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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, June 5, 2001

Players seem receptive to new coach

 •  Trapasso new head coach of UH baseball program
 •  Ferd Lewis: An ability to recruit, rebuild, relate

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Although they admittedly don't know much about their new coach, University of Hawai'i players appear receptive to Mike Trapasso.

"I'm looking forward to meeting him," said UH outfielder Scooter Martines.

Advertiser library photo

Georgia Tech's pitching coach and recruiting coordinator yesterday accepted the UH head coaching job that became vacant with the retirement of Les Murakami and after Arizona State head coach Pat Murphy declined the job. The selection comes a little more than a year since Murakami announced that this would be his final season. It brought some sense of relief to the players.

"It's been on everybody's thoughts for a while," outfielder Scooter Martines said. "I'm looking forward to meeting him. He seems very knowledgeable of the game."

Closer Bryan Lee was surprised but pleased with the selection.

"I thought it was going to be Pat Murphy," Lee said. "I was kind of surprised. But I didn't know much about any of the coaches. I didn't have a preference."

Trapasso is regarded by Baseball America as the top assistant coach ready to take on a head coaching job at a major program.

"I just knew he was one of the best assistant coaches in the nation," pitcher Jeff Coleman said from his San Dimas, Calif., home. "Hearing that as a player is a good thing. I'm kind of excited."

But Coleman, a junior and thus draft eligible, might not be around to welcome Trapasso. Coleman said he is anxious to sign if taken in the draft, which starts today.

Pitcher Chad Giannetti also said he does not know much about Trapasso, but likes the fact that he was the Yellow Jackets' pitching coach.

"That should help us," he said. "I'm looking forward to (him coming)."

Junior designated hitter Gregg Omori is hoping to get drafted and would sign if he gets a fair deal. Otherwise, he looks forward to the new coach.

"It won't make a difference," Omori said. "If I get drafted high enough, it would be a great opportunity for me. But then I'll be more than happy to play another season at UH. Either way it's win-win for me. I'll just have to wait and see what happens."

Meanwhile, outfielder Chad Boudon, playing with pitcher Aaron Pribble in the California Collegiate Baseball summer league, said he is contemplating returning to UH next season. He began the year as the starting left fielder, but played sparingly about midway through the season.

"I wanted to leave my options open," Boudon said. "I didn't want to come back if the coach wasn't going to suit me well."