Willamette Assistant Coaches Willamette Baseball 2007-08
Mike Doran Assistant Coach Hitting (1st year)
Mike Doran is in his first season with the Bearcats as the WU hitting coach. He brings significant coaching experience that includes nine seasons as the head coach at South Salem High School and six years as an assistant coach at Sprague High School. He also has coached American Legion ball since 1994 and is currently an assistant for the Withnell Dodgers in Salem. Doran grew up in Portland, Ore., and in Idaho. He played baseball at Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) and graduated with a B.A. degree in Social Studies and Russian Language in 1967. He lives in Salem with his wife, Lana. They are parents of three adult children: Timberlee, Maren and John.
Jason Searle Assistant Coach Pitching/Catching (1st year)
Jason Searle joins the Bearcats this year as the pitching and catching coach. He also was a student at Willamette from 1998-02. He started at catcher all four years and was named First Team All-NWC in 2001 and 2002. He helped WU win NWC titles in 1998 and 2001. He was a vocal leader who took charge behind the plate. Before returning to Willamette, Searle was an assistant coach at West Salem HS in
2004, Chemeketa CC in 2005 and Sprague HS in 2006 and 2007. He was an assistant coach with the Withnell Dodgers last year and will be the head coach this summer. Searle is a native of Salem. He attended Sprague HS before enrolling at Willamette. At WU, he received a B.S. in Psychology and earned a Master’s in Teaching degree through Willamette’s MAT program. He is a Physical Education teacher at Parrish Middle School and is in his fifth year in the Salem-Keizer School District. He is engaged to be married in August.
Ben Johnson Assistant Coach Infielders (1st year)
Ben Johnson is back at Willamette as an assistant coach after working with the ‘Cats in 2004. This season, he will coach the WU infielders. Johnson, who was drafted by the Pittsburg Pirates to play baseball in 1990, has additional experience as a high school head coach. He was named the Conference Coach of the Year at Sheldon High School in 2000 and 2003. He also earned Coach of the Year honors at Hood River Valley High School in 1998. Johnson is married. He lives in Eugene, Ore., with his wife and their two children.
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