It didn’t take long for two key positions in Redondo Union High School’s athletic department to be filled. After the retirement of long-time Athletic Director Les Congelliere and the resignation of first-year head baseball coach Bradey Thurman in June, RUHS Assistant Principal John Newman introduced their successors Monday evening on the diamond of Memorial Field.
Andy Saltsman, 36, will replace Congelliere as athletic director after the latter’s 40-year career at Redondo. Congelliere coached surfing, wrestling and football since 1970, spending the last 13 years as athletic director. He was head coach of the Sea Hawk football team in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
A graduate of La Crescenta High School, Saltsman has a strong baseball background having coached at L.A. City College and Glendale College and working with the San Diego Padres organization for four years. He joins Redondo after serving as dean of activities at El Dorado High School.
Saltsman, who was hired in March and officially took over two weeks ago, said he was eager to utilize the new facilities currently under construction on the campus.
“When everything is complete and the lights come on, this will be the sports mecca of the South Bay,” Congelliere said.
Former Long Beach State pitcher Jeff Baumback becomes the fourth Sea Hawk head baseball coach in four years and hopes to resurrect the program while adding stability within the community. He spent the last five seasons at Long Beach Wilson High School where he served as pitching coach helping the Bruins reach three CIF Southern Section title games.
“This is a great opportunity for me and I plan on being here for the long haul,” the 31-year-old Baumback said. “This is better than a .500 team and it’s a very winnable league.”
Redondo assistant coaches including Bob Martin and Mike Whitcher, who took over the summer baseball program after Thurman’s resignation, are anxiously waiting to see if coaching positions will be offered them by the new skipper. ER
