Doug Rose retires after 25 years as Mesa assistant baseball coach
Mesa, AZ – They call him "Rosey," and things have, indeed, been rosy for Mesa baseball since Doug Rose entered the scene 25 years ago as assistant coach.
But Rose has decided to hang up the cleats on an extraordinary career. The 2022 season has been his last and he got to share the last two seasons with his son, Kaden, a pitcher for the T-Birds.
MCC baseball accomplishments have been many in Rose's 25 years on the bench beside head coach Tony Cirelli. That list starts with the NJCAA Division II National Championship Mesa won in 2014. But there is more, much more. There have been 22 Region I playoff appearances resulting in five trips to the NJCAA DII World Series.
As far as the players he has tutored, 17 have gone on to receive All-American honors and a whopping 100 have earned either all-region or all-ACCAC honors, or both.
Rose was asked to put to paper his feelings about his 25 years at MCC.
"It has been such a great honor and a blessing to be a part of this baseball program for the past 25 years at Mesa. It was the highlight of my 36 years of coaching baseball.
"To all the players that were here at Mesa when I coached, thank you for everything and thank you for playing the game right. There are no words that I can express the love I have towards you and this program. It has meant so much to me and my family!
"To the Alumni, thanks for helping me out with recruiting, you are not on the field playing anymore, you guys still played a big part of our success over the years.
"I also want to thank all the great coaches I worked with, Dave Robb, Sean Kenney, Chris Cooper, Allen Mitchell, Brian Gerlach, Edgar Ramirez, Kyle Nyhart, Kenny Westry, Bill Moore, AAron Webster, Rocco Cirelli, Tom Novak and of course Zeke. I learned a great deal from all of you.
"But most of all, I wanted to THANK Skip for letting me and Kaden (son) be a part of Mesa CC baseball. It has been a Great Ride!!! Still cannot believe we won a National Championship. Thanks again Skip !!!!"
Cirelli added:
"Doug Rose played an integral part of the Mesa community College Baseball program for 25 years. He was a teacher of fundamentals, and had an unwavering attention to detail. This attention to detail was a major factor in the discipline associated with the baseball program.
"As a recruiter, he worked tirelessly, on the phone and the computer in his pursuit of prospects all over the country. He attended games all across the valley, and promoted the Mesa culture to players, coaches, and parents.
"Most importantly, he developed relationships. He was always there to lend an ear, or give fatherly advise to a kid away from home for the first time. The kids trusted and confided in him. He continued to foster those relationships long after they left Mesa. He has shared in their successes as well as the difficult times that life presents. He is always there for them. He is in constant communication with the alumni, and has been a leading factor of the family culture.
"A man of loyalty, integrity, and faith, He cannot be replaced."
Congratulations Doug Rose on 25 great years.
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