Chabot College will dedicate its baseball field in honor of Gene Wellman, former coach and athletics director, at 2-2:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 26, at the Chabot College Baseball Field. Master of Ceremonies and former Coach Zack Papachristos will begin the dedication, followed by guest speaker Brad Wellman, Gene’s son.
In 1962, founding President Reed L. Buffington hired Wellman as Chabot College’s Football Line Coach and Head Baseball Coach. Wellman later became director of the athletic program with 17 sports (men’s and women’s) and administered the program for 26 years. He retired from Chabot College in June 1994.
Former colleagues have described Wellman as “a coach’s coach.” His 1968 baseball team won the Golden Gate Conference Championship with an 18-3 league record. The 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973 teams were runners-up for the Conference Title. The 1974 team won the Golden Gate Conference and was ranked second in the state. The 1975 team was 19-0 in conference play. The 1976 team won the Conference Title. He coached the fast pitch “A” 1982 women’s softball team to a national championship. Wellman also served as the Head Baseball Scout in Northern California for the Houston Astros.
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Under Wellman’s administration, Chabot College won the Iron Man Trophy seven times. The trophy was given annually to the college scoring the most points for all team sports in the Golden Gate Conference. When women’s sports were added to the conference, the award was renamed as the All-Sports Trophy, which Chabot College won 10 times. The Iron Man Trophy was permanently awarded to Chabot College.
