Santa Barbara coaching legend Fred Warrecker dies at the age of 84

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Fred Warrecker passed away earlier this week at the age of 84 and is being fondly remembered as a tremendous coach and teacher.

"He made a huge impact," said Bill Oliphant who coached baseball and football with Warrecker at Santa Barbara High School for many years. "Well read, very educated and one of the smartest people I ever met."

Warrecker had planned to be a college English professor but baseball got a hold of him and never let go.

He played at UCSB in the mid-1950's and was named MVP his senior year.

Warrecker was also an original member of the Santa Barbara Foresters in the 1950's.

His first coaching job was leading football, basketball and baseball at Dolores School in Santa Barbara.

From there he went to Bishop Diego where he coached all three of those sports and taught English.

A few years later Warrecker took a job at Santa Barbara High School and the rest is history.

He wound up coaching the Dons baseball team for 43 years until he stepped away at the end of the 2015 season.

in 1985 he and Oliphant started the Dons freshman football team and four years later those seniors won a CIF-Southern Section title on varsity.

"He just outcoached people," said his good friend Oliphant who began coaching baseball with Warrecker in 1973.

Warrecker is a Hall of Fame member of several organizations including the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table.

Five of his players went on to play Major League Baseball including Ryan Spilborghs.

His six sons and grandson all made an impact with the Dons Baseball program as well.

He touched so many lives including Oliphant.

"I loved the man just like a brother. I had a great time with him. I will miss him today and I will miss him tomorrow, the next day and until I leave the planet."

No memorial plans have been announced yet.