ROHNERT PARK, Calif- After 16 years as an assistant for the Sonoma State baseball team, associate head coach Walter White has stepped down and accepted the head coaching position at Cal State Monterey Bay in Seaside.

“I'm excited for Walt,” head coach John Goelz said. “I think it's great. It is a huge opportunity for him. He is a real good coach and we've had a lot of success here together (at Sonoma State) and now we can both build on what we've gotten from each other. I think that if he applies what he learned, Cal State Monterey Bay is going to be very good in the next couple of years.”

White was inducted into the SSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008 for his tireless efforts, not only as Coach Goelz's right hand man, but a distinguished playing career as a starting shortstop for the Cossacks in 1993 and 1994.

Following his collegiate playing days, White was drafted in the 32nd round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins and spent five seasons in their system. After a productive year at Double-A Portland, Florida dealt White to the Arizona Diamondback organization and he spent three seasons at Triple-A Tucson. Before each professional season started, though, White was instrumental in helping to build Sonoma State's baseball team in offseason and preseason workouts.

“Sonoma State has been like family to me,” White said. “Coach Goelz gave me a great opportunity and he has been a great mentor along the way. I've been here for 18 years and this is really all I've ever known, but this experience at SSU has helped me develop personally and professionally. It is bittersweet to move on.”

White will take over at Cal State Monterey Bay, effective immediately, to help rebuild a program that struggled through an 8-41 season in 2010. He is the second head coach in the program's history, replacing Rich Aldrete, who led the Otters in the first four years of the program.

“(Walt) is smart, energetic and has a will to win,” Goelz added. “He has made a lot of good connections here (at SSU). Walt has been involved with every aspect of the program for the last couple of years, and along with those connections, it will serve him well at Cal State Monterey Bay. I think (CSUMB) made a real good choice; they picked the best guy for the job. I'm going to miss him.”

Goelz ended with an ear-to-ear grin: “We will wish him the best and hopes he finishes second.”