VANCOUVER, Wash. - Penguin baseball coach Mark Magdaleno announced his retirement today in a meeting with his players. Magdaleno spent the last 11 years of his long 44 year coaching career at Clark College. The face of Penguin baseball and a staple in the game both locally and along the west coast, Magdaleno is well known in baseball circles at all levels. Though he believes he's still got a lot of passion for the game and for his players, the timing felt right to hang it up.

"I know I've still got a lot left," Magdaleno explained. "But you see it all the time. Do you retire too early or too late? You grip that ball in your hands and you think you're gripping it, but really the game has a grip on you. It just felt like time."

Coach Magdaleno was very complimentary of the many great people he worked with, including current Clark College athletic director Laura LeMasters.  LeMasters was quick to point out what Magdaleno has meant to the Clark College baseball program.

"Mags' impact on Clark Baseball goes far beyond the field—though 204 wins and eight 20-win seasons certainly tell part of the story," said LeMasters. "His true success is seen in the number of student-athletes who have grown under his leadership and gone on to make a difference both on and off the field."

The best stories? There are so many stories. Players? Hundreds. Memorable moments? Too many to count. Reflecting on a career as long and meaningful as Coach Mags' is not easy. But like Kevin Costner says in his popular baseball movie For Love of the Game, "we count everything in baseball," so there are certainly some numbers that stand out. 

204 wins. Mags did mention that the cheers from his players and the chill of the ice water bath they gave him after he earned his 200th career win this season will be tough to forget. The four playoff appearances in his final four seasons at the helm of the program are also meaningful. But of all the numbers that can be tallied up, the one that means the most to Mags is the number of players his program moved on to four-year colleges. At last count it was 85 and still going, as his players from this season continue to sign with four year programs. That number includes 16 Division I signees. Beyond the players, Mags saw his assistant coaches earn bigger opportunities as well. Just recently Jordan Barchus started his Division I coaching career at Bowling Green State University.

For those reasons, when asked about his legacy, Magdaleno was quick to deflect the attention to the athletes who he has been lucky to coach and see grow beyond their time at Clark. 

"I'm most proud of the athletes we've moved on and the amount of student-athletes who have earned a four year college degree." 

When it comes to games - there were over 400 total in a Penguin uniform - so picking one or two of the most meaningful is obviously extremely difficult. In fact, it was actually a game that was never played that was the most significant for Coach Mags, and one that may best define the man he is. During the 2024 season the Penguins and West Region rival Pierce were on the field for warm-ups when Pierce received word that an assistant coach had experienced a serious medical emergency. The news was devastating to players and coaches from Pierce. Recognizing the importance of the moment, Mags brought the two teams together for prayer, and the decision was made to postpone the day's games. 

"Our players were all shocked that I decided to postpone the games. But for me, it was important that day to teach our young men that sometimes there are more important things in life than baseball. And to look out for your fellow man. I know we did the right thing."

Pierce Head Coach, Kevin Davis, had this to say about that day, "Until that day our relationship was that of two coaches who got along with each other as friends and our teams battled it out on the field.  Afer that day, Coach Mags became a brother for life.  He saw the pain in my eyes during pre-game and without hesitation postponed the games.  he didn't have to do it and I didn't ask him to do it.  he did it because it was the right thing to do.  I have a ton of respect for Mags as a coach and as a leader of young men."

 

Along the same line, it was coincidentally the season that never was that stands out as well. When the world shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, it erased a season and a team that very likely was the best of Magdaleno's tenure. At the point of cancellation, the Penguins had started the year 7-0 and had outscored their opponents 69-23. 

"That was a Hall of Fame team," said Magdaleno. "I have no doubt that team was headed to Longview to compete for an NWAC Championship. They were talented for sure but it was their grit that made them great.  I have no doubt that group would have had an opportunity to compete for an NWAC Championship.  Again, I received far too much credit for our team being able to play during COVID.  Coach Dyer, the Vancouver community, and NW Star Academy made it possible. I will forever be gratefule to Wade Siegel, Gus Farah and Jason Krohn for giving our players the opportunity to compete during such a challenging time.  Their support and commitment ensured that our team could continue doing what it loved, and I will always appreciate the role they played in making that season possible." 

Former player Nick Laurenza was a freshman on the 2020 team and was blown away by the talent they had. "It was a special group, Laurenza remembered. "The best team I've ever been on. Our pitchers were untouchable and our hitters couldn't get out. It really came down to the culture Coach Mags created. We were so close through that whole experience. A lot of us are still close friends to this day."

More than just a team full of talent, it was the resilience they showed after being shut down that made it special. 

"We had to compete for a full year separate from the college as a prep team just to allow those guys the chance to play," reflected Magdaleno. "And they all stayed. We had an incredible retention rate with those players and we made it through that time together." 

With the demands of coaching collegiately, the life span of Penguin head coach is understandably short. In spite of that, Magdaleno retires as one of the longest tenured coaches at Clark. How did he make it this long? "My family," Magdaleno answered immediately. 

"I was also fortunate to have great people alongside me throughout this ride - Coaches Singleton, Barchus, Ferguson, Infante, Miller, Villanueva, McGraw, Geaslen, Ellett, Gissell, and the late Casey Dyer.  These men did the hard work, while I received the credit.  I was also blessed with the best teammate anyone could ask for.  For 10 years, Jodi was at home taking care of everything that needed to be done so I could focus on coaching and competing.  Without her Sacrifices and support, I would never have been able to do what I did. Any success I enjoyed was because of my players, my coaches, and my family.  They gave me the opportunity to show up every day, punch the clock, and compete.  I was lucky to share the same clubhouse.  The truth is, they are the reason I made it as long as I did.

A lifetime in the game. So many lives positively impacted. So much to be remembered for. When asked how he hoped to be remembered, Mags paused, clearly emotional after starting to realize it was really over. "I hope I am remembered as a player's manager," he said. "My guys were the most important thing to me. I worked for them. I coached them hard but I loved them harder. I hope people remember how hard our teams played and how they were fundamentally sound. At the end of the day, I know we did a good job."

More than a good job, coach. You took everyone you worked with, coached, and interacted with from #GritToGreat.