Baseball

In a 22-year association with the Santa Clara program as a player and a coach, Cummins has been a part of some of the University's proudest moments on the baseball diamond.

As an assistant coach, Cummins saw three Bronco players reap numerous individual honors. Since 1988, seven Broncos have earned All-America honors, three have been named the West Coast Conference's player of the year and three others have won the WCC's pitcher of the year award. Two Bronco rookies have garnered conference newcomer of the year awards.

Cummins' coaching talents have helped Santa Clara enjoy a resurgence on the national scene in recent years, as the Broncos have captured three of the last five West Coast Conference championships, advance to NCAA Regional competition on two occasions (1994 and `97) and hold down national rankings in two of the last three seasons.

He played a big role in the development of the last five Bronco catchers who went on to sign professional contracts, beginning with current major leaguer Mike Macfarlane of the Kansas City Royals.

A native of Monterey, Calif., Cummins played two seasons at Monterey Peninsula College for his father, Larry, before transferring to Santa Clara in the fall of 1977. He was a standout catcher on the 1978 and `79 Santa Clara teams. He helped the Broncos to a NCAA Regional appearance in 1978 and earned second team All-Northern California Baseball Association honors as a senior in 1979.

After graduating from Santa Clara in 1979 with a B.A. degree in history, he signed a professional contract with the Salem Senators of the Northwest League and batted .302 while leading the team in RBI in his only year with the club. Cummins began his coaching career in 1980 at Buchser High School in Santa Clara. He also served as the head coach of the junior varsity program at Saint Francis High School. He is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association and Professional Baseball Players Association. Cummins, 43, resides in San Jose Jose with his wife Velma and children Larry (18), Patrick (14), Vanessa (9) and Marilyn (2).