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Tony Gwynn: From Point Guard to Baseball Coach |
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Contributed by Scott Edelman
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Monday, 05 February 2007 |
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When Tim Vezie took over as the head basketball coach at San Diego State University in 1974 he could not have guessed that 33 years later he would have a player elected into the Hall of Fame. . . especially not the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Despite a successful career as a basketball coach, including a record of 77-62 over five years as the head coach of the Aztecs, Vezie acknowledges that his biggest claim to fame may be as the guy who wouldn’t allow Tony Gwynn to play baseball.
Now a land developer in Central Oregon, Vezie enjoys the opportunity to talk about one of his best basketball players and one of his favorite people. It is with no small amount of pride that Vezie recalls the years he has spent getting to know Gwynn. From the time he recruited Tony to his induction into the Aztec Hall of Fame in both basketball and baseball, then on through his successful baseball career to becoming a coach himself, Vezie has had a special relationship with Gwynn.
If there is anyone qualified to discuss Gwynn’s sports career outside of San Diego it is Tim Vezie. The credentials begin with Vezie’s own talent as a two sport athelete himself. While basketball was the primary sport he played through college at the University of Denver, Vezie also had a short stint in the Giants organization, receiving instruction from Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell before Vezie blew out his arm and had to give up on pitching. After completing graduate school, Vezie was invited to take over as head basketball coach at the newly formed Tahoe Paradise College. It wasn’t an easy assignment. In his first season Vezie had only six players on his roster, and the team played 24 of their 25 games that season on the road as they tried to establish themselves. After several years building the Tahoe program, Vezie became an assistant coach at San Diego State University. He began his five year run as head coach by taking his team to the NCAA tournament in each of his first two seasons. It was in his second year as head coach that Vezie became acquainted with the telented 5’11” Anthony Keith Gwynn.
Tony the Recruit
Coach Vezie first met Tony as a junior at Long Beach Poly High School. Ken Baker, one of Vezie’s assistant coaches and a former San Diego State basketball player, had been watching Tony play and was impressed enough to get the head coach to check out the local high school basketball phenom. That season, Tony led a very talented group of players to the highly competitive Central Coast Section Championship. It didn’t take long for Vezie to realize he was looking at his future point guard: “As a Junior I saw Tony play . . . he was a fabulous little point guard out of high school – left handed, etcetera, and he just fit the mold of what we were looking for as a point guard for San Diego State.”
The efforts of Vezie and Baker over the next year proved worthwhile as they successfully recruited Tony Gwynn . . . and his girlfriend Alicia. According to Vezie, one of the interesting things about recruiting is that a coach often “gets to know a young man so well that you also get to know those around him.” Vezie has found that there is a double advantage to recruiting girlfriends of prospective players – it not only helps make a player’s decision to attend a school easier, but the familiarity also helps a young player adjust to the pressures of his first year at a university. Vezie knows this strategy doesn’t always work – he heavily recruited a player out of Cupertino High School near San Jose, but in his words the result “was not a good thing – I got the girlfriend but not the player.” Kurt Rambis went on to attend Santa Clara University before a 14 year NBA career, most notably with the Los Angeles Lakers. At least in the case of Tony Gwynn, the recruitment stratagy was successful in more ways then one – Alicia went on to become Tony’s wife.
Tony the Point Guard
With Tony Gwynn’s increasing prestige due to his recent election into the Hall of Fame, many baseball fans are now aware that Gwynn played college basketball. Few realize just how good he was. When asked to describe Tony as a player, Vezie states: “[Gwynn was] quick as a cat. Tony was the probably the quickest guard I ever coached and I really believe he was the best point guard we ever had at San Diego State . . . was extremely explosive off the drive, could penetrate. He wasn’t really a great outside shooter. He became a very good shooter later on in his years, but just a great competitor. And for what we were trying to accomplish – we had a one guard lead at the time – he was perfect for the mold.”
Tony came off the bench his freshman year (1977-78). The Aztecs had a point guard named Dean Decker who, according to Vezie, had earned the right to start his senior season. Decker set a school record that season with 176 assists. Gwynn approached that mark as the starting point guard in his sophomore year with 153 assists and shattered the record his junior year with 221 – a record that has not been approached to this day. Gwynn also holds Aztec records with 590 career assists (second on list has 412), 18 assists in a single game, and 16 double digit assist games.
 Tony Gwynn’s College Career Basketball Statistics Years
| G
| GS
| FG
| FT
| REB-AVG
| AST-AVG
| STL
| PTS-AVG
| 1977-81
| 107
| 61
| .475
| .706
| 215 – 2.0
| 590 – 5.5
| 141
| 933 – 8.4
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*Statistics and photo provided by San Diego State University Media Relations Just when Gwynn appeared ready to take over as the starting point guard, Vezie recruited a highly skilled point guard out of a Los Angeles junior college. In Vezie’s words, he picked up the player “to put a little pressure on Tony because I wanted Tony to step up to the plate even a little harder and he was by far the dominant player of the two.” From that point on, there was no question who Vezie’s leader on the court would be. Two games in particular stick out in Vezie’s memory. The first was a matchup against Jerry Tarkanian’s Runnin’ Rebels in the 1978-79 season. The San Diego State Aztecs had a tall order against a team that would finish the season with a record of 21-8. To make the challenge even greater, that game was played in Las Vegas and was broadcast on national television. As Vezie recalls, Tony had a “phenomenal game” that brought Tony much deserved recognition. Vezie states, “Jerry [Tarkanian] always has quick players on his team, but Tony really took it to them.” With the help of Gwynn’s on-court leadership, Vezie’s Aztecs upset the Rebels by a score of 94-91 in a game Vezie remembers as one of the biggest of his coaching career. The other great game Vezie remembers took place just two weeks later in Gwynn’s sophomore season. The Aztecs had a home game against Brigham Young University led by future NBA star (and Major League Baseball hopeful) Danny Ainge. Vezie asserts that Tony was an amazing competitor who could hold his own against anyone on the court. Gwynn played his heart out that game, but with a one point lead Gwynn threw the ball away, giving BYU a chance to win the game. On the final play, Vezie recounts that Tony guarded Ainge perfectly, taking a charge as the BYU star drove to the basket for the final shot. Unfortunately for Vezie and his star player, the home court referees called the foul on Gwynn and Ainge sunk the freethrows to beat the Aztecs 96-95. After the loss, Vezie remembers finding Tony in tears saying he blew the game for his team. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” was Vezie’s response, “We wouldn’t even have been in a position to win if it wasn’t for you.” That is the kind of basketball player Tony was - “It was about how he cared about winning, how he cared about his team, and how he cared about his teammates . . . His work ethic and his desire was really something. He was very motivated to be a good athlete, a superior athlete as a matter of fact. He was just a very likable guy – big old smile, very friendly, got along with everybody. He was one of those kind of guys who led by example, by his work ethic.” These are the same characteristics that baseball fans currently cite over 25 years later as Gwynn was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Tony the Baseball Player
According to Vezie, Gwynn’s “first love is and always has been basketball.” Nonetheless, Tony was a very talented athelete who enjoyed baseball as well. During his freshman year Gwynn approached Vezie with a request that he be allowed to play baseball for the Aztecs after the basketball season was over. “Absolutely not,” was Vezie’s response as he reminded Gwynn that he was at San Diego State on a full scholarship to play basketball. Vezie wanted Gwynn to work on his basketball skills during the off-season and felt that baseball would get in the way. However, when Tony approached Vezie with the same request his sophomore year, the basketball coach relented, and Tony went on to begin an amazing baseball career.  Tony Gwynn’s College Career Baseball Statistics Years
| G
| AB
| R
| H
| 2B
| 3B
| HR
| RBI
| BB
| SO
| SB
| AVG
| OBP
| SLG
| 1979-81
| 132
| 400
| 106
| 159
| 28
| 7
| 18
| 102
| 46
| 21
| 35
| .398
| .460
| .638
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*Statistics and photo provided by San Diego State University Media Relations
After his senior year, Gwynn had the unique experience of being drafted in two different professional sports on the same day. The San Diego Padres picked him in the third round of the 1981 June baseball draft and the San Diego (now Los Angeles) Clippers picked him in the tenth round of the NBA draft.
Once Gwynn decided to go with baseball it didn’t take him long to jump to the majors, appearing in 54 games with the Padres in 1982 at the age of 22 – after just 158 games in the minor leagues. In his first professional season Gwynn breezed through the Northwest League (A-) in 1982 with a batting average of .331 before he was promoted to the Texas League (AA) where he hit an astounding .462 in 23 games. In Tony’s rookie season (1982) he hit .289 and it was the only time in his 24 year baseball career (including college and the minor leagues) that he hit under .300. In fact, including his .328 batting average in the 1982 Triple-A Pacific Coast League, Gwynn’s total batting average that season was .315. While not known for his power beyond college and the minor leagues (Gwynn had 135 career home runs at the major league level), Vezie indicates that one of Tony’s favorite hits was a long ball. It took place in Game 1 of the 1998 World Series against the New York Yankees. Though the Padres ended up getting swept by the Yankees, Gwynn hit a home run in his second at bat at Yankee Stadium. Vezie says that Gwynn remembers it as “one of the most enjoyable hits he ever had. [Gwynn] said he made the turn on it perfectly.” It goes to show what a magical game baseball truly is – even a 17 year veteran with eight batting titles can be thrilled by such a feat in Yankee Stadium. As Gwynn looks forward to entering the National Baseball Hall of Fame this summer along with Cal Ripken, Tony’s former basketball coach can’t think of a more appropriate cap to his amazing career. “[Gwynn and Ripken are] very similar in personality, very similar in loyalty, and very similar in work ethic. It is perfect to have them come in together,” states Vezie who has seen his own interest in the public eye escalate after the announcement that his former point guard would be in the Hall of Fame in the sport he initially discouraged him from. “I will always be the guy who told Tony Gwynn no to baseball,” quips Vezie. While acknowledging Tony made the right choice, Vezie still believes Gwynn was good enough to make it as a professional basketball player: “What he could do on the floor and what he could do for other players, I thought he had a chance to play at that position, but obviously I think he made the right choice by going to baseball.” Tony the Coach As Gwynn’s playing career came to a close, it was no secret what his next ambition was – to be head coach of the San Diego State baseball team. The fit couldn’t be better. Gwynn was already a local hero, ranked as a civic asset right up there with “the Pacific Ocean, sunshine, sand . . . and the Navy” in a 1999 Union-Tribune article by local writer Jerry Magee1. Even the stadium, built in 1997 with a significant contribution from the San Diego Padres, was named after him. Who better to coach a team that plays their home games in Tony Gwynn Stadium than the man himself? Gwynn got his opportunity shortly after he retired from Major League Baseball in 2001, becoming an assistant coach to Jim Dietz . . . the same coach who was in his eighth season at the helm of the Aztec baseball team the year Gwynn became a two sport college star. Dietz retired after the 1992 season and Tony stepped in to try and fill the shoes of a beloved coach with a lifetime 1188-727 record (.619 winning percentage). It hasn’t been the easiest start for Gwynn; his first four seasons as head coach have yielded a disappointing record of 113-132 (.461). As Gwynn’s former coach, it has been interesting for Tim Vezie to watch Tony evolve from player to coach. With a smile on his face, Vezie recounts a phone conversation he had with his former pupil when Gwynn admitted the job was much tougher than he realized it would be: “What Tony didn’t understand but maybe understands now is that he was so far superior as an athlete and also as a student of the game. It’s really hard for a player of that caliber to come in and be a coach . . . he has to make the transition that these are not Tony Gwynns out there that he is coaching.” Vezie isn’t concerned about Tony as a coach. He just understands the challenges of working with players who aren’t always willing to put in the effort that a coach feels they should to reach their potential. Vezie notes Gwynn’s famous dedication to pouring over videos in a constant effort to improve his abilities and knows this commitment translates well into his role as a baseball coach. “Tony just always loved teaching and coaching. He loved the fundamentals,” states Vezie, “He loved the fundamentals of hitting. He studies those a lot. And he likes to work with young people. He always has.” There is one key advantage that Gwynn has . . . recruitment is not quite as tough as it is for some other coaches. Vezie indicates that he has had a recent conversation with a friend who lives in Oregon whose high school son is a good ball player. The decision of which school to attend isn’t tough for this young man according to his father: “All it takes is a call from Tony.” Tony received a call of his own this January. Gwynn likely considers election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame a dream come true. The rest of the baseball world simply sees it as a natural conclusion to an amazing baseball career – and a just tribute to one of the game’s greatest personalities.
Left to right: Gwynn with Vezie and former teammates Kim Goetz and Steve Malovic Photo provided by Tim Vezie Sources
1 Magee, Jerry, “City’s favorite adopted son an all-time great person, too.” SignOnSanDiego.com. 29 Dec. 1999. Vezie, Tim. Personal Interview. 22 Jan. 2007. Major League statistics used in this article from TheBaseballCube.com San Diego State University Aztec statistics from S.D. State Media Relations Department |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 03 March 2007 )
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