Capra Named as ASC’s New Head Baseball Coach

Scott Kretzmann
ASC Sports
Information Director

Veteran and successful Colorado high school coach Jim Capra, who has guided his teams to more than 350 wins, a 1994 state title and five final four appearances has been named as the new Adams State College baseball coach, ASC director of athletics Larry Mortensen announced Thursday.
Capra, a 1980 ASC graduate, who has been serving as the head baseball coach at Arvada West High School since 1987, begins his duties, focusing on recruiting for the Grizzlies’ upcoming 2012-13 academic year, immediately. He will also continue his coaching position with the Wildcats and his physical education teaching position at Hackberry Hill Elementary school this spring before returning to Alamosa full-time in the summer.
Last month, Mortensen announced that the Grizzlies would resume sponsorship of baseball after the college had been without the sport for 35 years.
“Jim will bring a very high level of experience, passion and commitment to the program. He is connected in the region, understands Adams State and the RMAC and is extremely motivated,” Mortensen said.
“I feel like the luckiest man alive,” Capra said about being selected for the position.
Capra, well known in Colorado baseball circles has sent over 60 players to NCAA (Division I and II) and NJCAA college programs during his time with the Wildcats and has had more than a dozen players selected in the Major League Draft, most notably 2-time Cy Young Award winning pitcher Roy Halladay, now with the Philadelphia Phillies and a first round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1995.
Capra, who was named as the Colorado 6A Coach of the Year in 1994, also had the opportunity to serve as the head coach of the first ever high school all-star game at the Colorado Rockies’ Coors Field in 1995 and is well recognized by his peers.
A 25-year head coach and a teacher with 31 years of experience, Capra served as the baseball president of the Colorado High School Coaches Association from 1999-2000 after serving as the vice president for the two prior years. In that role he helped organize the CHSCA’s Top 40 game, played annually at Coors Field, numerous coaches’ clinics and served as a communication liaison between coaches and state athletic administrators.
“I want to have some player camps and coaches’ clinics for the valley schools. Those are great opportunities to share philosophies,” Capra said.
“I think Adams State can be a gold mine in baseball with all of the interest in the San Luis Valley. Resuming the sport is going to rejuvenate that interest with having the next level of baseball to shoot for,” he added.
Capra also added that his status as an Adams State alum should help in recruiting. “I think it’s a big benefit. I can tell them (potential players) of the big differences between the 1970’s and now. A lot of people that graduated from here have been real successful. That’s a big deal,” he said.
“The athletic department and the community of Alamosa are excited to have Coach Capra back,” Mortensen added.