TVCC tabs Baumann as interim athletic director
Saturday, September 1, 2007 10:44 PM PDT
From Argus Observer staff reports
Ontario - A familiar face will once again lead Treasure Valley Community College’s athletic program after Treasure Valley Community College announced Saturday that Rick Baumann has agreed to serve as interim athletic director.
“We’re very excited to once again have the leadership and consistency Rick brings to our athletic programs,” TVCC President Jim Sorensen said. “Rick has been dedicated to student success and the success of these programs for more than 25 years. We couldn’t ask for a better person to lead athletics.”
Baumann, who began his career at TVCC in 1983, previously served at TVCC Athletic Director from 1996 to 2005, when he chose to return to coaching baseball fulltime for the Chukars.
During his first 14 years on campus, Baumann served as the head baseball coach before stepping into the athletic director’s position.
He returned to the field as interim head coach in 2002, following the departure of Gary Van Tol. Baumann was also interim softball coach during the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
Baumann has compiled a 437-368 record in 17 seasons at Treasure Valley Community College and guided the Chukars to SWAC championships in 1990 and 1992. In 1990, Baumann led the Chukars to a fifth-place finish at the NJCAA World Series.
The Chukar baseball team has won 64 games the past two seasons.
During his time as athletic director, Baumann oversaw the program’s move from the Scenic West Athletic Conference to the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges.
Under Baumann’s watch, the athletic department grew from four programs to fifteen, the full complement of the NWAACC sanctions.
Because Baumann has agreed to the position on an interim basis only, Sorensen said that the college would begin the process to fill the job permanently later in the year.
“We’re grateful to be able to rely on Rick’s tremendous experience and long-standing relationships in the community to help us through this transition,” Sorensen said.
