New AHS baseball coach feels like the luckiest man alive

Dennis Reitz has landed his dream job.

A 23-year resident of Agoura Hills who's seen all six of his children graduate from Agoura High, Reitz was named head coach of the Charger varsity baseball team last week, replacing Russ Stephans, who stepped down after two seasons at the helm but will remain the school's activities director.

"I coached my girls at WAGS- Westlake-Agoura Girls Softball- and my son at Agoura PONY Baseball," said Reitz, 54, during a phone interview from Lake Tahoe on Monday.

"My heart and soul has always been with Agoura baseball. . . . This is my community. I feel so blessed to be here."

Reitz spent nearly a decade coaching at the lower levels of the AHS program before leaving for a junior varsity position at Newbury Park. For the past three years, Reitz has served as an assistant coach at Ventura College.

Agoura athletic director Jason Rosenthal said "five or six" candidates were interviewed before Reitz was hired.

"We just had a good feeling about him," Rosenthal said. "He knows baseball; he knows the kids in the area, and he knows the community well. I think that's important in our area."

Reitz and his coaching staff, which is already in place and features returnee Charlie Hirsh in addition to newcomers Josh Block, John Day, Chris White and Wes Rasmussen, face a formidable task in restoring pride to the AHS varsity team.

Since advancing to the CIFSouthern Section Division I title game in 2006, the Chargers have compiled a 3-25 mark in Marmonte League play and a 15-40 record overall during the past two seasons.

AHS ranked last in league in runs allowed on both occasions.

Despite the program's recent pitfalls, Reitz doesn't consider his new position to be a rebuilding job.

"I've seen the talent that's at Agoura, and I would expect these guys to win," Reitz said. "The administration has been very gracious and has let me know there is no pressure on winning.

"But I believe this, and I believe it with all my heart and soul: Winning is a result of doing things right. We have the talent. There are kids that can flatout play this game in the Agoura High School baseball program. Our job as coaches is to teach them to improve."

Reitz, whose son Nick plays baseball at Cal Lutheran, said his goal as head coach is to create an environment in which the players look forward to putting on a uniform and enjoying their time on the diamond.

"Baseball is a game," Reitz said. "We practice hard and then go play baseball, and the word 'play' should be emphasized.

"It's a game. There are reallife issues, and baseball isn't one of them. But I have a passion, and I'll put my heart into it, and that's the gift you give to the players."

Newbury Park head coach Scott Drootin, who brought Reitz on to his Panther staff in 2005, said Agoura picked the perfect man to right the ship.

"I've known Dennis Reitz for years, and I'll tell you that he's a great human being," Drootin said. "He's coaching for the right reasons. He's dedicated and he's loyal and a good person to be around.

"He's a homegrown guy who's all about Agoura baseball. They made the right choice."