Coaching Team: Sean Gaffney
As a young player, Chris started with Little League in Rolling Hills, California. His family moved to Vancouver where he then played for 4 AAA Provincial Championship club teams, earning National Silver twice, in the league that preceded what is now called the BC Premier Baseball League. He started coaching in 1988 with the Delta Dodgers in BC’s Major Junior League, a summer league that combined High School seniors & College freshmen. It was at this point that Chris began his NCCP Coaching Certification journey, going on to earn Level 3 and Course Conductor status.
Work took Chris to Edmonton in 1990 where he won a coaching staff position with Team Alberta from 1990 to 1994. In addition to his Team Alberta duties, Chris coached club teams and delivered NCCP Level 1 & 2 technical coaching clinics throughout Alberta. Starting his own family and eventually moving to Calgary, Chris was drawn back into coaching several times. With the Calgary Dodgers and the Calgary Cubs, Chris earned 6 more AAA Provincial Championships at Peewee, Bantam, and Midget, as well as a National Championship in 2004.
“Baseball has given me so much, I don’t think I can ever repay the game. I’ve never been the most talented player or coach, but I’ve always been intensely focused on how I can improve. I’ve had several players on my club teams that had “a cup of coffee” in the Major Leagues, and many more that went to US Colleges or Canadian National Teams, but I’ve never aimed at that. I’ve always hoped that the players I work with learn as much as they can about themselves, and gain as much human “toolkit” as possible to carry into their lives.”