Mike Gillespie (baseball coach)

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Mike Gillespie
Born	May 7, 1940 (1940-05-07) (age 68) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Baseball Coach
Known for	Head Coach for USC 1987-2006

Mike Gillespie (born May 7, 1940 in Los Angeles, California) is a college baseball coach best known for leading the University of Southern California Trojans from 1987 to 2006. He coached the Trojans to the 1998 College World Series (CWS) championship.

Gillespie posted a 763-471-2 (.618) record as the coach of the Trojans. In addition to the 1998 champions, he also took USC to the CWS in 1995, 2000 and 2001, with the 1995 team advancing to the title game. In 2005, 13 former players coached by Gillespie were playing in Major League Baseball, while five of his former players (Mark Prior, Barry Zito, Aaron Boone, Bret Boone and Geoff Jenkins) were named to the 2003 All-Star Game. He retired from the Trojans in 2006.

Gillespie also played baseball at USC under coach Rod Dedeaux, and was a member of the 1961 College World Series champions; along with Jerry Kindall, he is one of only two individuals who have both played for and coached a College World Series champion. He was succeeded as USC's head coach by Chad Kreuter, a former major league catcher who is also married to Gillespie's daughter Kelly.

On February 2, 2007, Gillespie was named manager of the NY-Penn League Staten Island Yankees. He replaced Gaylen Pitts, who led the baby bombers to their second consecutive NY-Penn League Championship.

In September 2007, Gillespie was named coach UC Irvine's baseball team, replacing Dave Serrano, who had just guided the Anteaters to their first CWS appearance but left to take over at Cal State Fullerton, his alma mater, after George Horton left Fullerton to head the new program at Oregon.^[1]

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Preceded by Rod Dedeaux

University of Southern California Head Baseball Coach 1987–2006

Succeeded by Chad Kreuter