Lewis-Clark baseball coach to step down after season

LEWISTON — Instilling family values in his team as part of his coaching philosophy, Lewis-Clark State College baseball coach Jeremiah Robbins will follow those values and resign at the end of the season to take over as coach at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore.

Robbins and his wife, Mareena, were both born and raised in Oregon. Robbins is from Winston, Ore., which is only nine miles from Roseburg. His five siblings and parents, along with his wife’s family, all live within 90 miles of Roseburg.

“To go back home and be near all of my family is something I could not pass up,” Robbins said. “This is the only job that would take me away from Lewiston. Anyone who knows me knows how important family is to me.”

Umpqua Community College announced in January it was bringing back baseball and track. Robbins said UCC has not had a baseball program since 1985, but will start competitive play in the fall of 2019. The timing will give Robbins a year to recruit a team and get the program in order. The Riverhawks compete in the Northwest Athletic Conference’s South Division.

Robbins is in his sixth year as the Warriors’ coach and has left a big stamp on the program. He posted a 232-58 record (.800 winning percentage) in his first five seasons. The 232 wins ranks second among NAIA programs during that time, an impressive feat considering LCSC does not play in postseason tournaments until the Avista NAIA World Series.

Even more impressive is that Robbins has led LCSC to the championship game of the Avista NAIA World Series in all five seasons, the first time a coach has accomplished that feat. After finishing second the first two seasons, Robbins has led the Warriors to three straight national championships.

“I would like to thank Jeremiah for continuing the Warrior tradition without missing a beat,” LCSC athletic director Brooke Cushman said. “It has been awesome to have him here. Obviously, he’s an outstanding coach, but he’s even a better person. It’s sad to see him go.”

Cushman said she will begin the search for Robbins’ replacement immediately.

Robbins has led LCSC to a 24-5 mark thus far this season and a No. 5 ranking in the NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Top 25 poll. His overall record at LCSC is 256-63, which places him second only to Ed Cheff for program wins.