KREUTER QUITE A CATCH FOR TROJANS FORMER PRO HAS ATTRACTED TALENT.

Byline: HEATHER GRIPP Staff Writer

Chad Kreuter batted .237 in 16 seasons as a major league catcher. More telling of his standing in the baseball community is what he's doing at USC, things like getting one of the nation's top amateur players to pass up potential millions this spring to instead play for Kreuter and the Trojans.

When Kreuter replaced his father-in-law, Mike Gillespie, as USC's head baseball coach in June, he set out to return the Trojans to the level that earned them a record 12 NCAA championships. The talent he's attracting and the renewed optimism throughout the program have USC confident it can distance itself from the version of the Trojans that has just one winning season in the past four years and shows that more than family ties make Kreuter an ideal fit.

``He's brought new life to the program,'' said junior infielder Matt Cusick.

Kreuter, who had been coaching the Colorado Rockies' Single-A affiliate in Modesto when he was hired by the Trojans, will make his collegiate coaching debut tonight when USC opens its season at home against Cal Poly at 6 p.m.

The impact of his presence was evident months ago. Former Youth National Player of the Year Robert Stock, who was able to graduate early from Agoura High, decided in August that he was skipping his senior season of high school baseball and the chance at millions as a probable first-round draft pick in favor of playing at USC.

``I wanted to go to USC because of Coach Kreuter and his catching experience'' Stock said. ``I want to be a big-league catcher, and I came here because he can teach me how to do that. He knows what it takes. That's without a doubt the reason I'm here.''

Stock, junior college transfer Nick Buss and Texas A&M transfer Anthony Vasquez were the first players brought in during the Kreuter era. All are expected to start this season and helped give USC the No. 3-rated recruiting class in the country this season.

``They were more than cherries on the top,'' said USC assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Dave Lawn, who sees Kreuter's addition bolstering the program's recruiting potential. ``I think with Chad being here, we might branch out more. The Southern California area will probably continue to produce the bulk of our talent -- as it should -- but you might see us being involved a bit more in getting top players from out of state.

``Chad's major league background is very intriguing to aspiring major leaguers, which, let's face it, at this stage, coming into college, that's what most of these players, and their parents, think they are.''

Chatsworth shortstop Mike Moustakas, a starter on the U.S. Junior National Team and the No. 27 high school prospect in the country according to Baseball America, tops the list of recruits for 2008, and he says Kreuter was a significant reason for his decision.

``He was a big factor,'' Moustakas said. ``Having an ex-pro guy coaching you, it's going to help advance my game. I want to play professionally, and he knows what it takes to go all the way.

``I always was considering 'SC. Coach Gillespie was an unbelievable coach, and it's a great school and a great program, but Coach Kreuter being there sealed it.''

Returning Trojans are equally pleased by Kreuter's presence. Many of them were already familiar with Kreuter from the time he spent working with the team as director of baseball operations two years ago. His preference to focus on the future and how to return to the College World Series for the first time since 2001 instead of dwelling on what went wrong in the past was a refreshing relief for players, who also enjoy listening to the stories from Kreuter's playing days or having him put on the catching gear and play during practices.

Kreuter stresses a scrappy, team-first approach.

``He's got the perfect credentials to be a real good coach,'' Lawn said. ``He's told the guys: `I had to make a team almost every year I was in the big leagues.' It's not like he went to spring training with a secure job. So he can relate to these guys. And he's played in college, he knows how it's different from professional baseball. With his experience, you'd be a fool not to listen to him.''

USC begins the season nationally ranked after losing 19 of its final 22 games last season. Kreuter's family ties make the former Pepperdine standout very familiar with the Trojans' standard of excellence.

``I'm very humbled taking this job,'' said Kreuter, who calls Gillespie his mentor and says they talk almost daily about the team. ``I've got some big shoes to fill with Mike and coach (Rod) Dedeaux at USC. There's a lot of tradition there. I think it's a great honor for me to follow in their footsteps. ... I'm quietly optimistic about where we stand. We're headed in the right direction.''

[e-mail]

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

(color) New Trojans baseball coach and former major leaguer Chad Kreuter has shown an ability to attract top talent to USC.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News