Last spring was the best of times for Pima Community College men’s basketball and then the worst of times.

After nearly winning a national championship, the program was sucker-punched by its own head coach when Karl Pieroway unexpectedly quit. Pieroway then returned, but quit again.

Pieroway went from school hero to lower than the scary liquid that always seems to be on the floors of West Campus men’s rooms even though they are constantly cleaning it.

Now, Pieroway is a nice guy but his actions were atrocious.

People hate basketball superstar LeBron James, but James didn’t leave after calling the Cleveland Cavaliers to tell them he was coming back.

Pieroway did.

Nick Saban is the poster boy for coaching disloyalty in college and pro sports, but not even Saban didn’t leave after Louisiana State University and the Miami Dolphins fired people to get more money for his salary.

Pieroway did.

There may have been more people fired that they didn’t mention in a press release, but at least assistant athletic director Jerry Stitt was fired and athletic director Edgar Soto had to resign as baseball coach.

We don’t know for sure that the athletic department’s extreme makeover was to get more money for Pieroway. Coaches weren’t allowed to talk to us. One, who a few weeks earlier said he owed me a favor, wouldn’t even call me back on it in May.

But, it is pretty obvious. Sure the baseball team slumped the last couple of years, but why would Soto fire himself?

There may have been issues with the administration but, because Pieroway declined a chance to tell his story, I just have to assume the worst.

Speaking of Pima’s administration, they just plain mishandled the coaching search.

Never mind that the obvious choice, former University of Arizona and PCC assistant basketball coach Jim Rosborough wasn’t hired. The process used to hire new head coach Roderick Gary is what really grinds my gears.

In lots of ways, Gary seems like a great fit. He used to be an assistant coach for the Aztecs and still works at PCC. He wants Pima to be the county’s basketball team.

That clearly makes him a “Pima man,” especially important after Pima’s last coach went all runaway bride on the school.

Sounds great, but why did it take so long to hire him? Remember when the University of Arizona took maybe two weeks to hire Sean Miller and everyone freaked? Didn’t it take the University of Kentucky about a day to hire John Calipari?

Both the chancellor and Gary work in Pima’s district office complex. So then why was it so hard to find him?

Gary wasn’t hired until two months after Pieroway quit for the second time, losing precious recruiting time and momentum from the Aztecs’ great playoff run. That was in the summer too.

Worse yet, nobody told the players or kept them remotely in the loop. Even the college coaches with the least integrity tell their players they are leaving.

Players didn’t know when Pieroway was coming or going. One player asked me in July, “Um, what’s going on, do we have a coach yet?”

I had no idea, but sent him a published story that said Rosborough was interested in the job. We both assumed Rosborough would be hired.

Gary could very well return Pima to Nationals, maybe even this year, but it’s unfair to essentially make him start the game with a couple of fouls.

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Former Pima, USA Baseball and Foothills coach Jason Hisey named head baseball coach

Edgar Soto hired a familiar face, Jason Hisey, to succeed him as Pima Community College head baseball coach.

Soto, Pima’s executive director of athletics, stepped down as head baseball coach in May. Hisey was the Aztecs’ pitching coach from 2006-2008.

Pima won 105 games during those years, making the playoffs in 2006 and 2007. The 2006 Aztec pitching staff led the Arizona Community College Athletic Association with a 2.74 ERA.

In 2006, Hisey coached USA Baseball’s 18-and-under team to a silver medal at the World Junior Championships in Cuba. Hisey is also the president of the Southern Arizona Baseball Association.

Jason Hisey

From 1995-2005, Hisey was the head baseball coach at Catalina Foothills High School, where he led the Falcons to three state championship games, eight regional titles and a 256-78 win-loss record.

“Jason’s record speaks for itself. He has been successful at every level,” Soto said in a press release. “And he knows the college and appreciates the high scholastic standards we hold our student-athletes to.”

Hisey pitched for the University of Arizona from 1987-91 and then played in the minor leagues from 1991-93 in the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization.

He has a master’s degree in sports administration from the UA and a bachelor’s degree from UA in exercise sport science.

The Aztecs missed the playoffs in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

The Pima Community College Board of Governors must approve Hisey’s appointment. Their next regular meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 11.

2010 Pima Graduation Ceremony

Former Pima coach Roderick Gary named men’s head basketball coach

Former Pima, USA Baseball and Foothills coach Jason Hisey named head baseball coach

Men’s soccer holding tryouts July 5 and July 7

Aztecs earn Academic All-American accolades

Three softball players selected to All-American teams

Japanese Speech Contest, Aikido and Anime Club Videos

Women’s track & field takes 13th at Nationals, the men finish 17th

Video of baseball coach’s last home game

Men’s golf team finishes 18th at Nationals

Two women’s golfers finish in top 42 at Nationals

Living the Dream: Pima Fashion Show video

Both track & field teams finish third at Regionals

Chloe' Nowell

Men’s tennis finishes 19th at Nationals

Women’s tennis finishes 19th at Nationals

Men’s basketball coach Karl Pieroway steps down, again

Yavapai finishes off softball

Softball bounces back, advances to Semifinals

Softball upset by bottom seed

For the second time in less than a month, the Karl Pieroway era of Pima Community College men’s basketball has ended.

Pieroway resigned on May 13, nine days after he returned to Pima as a full-time head coach. He first quit on April 20, citing the pressures of trying to coach and teach middle school math.

Pieroway’s temporary upgrade to full-time head coach prompted a restructuring of the athletic department that also saw women’s head basketball coach Todd Holthaus become full time. In addition, executive athletic director Edgar Soto stepped down as head baseball coach and Jerry Stitt’s position as assistant athletic director was eliminated.

Pima will now search for a replacement for Pieroway on a “half-time” basis.

Check back with AztecPressOnline.com for updates on the basketball coaches, the baseball coach search and other summer news.

Pieroway timeline

June 2008: Hired as Pima’s men’s basketball coach
2008-09: His first team goes 10-20
Dec. 2, 2009: Aztecs upset No. 6 Phoenix College
Jan. 23, 2010: Aztecs upset No. 16 Cochise College
March 6, 2010: Aztecs upset top-seeded Phoenix, their second Regional tournament road win in a row, to advance to Nationals
March 20, 2010: Aztecs finish fifth at Nationals
April 20, 2010: Pieroway resigns as head coach
May 4, 2010: Rehired as a full-time head coach
May 13, 2010: Resigns

Pima Community College men’s basketball head coach Karl Pieroway will return to the school after resigning. Pending approval from the governing board, both Pieroway and women’s basketball head coach Todd Holthaus will now be full-time coaches.

In other developments, Edgar Soto stepped down as athletic director in a dramatic restructuring of the athletic department.

Pieroway resigned on April 20, citing the difficulties of trying to coach a college team while also working as a middle school teacher. PCC announced on May 4 that he had agreed to return.

“This is a great opportunity for me. I appreciate the chance to continue to work with the players in making our team one of the up-and-coming programs in the nation,” Pieroway said in a press release.

In Pieroway’s two seasons at the helm, he led the men’s team from after-thought to almost a national championship. The team finished seventh at the National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament, losing only to the eventual national champions. The year before Pieroway started, Pima men were 7-23.

“It will impact the student athletes by providing continuity, with coach Pieroway staying on as the coach, which will just help him and the student athletes on the team take what they are doing and what they have done to the next level,” said Rachelle Howell, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Marketing.

Soto, the executive director of athletics, will step down as baseball head coach to focus on managing the athletic department. The position of assistant athletic director, held by Jerry Stitt, will be eliminated.

The press release said the reorganization “will allow the college to more efficiently utilize resources, better serve its student-athletes and build on the successes of its programs.” Pima’s only previous full-time coach was football head coach Pat Nugent, who was hired in January 2009.

Soto stepped down from the baseball coaching job “so that he can devote his full energies to managing the athletics department,” the release said. Pima will immediately start a search for a new baseball coach.

“Several of Pima’s teams have made it onto the national stage recently, and I want to do everything I can to help us grow our programs and capitalize on those successes,” Soto said in a press release.

The baseball team finished 21-33-1 and missed the playoffs for the third year in a row. Soto went 359-286-2 at Pima and produced five Major Leaguers, including pitcher D.J. Carrasco, currently on the Pittsburgh Pirates and pitcher Tim Wood, currently a Florida Marlin. Soto also was head coach of the U.S. National baseball team.

Stitt was hired in September 2008. His salary is $40,040, according to Volume 58 Issue 2 of the Aztec. Stitt took over the University of Arizona baseball team from 1997-2001 after being a long time assistant coach. He also coached at Salpointe Catholic High School and Grand Canyon High School, and was the hitting instructor for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Rookie team.

Holthaus turned the women’s basketball program from a laughingstock to a national power. This year the Aztecs finished fifth at the NJCAA national tournament and last year they finished third. The year before Holthaus was hired, Pima was 5-22.

The PCC’s Board of Governors still must approve the full-time hiring of Pieroway and Holthaus. Their next meeting is May 12.

Check AztecPressOnline.com this summer for coaching updates.

Although the Pima Community College baseball team had a disappointing season, sophomore outfielder Shaun Cooper did not let it affect his play. He improved tremendously to earn himself another Division I scholarship.

Cooper played last season for the University of Arizona and had a strong season, hitting .300 in 27 games for the Wildcats.

“I wasn’t going to have a chance to be a starter at defense, it was more designated hitter,” Cooper said about his transfer to Pima. “I wanted to improve on my defensive skills.”

Cooper finished this season as Pima’s top batter and was the only Aztec to start all 55 games. He scattered 197 hits, including 17 doubles and four home runs. He totaled 44 RBIs on the year. His 18 stolen bases were also a team high, along with his .330 batting average.

“My main reason why I came to Pima was to improve on my outfield skills,” Cooper said. “Hitting was good, I’m always trying to improve on my hitting. I did pretty good for my first real, full season.”

Pima head coach Edgar Soto thinks Cooper made a big impact.

“Cooper has been a huge part, especially since Justin Zumwalde has been injured most of the year,” Soto said. “He helped us a bunch, not that we are having a great season, but who knows how it could have been without him.

Shaun Cooper

“He is also an about-average outfielder now. The more he played, the more live game opportunities you get, you are going to improve and I think he has improved tremendously. He is such a hard worker, runs well, so he just needed the reps out there.”

Cooper accepted a scholarship at the University of Utah and will be eligible to play for two more years.

“They recruited me out of high school. I took a visit up there and the facilities were really high-class,” Cooper said about the University of Utah. “It was very similar to UA and I think I will really enjoy it.”

Cooper said he hopes to start immediately in either left field or center field and wants to bat in the middle of the lineup, but he will have to prove himself to the coaches.

His main goal is getting drafted to a Major League Baseball team, hopefully at the end of his junior year. If that does not happen, he will stay for his senior season.

Cooper has declared his major as sociology, but plans on getting into emergency medical technician programs at Utah. If not for baseball, Cooper would love to become a paramedic and work in the health field.

His hobbies outside of baseball include weight lifting and playing “Call of Duty” on his Xbox 360.

Pima closed the season with a sweep of Central Arizona College, and finished 21-33-1 overall. Cooper was named All-ACCAC first team and All-Region second team.

Pima Community College head men’s basketball coach Karl Pieroway will return to the school after a two week absence as a full time coach, along with women’s head basketball coach Todd Holthaus in a dramatic restructuring of the athletic department.

Executive Director of Athletics Edgar Soto will also step down as baseball head coach to focus on managing the athletic department.

Pieroway coached the Aztecs for two seasons, but resigned last month, citing the stress of balancing his workload as a full time middle school teacher with coaching duties.

“This is a great opportunity for me. I appreciate the chance to continue to work with the players in making our team one of the up-and-coming programs in the nation,” Pieroway said in a press release.

Check AztecPressOnline.com this summer for coaching updates.

The Pima Community College team has been playing .500 baseball in its last eight games, and has now been officially eliminated from the post-season.

The Aztecs are currently 18-30-1, (11-21 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) on the season and will finish with a sub .500 record with only six games remaining.

“We are going to focus and continue to play hard,” head coach Edgar Soto said of his team. “We aren’t going to change what we do.  No matter what, we are going to not give up and we are going to do everything we can to win a baseball game.”

On April 20, Pima split its games against Division II No. 10 Mesa Community College, winning 13-3 and losing 16-6.

Sophomore Richie Sandoval endured the loss in Game 1, giving up six runs on six hits through three innings of work.

The southpaw struggled with his control as he also walked five Thunderbird hitters.

Sophomore shortstop Pepito Moreno was the Aztecs’ top hitter in Game 1, as he went 2-3 with a double and one RBI.

Freshman Torry Mowatt improved to 2-2 on the season with his Game 2 start and win.

Mowatt threw five innings, giving up six runs, four earned, on five hits.

Freshman Ryan Retz got the job done on the mound and at the plate.

Ryan Retz

Retz pitched the final 1-2/3 innings to earn the save and he went 2-5 with a grand slam in the seventh inning.

Pima split a pair of ACCAC games with South Mountain Community College on April 17, losing 6-2 and winning 10-3.

Sophomore Tim Reed picked up the loss in Game 1, giving up six runs, four earned, on eight hits.

Freshman Matt Pavelich earned the win in Game 2, pitching six strong innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on seven hits.

Sandoval and Mowatt relieved Pavelich to throw the final three innings of shutout baseball.

Lead-off hitter Moreno led the Aztec offense, as he went 3-6, scored two runs and drove in four.  Retz, current ACCAC Player of the Week, went 2-5 in Game 2 while driving in three RBIs.

With the season winding down and the playoffs not a possibility, many of the sophomores are playing for scholarships and the freshmen are competing for ample playing time next year.

“Ryan Retz is having an outstanding year,” Soto said about his returning freshmen players. “We are excited about him for next year.  Also, outfielder Leo Durazo has had a pretty good year and he’s one of the top hitters in the conference.  As for pitchers, Torry Mowatt is having a decent year and will be important next year.”

The Pima Community College baseball team is struggling with just over 20 games remaining.

The Aztecs are 10-22-1 on the season and the main concerns stand in pitching and defense. Errors and earned runs are taking over the box scores and have been the Achilles’ heels all season.

“We are a really good team, we have a lot of good talent, we just need to put it all together,” sophomore pitcher Richie Sandoval said. “We need to work on both defense and pitching. If we have really good pitching, our team tends to do pretty good.”

Sandoval said he has had ups and downs this season.

“I think I have been pitching pretty well these past couple games,” he said. “I just need to keep working hard, throwing strikes and setting the tone for the team.”

The Aztecs are 6-7 in their past 13 games and cannot find away to bring about a streak above .500.

Ricardo Neda

Twenty-two games remain on the schedule, so statistically the Aztecs cannot count themselves out. However, it would be quite an accomplishment if they make a turnaround this far into the season.

“We all need to stay positive,” Sandoval said about the remainder of the season. “None of the coaches have been negative at all. They have been positive and trying to bring guys up and not allow us to let down on ourselves.”

On March 23, Pima lost both games of a doubleheader to the Coyotes of Chandler-Gilbert Community College, falling 8-7 and 12-5.

Pima’s next game will be a doubleheader on March 27 at home against Paradise Valley Community College.