Through the
Varsity S Club Spotlight we'll re-connect with student-athletes of the past. This series will illustrate the impact that a Sonoma State University education has on student-athletes and highlights the impact they are now having in their communities.
CHRIS McGRADY
Baseball | 1984-1986
Chris transferred to Sonoma State from Fresno City College in 1984. His senior season was the first at SSU for longtime head coach John Goelz.
What is your favorite memory as a student-athlete?
There are many. A few...
- Getting tossed into the dorm pool on my 21st birthday (it was very cold).
- Being named all-conference my senior year.
- The lasting friendships I was fortunate enough to make during my years at SSU. I'm still good friends with my roommate (Mitch McQueary, 1985), several other teammates, as well as others from the dorms.
- There are a few other memories from the dorms that can't be published here :)
How do you think you changed as a person, from freshman to senior year?
I changed so much as a student from freshman year to senior year. I became much more responsible and focused as a student and as an athlete. My senior year at SSU was by far my best in both grades and athletics.
If you could give advice to a freshman student-athlete today, what would it be?
Hit the books and figure out where the library is. Take your academics seriously because one day athletics will not be there.
What are you up to these days?
I've been married now to Cindy for 29 years and I have one son (Matt). Cindy is a professor at Fresno Pacific University and Matt is a senior at Buchanan High School.
I am currently teaching Language/History at Alta Sierra Intermediate school in Clovis, CA. I love working with young teenagers! I've been in education for 27 years and I've been coaching baseball and football since 1987. I spent 10 years at the high school level teaching math while coaching varsity football and baseball at Clovis West High School before retiring from high school sports to watch my son grow up. My son, Matt, is now playing baseball for 2016 National Champion Buchanan High School. Matt hit .429 as a junior for Buchanan and is currently playing infield and is also the DH for Buchanan. Matt plans on playing ball next year in college and he is trying to find time to come visit SSU and Coach Goelz. :)
How did Sonoma State University help prepare you for your career?
SSU helped prepare me for the future by teaching me perseverance. Perseverance is one key character trait that I try to instill in the athletes I coach. Things didn't always go the way I had planned at SSU, but by working hard and sticking with the plan I was able to leave SSU with a degree and I was fortunate enough to be named All-Conference my senior year.
ABOUT THE VARSITY S CLUB
The Varsity S Club is an exclusive group of past and present Sonoma State University student-athletes, coaches, cheerleaders, athletic trainers, and administrators formed for the purpose of building enthusiasm for Sonoma State University Athletics. The Varsity S Club does this through a variety of philanthropic, fundraising, and social events designed to strengthen SSU Athletics. Membership in the Varsity S Club is open to any individual who has competed in varsity athletics at Sonoma State University, as well as any past member of the cheer team, athletic training, or administrative staff. Sign up here:
Varsity S Club.
See past Varsity S Club Spotlight features here:
Varsity S Club Spotlight Archive.
