After 23 years at the helm of the Santa Rosa Junior College baseball program, Damon Neidlinger is stepping back from his role as head coach, opting instead to serve as an assistant coach while handing the reins to Jeff Bart for the upcoming 2027 season.
Neidlinger's tenure has been marked by eight conference titles, two California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) state championships, and a string of coach‑of‑the‑year accolades, culminating in a career record of 610‑293‑1.
The transition echoes an earlier leadership shift in the early 2000s when then‑head coach Ron Myers stepped aside, allowing Neidlinger to take over the program on a full‑time basis in 2004.
A Legacy of Excellence
SRJC Athletic Director Matt Markovich described the move as a "temporary leadership transition," emphasizing the administration's confidence in the process.
Jeff Bart, a former player who helped the team capture the 2016 state championship and contributed to the runner‑up finish the following year, has spent the last six seasons as an assistant coach and is eager to build on the program's storied legacy.
Neidlinger, who took sabbatical leave in 2019 before returning in 2020, says he wants to return to his roots of teaching the game of baseball, even as his retirement from full‑time teaching looms on the horizon.
The college administration believes this transition will be beneficial for everyone involved, supporting both the continuity of the program and the next generation of coaches.