Bob Milano

Bob Milano
Playing career
1960–1961Cal
Position(s)Catcher
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1962–1963Cal (varsity assistant)
1964–1973Burlingame High School
1974–1977Cal (assistant coach)
1978–1999Cal
Head coaching record
Overall688–644–4 (college)
TournamentsNCAA: 20-14
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Awards

Bob Milano is an American college baseball coach. He served as the head coach of the California Golden Bears baseball team from 1978 to 1999.[1][2]

Early life and playing career

Bob Milano grew up in Oakland, California and attended Bishop O'Dowd High School, graduating in 1957. Milano went on to play baseball for the California Golden Bears in 1960 and 1961, leading the 1960 team in hitting with a 357 average.[3] Milano played summer baseball for the Lloydminster Meridians in the Western Canada Baseball League in 1960 and 1961.[4]

After graduating from Cal, Milano was a varsity assistant for the Cal baseball team, while playing for the Humboldt Crabs in the summers of 1962 and 1963, playing in the National Baseball Congress World Series in 1963.[5]

Coaching career

After 10 years as head coach at Burlingame High School, Milano was an assistant coach at Cal under Jackie Jensen from 1974 to 1977, until he was chosen as the new Cal head coach in 1978.

Coach Milano returned to coach the Humboldt Crabs in 1979, with five of his Cal players, including Rod Booker, finishing with a record of 34-16 and a return trip to the NBC World Series in Wichita. Those five Cal players Coach Milano brought to the Crabs, formed the core of the 1980 Cal team who made the College World Series.[6] He was inducted into the Humboldt Crabs Hall of Fame in 2018.[7]

In 22 years at Cal, Coach Milano compiled a record of 688-644-4 (.516). His teams made the postseason six times, making the College World Series in 1980, 1988 and 1992.[8] His Cal teams produced numerous future Major Leaguers including Bob Melvin, Jeff Kent, Lance Blankenship, Darren Lewis, Xavier Nady, and Rod Booker.[9]

Head coaching records

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
California (Pac-8/Pac-10) (1978–1999)
1978 California 35–27 6–12 T–3rd (Pac-8) —
1979 California 31–25–1 16–14 3rd (Pac-10 South) —
1980 California 44–23–1 17–13 T–1st (Pac-10 South) 7–3 (CWS, 3rd Place)
1981 California 31–31–1 12–18 5th (Pac-10 South —
1982 California 29–32 9–17 5th (Pac-10 South) —
1983 California 23–37 9–20 6th (Pac-10 South) —
1984 California 39–28–1 12–18 4th (Pac-10 South) —
1985 California 42–24 17–13 T–2nd (Pac-10 South) 0–2 (NCAA Regionals)
1986 California 32–25 10–20 6th (Pac-10 South) —
1987 California 36–25 12–18 T–5th (Pac-10 South) —
1988 California 40–25 16–14 T–3rd (Pac-10 South) 4–2 (CWS, T–7th Place)
1989 California 35–24 10–20 T–5th (Pac-10 South) —
1990 California 18–43 3–27 6th (Pac-10 South) —
1991 California 37–27 14–16 3rd (Pac-10 South) 3–2 (NCAA Regionals)
1992 California 35–28 14–16 T–3rd (Pac-10 South) 4–3 (CWS, T–7th Place)
1993 California 27–30 13–17 5th (Pac-10 South) —
1994 California 25–35 12–18 4th (Pac-10 South) —
1995 California 32–25 18–12 3rd (Pac-10 South) 1–2 (NCAA Regionals)
1996 California 27–29 10–20 5th (Pac-10 South) —
1997 California 21–38 4–26 6th (Pac-10 South) —
1998 California 22–32 5–24 6th (Pac-10 South) —
1999 California 27–31 11–13 7th (Pac-10) —
Cal: 688–644–4 (.516) 250–386 (.393)
Total: 688–644–4

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Source:[10]

International coaching

  • USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Assistant Coach (1985)
  • USA Baseball Olympic Assistant Coach (1988)
  • USA Baseball Head Coach (1997)

References

  1. ^ Curtis, Jake (May 14, 1999). "Cal's Milano To Retire As Coach". SFGate. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  2. ^ Curtis, Jake (May 18, 1999). "Cal's Milano To Retire As Coach". SFGate. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  3. ^ California History A Salute to Bob Milano
  4. ^ "Western Canada Baseball News Archive". AtThePlate.com. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  5. ^ "Humboldt Crabs". Good Old Sandlot Days. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  6. ^ Kroner, Steve (April 9, 2015). "Cal baseball team to celebrate 35th anniversary of special season". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  7. ^ Brice Gummersall. "Humboldt Crabs Hall of Fame Class of 2018". Humboldt Crabs. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  8. ^ Hudson, Maryann (March 29, 1988). "College Baseball : Defense, Speed Give Cal the Lead". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  9. ^ Coffey, Alex (January 21, 2020). "Cal's Milano To Retire As Coach". The Athletic. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  10. ^ 2019 Golden Bears Record Book