Bill Kernen
Encyclopedia
Bill Kernen is the current head coach of the California State University, Bakersfield
baseball team
. Prior to that position he was the head coach of the California State University, Northridge
baseball team from 1989–1995, and the pitching coach for the California State University, Fullerton
baseball team from 1978-1982. In addition to his baseball coaching achievements, Kernen is also an accomplished playwright
, as well as a former baseball player.
His cumulative record in seven years of coaching is 240–154–3.
. A four-year letterman for the Bulldogs, Kernan had a successful playing career as a pitcher. In 1970, his senior season, he won 11 games with a 1.26 ERA in 106 innings, earning him first-team All-SCIAC
, Player of the Year, and Athlete of the Year honors. Additionally, his 11 victories tie him with Gary Sherman (1965) for the most in a single season at Redlands.
Kernen completed his undergraduate degree requirement in Psychology at University of Redlands
in 1970, graduating cum laude. He played three seasons of minor league baseball
after being drafted into the Baltimore Orioles
organization, before beginning his coaching career in 1974.
, spending two years with the program from 1974 to 1976.
in 1976, leading the Pirates of Costa Mesa for a season.
, Kernen helped to turn the Titans into a perennial postseason contender winning the Big West tournament an unprecedented 5 straight seasons, including trips to the College World Series
in 1979
and 1982
, with the Titans winning the national championship in the 1979 season. Kernen left the Titans after the 1982 season, only to return to the team for the 1987 season. After his coaching hiatus, he spent another six years at Fullerton, coaching 14 pitchers who were selected by Major League Baseball
in the amateur draft, four of whom reached the big leagues in Gary Buckles, Larry Casian
, Jeff Robinson, and No. 1 draft pick Mike Harkey
.
in New York City
. As a playwright, Kernen produced multiple plays. In 1997, Kernen wrote and produced And Other Fairy Tales and A Graveyard Symphony; in the next years, Kernen followed these with the more ambitious Galleria degli Angeli (1998) and Musica de Mariposa (1999), the former of which was honored as a finalist in the Oglebay Institute National Playwriting Competition.
California State University, Bakersfield
California State University, Bakersfield is a public university located in Bakersfield, California, United States which was founded in 1965. CSUB opened in 1970 on a campus, becoming the 19th school in the California State University system...
baseball team
2009 CSUB Roadrunners baseball team
The 2009 CSUB Roadrunners baseball team represents California State University, Bakersfield in the NCAA Division I baseball season of 2009. The 2009 season is the inaugural season for the Roadrunners in baseball, with CSUB beginning the transition from Division II to Division I in 2006, launching...
. Prior to that position he was the head coach of the California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
baseball team from 1989–1995, and the pitching coach for the California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
baseball team from 1978-1982. In addition to his baseball coaching achievements, Kernen is also an accomplished playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, as well as a former baseball player.
His cumulative record in seven years of coaching is 240–154–3.
Playing career
Kernen started his college baseball playing career in 1966 at University of RedlandsUniversity of Redlands
The University of Redlands is a private liberal arts and sciences university located in Redlands, California. The university's campus sits on near downtown Redlands. The university was founded in 1907 and was associated with the American Baptist Church. The land for the university was donated by...
. A four-year letterman for the Bulldogs, Kernan had a successful playing career as a pitcher. In 1970, his senior season, he won 11 games with a 1.26 ERA in 106 innings, earning him first-team All-SCIAC
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the NCAA's Division III. The conference was founded in 1915 and it consists of twelve small private schools which are located in Southern California and organized into nine athletic programs...
, Player of the Year, and Athlete of the Year honors. Additionally, his 11 victories tie him with Gary Sherman (1965) for the most in a single season at Redlands.
Kernen completed his undergraduate degree requirement in Psychology at University of Redlands
University of Redlands
The University of Redlands is a private liberal arts and sciences university located in Redlands, California. The university's campus sits on near downtown Redlands. The university was founded in 1907 and was associated with the American Baptist Church. The land for the university was donated by...
in 1970, graduating cum laude. He played three seasons of minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
after being drafted into the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
organization, before beginning his coaching career in 1974.
San Gorgonio High School
Kernen began his head coaching career for his alma mater, San Gorgonio High SchoolSan Gorgonio High School
San Gorgonio High School is a comprehensive senior high school in the San Bernardino City Unified School District. Its campus is located at the corner of Pacific Street and Arden Avenue on the border between San Bernardino and Highland, California.-Alumni:...
, spending two years with the program from 1974 to 1976.
Orange Coast College
He moved on to coach at Orange Coast CollegeOrange Coast College
Orange Coast College is a community college in Orange County, California. It was founded in 1947, with its first classes opening in the fall of 1948. It provides two-year associate of art and science degrees, certificates of achievement, and lower-division classes transferable to other colleges...
in 1976, leading the Pirates of Costa Mesa for a season.
Cal State Fullerton
Moving to Cal State Fullerton in 1978 to coach pitchers under renowned head coach Augie GarridoAugie Garrido
August Edmun Garrido, Jr. is a coach in NCAA Division I college baseball. As of June 12, 2011, Garrido has compiled a record of 1,817 wins, 823 losses, and 8 ties. He is currently in his 43rd season of collegiate coaching...
, Kernen helped to turn the Titans into a perennial postseason contender winning the Big West tournament an unprecedented 5 straight seasons, including trips to the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
in 1979
1979 College World Series
The 1979 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 1 to June 8. The thirty-third tournament's champion was California State University, Fullerton, coached by Augie Garrido...
and 1982
1982 College World Series
The 1982 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska from June 4 to June 12. The thirty-sixth tournament's champion was the University of Miami, coached by Ron Fraser...
, with the Titans winning the national championship in the 1979 season. Kernen left the Titans after the 1982 season, only to return to the team for the 1987 season. After his coaching hiatus, he spent another six years at Fullerton, coaching 14 pitchers who were selected by Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
in the amateur draft, four of whom reached the big leagues in Gary Buckles, Larry Casian
Larry Casian
Lawrence Paul Casian , is a retired professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1990-1998. He is currently an assistant coach for the baseball team at the University of Portland....
, Jeff Robinson, and No. 1 draft pick Mike Harkey
Mike Harkey
Michael Anthony Harkey is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball and the current bullpen coach for the New York Yankees. During June 2010, Harkey served as the Yankee pitching coach while Dave Eiland was on leave for personal reasons.Harkey played at California State University,...
.
Cal State Northridge
Kernen's first major college head coaching position was at Cal State Northridge, where he led the Matadors in their transition from Division II to Division I. The Matadors, who had been successful at the Division II level, having won national titles in 1970 and 1984, transitioned between the two divisions over a four-year period under Kernen's auspices. 1990 was the last year of Division II play for the Matadors, and in this final year Kernen guided the team to the NCAA Division II title game. This effort earned Kernen the Division II West Region Coach of the Year honors. In 1991, the first year of Division I play for the Matadors, Kernen led CSUN to a 44–18–1 record, the West Regional championship game and a top 10 ranking in the final NCAA Division I poll. In seven seasons with the Matadors, Kernen's record was 240–154–3.Cal State Bakersfield
Kernen was selected to coach the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners in August, 2008. As the founding coach of the Roadrunners team, he was responsible for the selection of the initial recruits, as well as the hiring of pitching and hitting coaches. He put together a 25-man team roster for the Roadrunners, which is small by college baseball standards, which has a maximum roster of 35Playwright
After coaching at Cal State Northridge, Kernen left college baseball to pursue a career in the theatre, attending the dramatic writing program at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. As a playwright, Kernen produced multiple plays. In 1997, Kernen wrote and produced And Other Fairy Tales and A Graveyard Symphony; in the next years, Kernen followed these with the more ambitious Galleria degli Angeli (1998) and Musica de Mariposa (1999), the former of which was honored as a finalist in the Oglebay Institute National Playwriting Competition.