Coach, Baseball/Softball, Class of 2006
In 29 years of coaching, Jim Reach has compiled 20 different types of championships, including two state titles in softball at Santa Ana College.
Reach coached during three different stints at Santa Ana College between 1974-91 starting his career at SAC as the head coach of the baseball team from 74-81. During his time as the baseball coach, Reach had an overall record of 151-95-2. His winning percentage of .613 ranks third all-time and his 151 wins also ranks third all-time in SAC history.
Reach coached six players at Santa Ana who went on to play professional baseball, including fellow Hall of Fame inductee Dick Ownbey.
Reach also spent six years in the dugout for the Santa Ana softball team from 1982-87, leading the Dons to a 147-49-1 overall record.
During these years Reach led the Dons to two state championships (1985-86), three southern California championships (1985-87) and two conference championships (1986-87). Reach was also named the California Community College Coach of the Year in 1986.
Reach returned to baseball for the 1990 and '91 seasons as an assistant coach under Don Sneddon. Reach helped the Dons claim the conference championship in both seasons.
Reach also spent 12 years at Cal State Fullerton, during which time the Titans won three conference championships. Reach spent one season at Cypress College as an assistant. He started his coaching career at Savanna High School , coaching for eight years, winning five league championships and one CIF Championship in 1968.
In the '90s, Reach coached internationally coaching in France and Ireland.
Reach spent 34 years as an instructor at Santa Ana College before retiring. He has since returned to the Rancho Santiago Community College District as a part-time instructor at Santiago Canyon College.
Reach earned his bachelor's degree from UCLA and later his master's degree from Chapman University.
He currently resides with his wife, Carrie in Newport Coast . The two have three children, Traci, Jim and Erin and five grandchildren including two sets of twins, Kate and Finn, Caroline and Olivia, and Jim.