said anything yet. . . .

"I'm a little more vocal than Drootin was, and I'll get on you in practice if you aren't hustling, but I'm also the first to pat you on the back if you're doing a good job," the coach said.

While at Westlake, Berrington went 135-47, but the coach said the job he did at Taft is what he's most proud of. Berrington's record at Taft was 29-59.

"When I came to Taft, we weren't very good," he said. "But while I was there we beat Chatsworth, who was a highly ranked club at the time, and we really turned the program around."

Berrington said it was a difficult decision to leave Taft.

"I had some great kids at Taft, and it was very tough to leave," Berrington said. "In the end, however, it came down to my family.

"We've lived in the area for a while, and I wanted to be closer to them. I'm really excited about the new season, and I'm glad to be with Newbury Park."