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Mike Rizzo | |
Head Coach mrizzo@whittier.edu (562) 907-4967 |
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Mike Rizzo
Rizzo begins his 20th season with the Poet baseball
program, and his 10th as the head coach. Born and
raised in Pittsfield, MA, he played his high school ball for
Taconic High School where he was named to the All-Berkshire County
squad in 1982. He played two years at Western New England
College in Springfield, MA, and was named MVP of the NAIA District
5 tournament in 1984. Rizzo transferred to Whittier College
in the fall of 1984, and was twice named to the All-SCIAC
team. He is the single season record holder for innings
pitched, and posted a 17-9 record on the mound while at
Whittier. He was named team MVP and received the President's
Scholar Athlete Award his senior year.
Since taking over the program in 1999, he has guided the Poets to
six 20+ win seasons, and looks to improve upon last year's 17-23
record. In the last nine years, 33 players have been named to
the All-SCIAC team, seven were All-West Region, and two named to
the Division III All-American teams.
Coach Rizzo resides in Cypress with his wife Susan (Sinfield '88) and son Ryan.
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John Wells | |
Assistant Coach jwells@poets.whittier.edu |
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John was a four year letter winner for the Poets and serves as a Graduate Fellow. He will assist with the pitchers and outfielders. As a member of the Poet pitching staff, John recorded two saves as a freshman, but battled arm injuries his entire career. Despite not being able to pitch, John essentially served as a player-coach his junior and senior seasons.
John is enrolled in Whittier's teacher certification program and intends to pursue a Master's of Arts in Education. Coaching is in his blood as his mother, Jodie Burton is the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Claremont Mudd-Scripts (CMS) and his father David (deceased) was the former Head Men's Basketball Coach and Athletic Director at CMS.
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Al Benavente | |
Assistant Coach abenavente@whittier.edu (562) 907-4970 |
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