Northcutt and Pat Casey are Two Friends Who Have Crossed a Lot of Dirt Together.

Ron Northcutt Featured in Oregon State Official Sports Report

Corvallis Knights facilities & clubhouse manager Ron Northcutt was featured in the April 5th issue of the Oregon State Sports Report. The story (see below) focuses on Ron's unique friendship with Beavers' skipper Pat Casey.

Ron and Pat grew up in Newberg, became close frends and later coached together at both George Fox and Oregon State University.

Ron is currently the Beavers' director of baseball operations.

Knights team president Dan Segel credits much of his club's immediate success in Corvallis to Ron and Pat.

"Pat and Ron are always there for us. As you'll read in the OSR piece, it's about trust, loyalty and family with these guys.

"We aren't here if it weren't for Pat taking us in and supporting us at every turn. And we're not having all this success without Ron's support and his dedication to what we are trying to do here.

"Ron is a guy you can always count on, he's reliable, dependable and he grasps things.

"I love his work ethic, sense of humor and the fact he cares so much. He's a special guy and a great friend," said Segel. "We're fortunate to have great teammates like Coach Casey and Ron Northcutt."

Northcutt returns for his third season with the Knights in 2009.

Casey and Northcutt are Two Friends Who've Crossed a Lot of Dirt Together
Exclusive to Beavers OSR
by Anastasia Athon

It's the ultimate buddy story-the tale of two lifelong friends that spans decades, milestones, and countless innings in ballparks. From sandlots in Newberg, Oregon, to the finely manicured infield of Rosenblatt Stadium, Oregon State baseball coach Pat Casey and Ron Northcutt (pictured), the Beavers director of baseball operations, have been through life's proverbial highs and lows together.

"It was kind of amazing to be dancing with your best buddy at the College World Series," Casey said, recalling victory celebrations after the Beavers clinched back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007.

The friendship began on a late summer day more than 40 years ago in Newberg, where both Casey and Northcutt were raised. The dog days of summer were winding down, and a new family had moved into the neighborhood. Casey's mom encouraged him and his older brother to meet the new kids so they wandered over to Northcutt's house to ask Ron and his brother to play ball.

"I still remember these two guys who had longer hair than we had ever seen coming out onto their front porch," Casey said, laughing.

The friendship, born on that front porch on College Street when Casey and Northcutt were still in elementary school, has been strong ever since. In terms of baseball, their bond goes back to pickup games on and around the campus of George Fox University to facing off on opposing Little League teams and reaching unimagined heights at the College World Series.

Casey and Northcutt played varsity ball together at Newberg High School, coached at George Fox and OSU, and now work to keep building the Beavers' program.

Casey praises Northcutt for his "great people skills" and ability to juggle many diverse responsibilities that range from player and parent communications to travel logistics, meals and baseball camps. Basically, Northcutt has some input on almost everything related to Oregon State baseball.

"Ronnie has an unbelievable relationship with the players," Casey said. "There are things a player needs to be able to talk to someone about other than the coaches."

Northcutt agrees, pointing out that it can be difficult for the players to talk to coaches at times.

"I have to have their trust," he said. "Some people say I'm a mother to 35."

Casey believes their deep friendship stems from many common denominators in their upbringings and families. Casey was one of seven children growing up; Northcutt was one of eight. Both were heavily involved in all sports-not just baseball, but football and basketball as well.

"Athletics bound us together," Casey said. "We also had families with a lot in common-parents who worked all the time to try to provide for their kids. We thought we had it great. Really, we didn't have a whole lot of anything-a basketball court, a baseball field and a couple of Schwinn Sting Ray bicycles. There weren't any fancy vacations or select teams."

As they grew up and went through high school together, Casey and Northcutt added a third friend to the mix-Susan, Casey's wife. She was a year behind them in high school, and according to Northcutt, Casey has only had eyes for her since they met.

"It was always Pat and Susan and I hanging out," Northcutt said.

Casey and Northcutt stood up for each other in their weddings, and Casey noted that another commonality is that both men "married up." Today, the Casey's have four children, ranging in age from 11 to 23; Northcutt and his wife, Linnea, have two teenage sons. "We both married great women," Casey said.

The friendship grew to a new level when they began working together after Casey asked "Coach Cutt" to be his pitching coach at George Fox University when he became the head coach there in 1988. Over the years while they worked to build their careers, Casey and Northcutt raised their families together and eventually both made their way to Corvallis.

When Casey came to OSU after seven seasons at George Fox, he brought Northcutt with him as his pitching coach. But after four years as an NCAA "restricted earnings" coach and a growing family to provide for, Northcutt had to make a difficult decision.

"It was either be a full-time coach with limited pay and no benefits or go be a garbage man with good pay and good benefits," Northcutt recalled.

For the next 10 years, Northcutt drove Corvallis Disposal trucks, slung heavy garbage cans over his shoulders several days a week and eventually ended up with an injury that required shoulder surgery and, ultimately, disability.

During that time, the friendship continued and Northcutt remained an avid fan of the program. Casey called his old buddy and assistant when he was on disability and asked Northcutt to help with the program again on a part-time basis. That was in 2005, just as the Beavers were beginning their phenomenal ride to the top of college baseball.

After the Beavers won their first College World Series in 2006, and Casey was being courted by other programs-namely Notre Dame-he asked that OSU support his request for a director of baseball operations, and Northcutt's role was solidified with the program.

"He's always taken care of me," Northcutt said of Casey. "He's a very, very giving person."

In addition to his generosity, Northcutt praised Casey's approach to coaching and believes the key to the program's success is his boss' leadership and commitment to the players.

"We win here because we're a family first," Northcutt said. "It's (Casey's) system. We bring guys in, and we take care of them. The camaraderie is so good. The team chemistry is so good that we're going to win a lot of games."

This family dynamic extends to the coaching staff's wives and children, and Casey pointed to the special bond Northcutt has developed with his oldest son, Jonathan, 23.

"He has such a calming effect on me when I'm stressed," Northcutt said of Jonathan, tearing up a bit. "I've come to appreciate that and really enjoy him. I make it a point now to let Jonathan know what I'm doing so he can be a part of it, and he's always happy to help. He's told me a couple of times that he loves me."

As the program and Casey's profile have risen to national prominence, Northcutt has been a stabilizing force for his friend and the program.

"More than anything, it's trust," Casey said of Northcutt. "It's really hard to find people you can put 100 percent, full-fledged trust in-whether it's baseball or your family. It's absolutely invaluable. There's no substitute for loyalty.

"We've crossed a lot of dirt together."

Brian Brooks, Editor
Oregon State Official Sports Report
(541) 971-1069
[email protected]