Coach Ken Gaylord returns for another season as the Falcons’ head baseball coach.
In 2010, Gaylord had taken a year off to watch his sons Adam and Brian play collegiate baseball.
Adam is now playing for the Delmarva Shorebirds in Baltimore.
Brian is now playing for the Kansas City Royals as a free agent.
Entering his 19th year as a coach on the Cerritos Baseball team, Gaylord has had much success as coach for Cerritos compiling a 487-256-4 (.655) record.
Gaylord looks to avenge last year’s loss against Orange Coast College in the Super Regionals.
Gaylord, in his 24 years as a community college head coach, is tied for 15th on the All-Time list with 623 wins.
Freshman pitcher Geoff Bill said that Coach Gaylord is, “a good coach. He’s more laid back of a coach than strict.”
Gaylord has been the named the Conference Coach of the Year three times while at Cerritos in 1995, 1998, and 1999.
Within his 19 years coaching about 145 of his former players went on to receive scholarships and minor league contracts.
Freshman right fielder Zach Mello said, “I think Coach Gaylord is a great guy. He’s a good coach. He knows how to push us hard out there and make us a better team.”
He played baseball at Mayfair High School, and was a three-year varsity letterman in baseball, basketball, and football.
After graduating from Mayfair, Gaylord went on to play for Cerritos College.
During his time on the team he led the Falcons with a 75-8 record.
He was a two-time All-South Coast Conference select at 1st base, and also led the Falcons to consecutive state championships.
Coach Gaylord then went on to play for the UCLA Bruins where he also had a decorated career.
“It was fun. We had a unique group of guys,” he said.
He was named 1st team All-PAC 8 as a designated hitter in his senior year.
“I think we have a really good shot of making it to the the Super Regionals again,” he said.
The Falcons lost last year in the Super Regionals 8-11.
Sophomore third baseman, Chris Esparza talked about the loss.
“It was hard for us going all the way like that especially how no one thought we could win Conference,” he said.
