College Baseball:

It’s been eight years since the Citrus College baseball program has enjoyed a winning season.

Since 2015, the Owls have been north of the .500 mark just three times.

Pending board approval, the program got a facelift with the hiring of four-year Chaffey College coach, Andy Smith.

During his tenure at the Rancho Cucamonga school, Smith’s Panthers went 110-59 overall.

That comes out to a 65-percent success rate.

Chaffey also went 77-19 in IEAC play, which included three consecutive conference championships.

Smith, 34, isn’t the scream in your face kind of guy.

He places an emphasis on constructive criticism, and that’s one of the many reasons his athletes love playing him.

However, don’t confuse his even keel nature for weakness or think he doesn’t hold his players, staff and himself accountable for their failures or missteps.

Current and former Chaffey players have told this reporter on many occasions that Smith and his staff care far more about them as people than as players, and that he challenges them daily to be a better person, student and athlete than they were the day before.

He also works tirelessly to help ensure their careers continue at the four-year level.

Smith adopted the motto of the late-great Cal Poly coaching legend John Scolinos, which goes, “surround yourself with good people.”

And his success would indicate that he’s done just that.

Andy Smith is a 2009 graduate of Palo Verde High School in Las Vegas.

His collegiate baseball career included time at Santa Barbara JC, Dixie State and Biola.

Smith never hid from the fact that the IEAC is not a deep baseball conference.

 

In 2023 and 2024, the Panthers hosted a pair of first-round playoff series.

And they went 0-2 both times.

So, in 2025, Smith decided that scheduling state power programs in nonconference games would give his program a far better opportunity to have success in the postseason.

Chaffey defeated Fullerton, Cypress, Glendale and Cerritos.

For the third year in a row, the Panthers hosted a first-round best-of-three series.

This time, though, Chaffey picked up the two-game sweep over their visitors from Golden West College, a program that had defeated the Panthers in the regular season.

That earned the boys from Rancho Cucamonga a spot in the three-team Mt. SAC Super Regional the following week.

After a victory over Cuesta in game one, the Mounties dropped a 13-6 beatdown on the Panthers.

It would have been easy to fold the next day, but Chaffey did the opposite of that.

They came back and secured a 13-7 victory over the Mounties.

It forced a third and deciding game on a very long and hot Saturday in Walnut.

Mt. SAC would edge Chaffey, 9-8, and go on to clinch its first state championship in 60 years.

But the Panthers were the only program that defeated the eventual state champs in the postseason.

And that’s the kind of grit that Smith intends to instill in the Citrus program.

I asked Smith his thoughts on getting the good news on Wednesday.

Said Andrew Smith: “This is a life-changing opportunity for my family and me. I couldn’t be more grateful to Citrus or to Chaffey for giving a young coach with no head coaching experience a chance to build a program. My time there was extremely special to me-the people, the memories, all irreplaceable. But I cannot wait to get started in Glendora with such a great department and institution. There’s such an incredible opportunity here to build a sustainable culture of success on and off the field for these student-athletes.”

Quotable:

Former SDHS & Chaffey & current Gonzaga infielder, Ryder Young: “I think it’s awesome that Andy got the job over at Citrus. It’s a big win for everyone involved. Not just for him, but for the entire program. The players over there are going to benefit in a major way. They’re getting a coach who genuinely cares, who’s going to show up every day and put in the work to help his guys get better on the field and off. Having played for him, I can say firsthand that he’s someone who invests in his players. He’ll hold you accountable, push you to your potential, and still have your back through it all. He brings a high standard, but he’s also the kind of coach who builds trust and loyalty because it’s clear he’s in it for the right reasons.”

Former Chaffey & Glendora High pitcher, Evan Ellis: “The numbers speak for themselves in what kind of coach he is, not only in how he turned Chaffey around into a winning program, but also in how many players go on to great programs at the next level after playing for him. He is a stand-up guy who holds himself and everyone around him to a certain standard, because he cares about the future of every player he comes across, and that has been reflected in his success as a coach.”

Former Bonita & UC San Diego pitcher/catcher, Garrett Patterson: “Coach Andy is the man, and I’ve placed my trust in him for this season and the future. He’s got unlimited baseball knowledge, and he has a passion and a drive to win. I have faith that I’ll have success at Citrus, and the program will as well.”

Former Chaffey & Glendora High pitcher, Michael Moses: “Playing for Coach Smith has been the best baseball experience in my life. From the very beginning, it was clear he wasn’t just coaching to win games — he was shaping men, holding us to a higher standard both on and off the field. He leads with integrity, sets the tone with unmatched work ethic, and always puts his players first. He pushes us to grow, and he challenges us to be better in every area of life. I feel lucky to have played for him, and I know I’m better off because of it. I’m super excited for Coach Smith and his family, no one deserves it more.”

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Citrus Baseball’s Season Records:
2025: 13-26 overall, 8-3 in Western State Conference
2024: 20-20, 11-10
2023: 11-28, 7-14
2022: 16-24, 9-12
2021: No Season (COVID)
2020: 18-18, 4-0 (Partial COVID Season)
2019: 19-20-1, 13-7
2018: 22-18, 11-9
2017: 22-17-1, 12-8
2016: 14-21-1, 7-14
2015: 20-15-1, 13-8

Andy Smith Records at Chaffey:
2025: 34-11-1 overall, 20-4 in Inland Empire Athletic conference:
2024: 27-15, 21-3
2023: 28-14, 21-3
2022: 21-19, 15-9
2021: COVID
Totals: 110-59-1 overall & 77-19 in conference