CAM HOUSTON, Assistant Coach
BASEBALL'S MAN FOR ALL REASONS - Brian Swane, Edmonton Sun
(December 4, 2008)
Cam Houston's title really doesn't do him justice.
As assistant coach of the Edmonton Prospects, Houston is doing a little bit of everything.
The Western Major Baseball League team begins playing at John Fry Park next summer, returning to action after suspending operations for 2008 following two years in St. Albert.
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"I'll probably be in charge of the hitters and a recruiting/co-ordinator guy, and taking care of day-to-day operations around here, trying to get things going for the start of the season," said Houston.
Since taking his position in October, the Edmonton native has been busy finalizing agreements with players, both local and American.
He also found the Prospects a head coach in Andrew Ehling, an assistant with the Hutchinson Community College baseball team in Kansas.
"He's gone a little bit beyond assistant coach," Prospects managing partner Patrick Cassidy said of Houston.
Cassidy admitted it's a "little bit unusual" to have the assistant recruiting the head coach.
"He didn't really want to take on a head coaching role because he's also involved in an academy baseball program we're offering (the Junior Prospects), so he felt it'd be best if he can be an assistant coach and be involved where he can, but still make himself available for some of that other stuff."
A star first baseman at Fort Hays State University in Kansas where he was named a 2003 NCAA Division II All-American, Houston took up coaching four years ago when knee and ankle injuries derailed his playing career.
He started as hitting instructor for Nanaimo's V.I. Baseball Institute then moved on to coach the Spruce Grove White Sox, his former midget team.
Over the last two seasons he has guided the St. Albert Cardinals to the 2007 Norwest League title and an appearance at the 2008 Canadian midget championships.
This will be Houston's first season in the WMBL, a 12-team prairie circuit consisting primarily of college players.
"Looking at our roster on paper, I think we match up really well with all other teams," says Houston.
"If we can ink up a couple of big stars, maybe a power bat, I think we'll do really well coming into the league this year."
When the Prospects last played in 2007, they were coached by Edmontonian Jordan Blundell, who has since gone to the WMBL's Sherwood Park Dukes.
Houston was one of the first people that Cassidy and partner Dan LaJoie looked to as they began assembling their staff for 2009.
"Cam's kind of a product of the system, you could say," Cassidy said. "He's been involved with Dan LaJoie and myself for a few years, and Dan coached him in midget, so Cam's a guy that's been around for quite a while.
"We've had him involved in the academy program as well, so we know he's capable in that regard, and we know he's had a successful record as well in terms of coaching out in Spruce Grove and St. Albert.
"He's also got a business degree, a business background, so it made sense. It made a lot of sense."
