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Anthony Gilich

Anthony Gilich

Coach Gilich enters his 14th season at Central Arizona College and 7th as head coach.

The 2019 season ended with the Vaqueros winning the Region 1 Championship, the Western District Chanpionship and the NJCAA World Series NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. 2019 is one of 3 Central Arizona teams to win a National Championships joining the 1976 & 2002 clubs. For his efforts, Gilich was named Western District Coach of the Year, was awarded the prestigious Walter "Bus" Bergman JUCO World Series Coach of the Tournament and ABCA National Coach of the Year. The Vaqueros finished the year 50-20 including winning 19 of their last 21 games as well as fighting off 12 elimination games in pursuit of their 3rd national title.

In only his second year as head coach, the Vaqueros won the ACCAC Conference championship and Gilich was awarded ACCAC Coach of the Year.

He currently owns the second best winning percentage among all coaches in the history of the program (.708) with a 238-98-2 record and started the 2016 campaign with 17 consecutive wins. In his six years, 28 players have been selected ALL-ACCAC, 1 named ACCAC Player of the Year (Caleb Henderson), 1 NJCAA All American (Grant Townsend), 1 NJCAA Rawlings Gold Glove (Pikai Winchester), 15 players drafted and 85 have committed to four-year universities.

2017 saw the Vaqueros finish as the District Finals and Region 1 Runner-up and fall one game short of a NJCAA World Series appearance.

In his inaugural season as head coach the Vaqueros finished 37-19, including a conference best 13 game win streak. The 37 wins ranks him #1 all-time among CAC coaches in their first year at the helm. The 2018 team, recorded two consecutive 14-game win streaks.

In 2008, as an assistant under the direction of Gilich, CAC broke the all-time fielding percentage record in NJCAA Division I history with a .977 rate. His infielders finished in the Top 15 of the NJCAA I in fielding each year.

Gilich's offense led the ACCAC in stolen bases in 2011 and set a school record with 203. Also, during his tenure as recruiting coordinator, 75 CAC players committed to NCAA Division I schools while 24 were drafted - including first-rounder Keenyn Walker and third-rounder Fernando Perez. Also, six Vaqueros were named ACCAC Player of the Year and six have earned NJCAA Rawlings Gold Glove Award. As an assistant at Central, Gilich coached Josh Spence, AJ Schugel and Joel Kuhnel who all played in the MLB.

Gilich coached from 2003-07 at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash., where he was the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator. He was responsible for managing the third base box and coaching the team's infielders.

In 2004, UPS led the Northwest Conference in stolen bases and in stolen base percentage, converting 90 of 115 attempts during the season. In addition, the Loggers had a higher fielding percentage and fewer errors every season upon his arrival in 2003. During Gilich's tenure, five Puget Sound infielders were selected All-Northwest Conference.

Gilich also has served as the head coach of the highly-recognized Triple Play Hornets from 2004-07. In 2007, he guided the Hornets to a 47-16 record as well as winning their second consecutive USABF World Series Championship in San Diego. During his tenure with Triple Play, every player was placed at the college level including former Vaqueros Cade Thompson, Joe Anson and Tim Steggall.

Gilich had an outstanding prep career at Gig Harbor High School (WA) where he earned First Team All-State honors as a shortstop and also won a state championship in 1997. He still holds the school record for most saves in a season and most career saves.

Collegiately, he finished his playing career at Santa Barbara City College.

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