Article reposted from Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Author: Louis Brewster
Random thoughts for a Tuesday morning, patiently waiting for fall weather to make its debut, wondering whatever happened to Casey Hansen, the Chaffey College quarterback who threw a single-season record 24 touchdowns in 1995.
Thanks to a connection he made when first starting his career in 1983, former Chaffey College athletic trainer John Barnes will have a definite favorite when the 2016 World Series begins Tuesday in Cleveland. And it has to do with the Angels.
Dr. Barnes, as the director of the University of New Mexico Sports Administration Program is referred to these days, was the head trainer for the Salem Angels, California’s rookie league team in the Northwest League. The manager of that team was Joe Maddon.
Yes, the same Maddon who guided the Chicago Cubs to the first National League pennant in 71 years last week by beating the Dodgers, four game to two. Maddon left the Angels organization after 31 years following the 2005 season, having served as minor league manager, scout, roving minor league hitting instructor, and coach for Anaheim.
Barnes worked three years with the Angels before Bob Olivera hired him at Chaffey in 1985. In 11 years with the Panthers, Barnes worked with such coaches as the late Howard Lowder (baseball) and the late Willie Richardson (football) in addition to Jeff McCall (basketball). He obtained his doctorate from New Mexico in 2004 and was hired back by UNM in 2006.
“I was fortunate that Bob Olivera saw something that led him to hire me at Chaffey College,” said Barnes via e-mail from the New Mexico football game against Louisiana-Monroe. “It was a huge blessing. He taught me how to be professional.”
Three years ago, Barnes’ efforts were recognized by Chaffey and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. …