UKIAH — The Mendocino College school board recently gave its official approval for the hiring of Doug Wingler to be the new head coach of the Mendocino College women’s softball program.
The softball head coaching position became vacant this summer with the retirement of head coach Kelvin Chapman, who served as head coach of the program for 15 years.
Wingler is a longtime resident and softball coach in this area. Born and raised in central Kentucky, Wingler played baseball and basketball in high school. He played those sports his first year in college before transferring to a junior college where he played baseball. He transferred in his junior year to the University of Louisville where he played baseball and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree.
He moved to Lake County in 1996. His first year of coaching was in 2008 at Clear Lake High School. He was an assistant coach on the Clear Lake High Cardinals softball team headed by longtime coach Gary Pickle.
Pickle was the Cardinals’ head coach from 1993-2015, building a tradition of powerhouse Clear Lake softball teams. Pickle’s 2015 team, with Wingler as his assistant, won the North Coast Section Division V championship. Pickle retired after that season.
Upon Pickle’s retirement, Wingler took over as the head coach of the Clear Lake program.
In his first season as the Cardinals’ head coach, Clear Lake won the North Central League I championship. The Cardinals compiled a 46-30 overall record under his direction and a 28-14 league mark. They participated in the playoffs all three seasons under Wingler’s reign.
“It was a tough decision to apply for the Mendocino College softball head coaching position when it became available,” Wingler said. “My daughters graduated from Clear Lake High and I spent a lot of time there.
“To coach with and learn under Gary (Pickle) was a great experience. He was a great coach and mentor. I learned a lot from him. We carried over a great friendship. I talk to him all the time. We carry on that relationship. With someone who has coached for 50 years and been so successful, it’s good to have someone like that you can run stuff off and discuss,” Wingler added.
Wingler feels Clear Lake High’s softball program will continue to do well. “This coming season, Clear Lake should have a very good season. I feel we left it good condition for whoever takes over the program. It’s a seasoned team with good players and just all-around good kids.”
The job at Clear Lake remains open as of Tuesday, according to athletic director Milo Meyer.
Wingler said the opening for the softball head coaching position at Mendocino College was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. “When this opportunity came up at Mendocino College, I had an opportunity to do something I’ve always dreamed of doing, coaching at the collegiate level.
“It was a good opportunity for me. I appreciate that the college has faith in me that I can come in to run the program. There’s some immediate challenges. But I think anytime you take on a new endeavor there’s going to be challenges,” Wingler added.
One of those challenges facing Wingler will be that Mendocino College did not field a team for the 2018 season because of insufficient players.
That issue was not isolated to Mendocino College, but rather a conference-wide problem. The Bay Valley Conference, of which Mendocino College is a member, ultimately fielded only three softball teams in 2018. Normally he number of conference softball teams would be a half dozen or more. Wingler will have no returning players for the 2019 season. He will have to build his first team from scratch and has already begun the search for players.
“I’ve had good response this week from girls who are interested in playing here,” Wingler said.”I’m working on putting together a coaching staff with some assistant coaches.
“The first week has been a whirlwind, but it’s been very productive. I’ve just had a meeting with a few of the kids that are interested. Logistically, it’s going to be little tough in the beginning, because it’s such a late start. We’ll work through the fall (putting a staff together and recruiting). We’ll offer a fall class (which started Monday), but we won’t play a fall schedule this year.
“We’ll set our energies to putting a team together in January (the start of the spring semester) and competing this coming (2019) season. We’ll also start recruiting the 2019 (high school) class for the following season.”
One advantage Wingler may have in his recruiting quest is his long tenure as a high school coach in the area. “I have been entrenched in NCL play. I have great relationships with local coaches. I think that league will have a great senior class this coming season to recruit from.”
Additionally, Clear Lake High, having a traditionally strong softball program, has played teams from larger schools in the Redwood Empire. Wingler is familiar with those programs and will look to possibly recruit players from some of those schools.
“At Clear Lake we’ve played teams from big schools from Eureka down to Santa Rosa. I’ll be touching bases with coaches in those areas that I have relationships with. I’ve kept track of various players the past few years.
“There’s enough good players still around looking for a place to play. Up until the season officially starts in January we’re going to actively look for kids that want to come to Mendocino and be a part of the program. I’m excited.”
As far as building his coaching staff, Wingler hasn’t made any final decisions yet but is looking at a couple of candidates. “I have a couple people I think would be great assets to the program. They not only know a lot about softball, but have played at the college level.”
Asked about his coaching philosophy, Wingler explained, “It’s to provide an environment for the kids to be as successful as they can be. As softball coaches, we’re passionate about the sport. But it’s also an avenue to teach kids, not only softball, but life skills, so that they are not only better softball player, but also a better person after they’ve gone through the program.”
Mendocino College athletic director Matt Gordon says he’s “excited to have Doug come on board as our new softball coach. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and a true passion for motivating student-athletes both academically and athletically. He has a strong vision for our program and I truly believe that the future is bright for MC Softball.”
Gordon also acknowledged the contributions to the college by Wingler’s predecessor, coach Chapman.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank coach Chapman for the many years of dedication and expertise that he brought to our college, the athletic department and the softball team and wish him the best in retirement from coaching.”
