Gonzales new Tigers baseball coach

Morgan City High School recently promoted Marc Gonzales as its new head baseball coach.

He replaces Richey Garrett who resigned at the end of July to take a teaching position and be the assistant baseball, football and track coach at his alma mater, Tuerlings Catholic High School in Lafayette.

For the past two seasons, Gonzales, 33, has been the assistant Tigers baseball coach and managed the school’s Swampland Summer League team, the Skippers Sports Goods Tigers.

“It’s definitely an exciting opportunity for me. I’m hoping to take the Tigers to another level,” he said. “We already had our first meeting team,” the incoming coach said. “We started lifting weights on Monday, trying to get stronger for next season.”

Garrett’s sudden resignation caught the new head coach, players and school officials by surprise.

Gonzales learned of the resignation from Morgan City High principal Mickey Fabre and athletic director Mark Millet before speaking with Garrett.

The former Tigers coach said when the positions became available at Tuerlings, he figured it was the best time to leave.

“It was an opportunity to go back home and they understood,” Garrett said. “Morgan City had great kids and a great faculty. There’s obviously going to be a few adjustments for me going from a public school to a parochial school. But I think I’m making the right decision for my family.”

Garrett had coached the Tigers for three years, compiling a 70-30 record and making the LHSAA Class 4A playoffs each season. His best year was in 2008 when the Tigers advanced to the quarterfinals.

Gonzales said he was looking forward to seeing his players develop a tougher attitude and seeing how far it takes them in the 2010 season.

“I told the guys it’s their program. We’re only going to go as far as they want to go,” he noted. “If they want to come out, work hard and get after it, then we have a shot at being a special team. If they don’t then it’s going to be tough to do anything.”

“I can coach them, but if they don’t want to win, we’re going to be in trouble,” he added. “I think we have some good leaders on this team and they’ll be ready to go come February.”

The biggest difference Tigers players will notice between their former and current coaches is a demeanor will be more dynamic and encompass a tough love approach. Also, Gonzales plans to be more aggressive with his base runners and implement a more flexible defensive system.

“I like to coach with that passion and mentality of high school or college football on the diamond. I think it brings out the best in kids,” he said. “As far as strategy, I want to develop a ‘bend-but-don’t-break’ type of defense. In high school, you’re going to give up some runs, but you don’t want to give up big innings.”

Gonzales is a 1994 John Ehret High School graduate who played one year of college baseball at Huntington College in Montgomery, Ala.

He was an assistant college baseball coach for 10 years, including six at Nicholls (1998-2003).

Gonzales coached high school summer league American Legion Baseball in Canada before arriving at Morgan City High in 2007.