Longtime Rio Mesa High School baseball coach David Soliz has been tabbed to lead the Ventura College baseball program. Soilz, a 23-year skipper for the Spartans takes over for interim head coach and Pirate Athletic Director Jimmy Walker, who stepped in to lead the program after the late departure of former coach Cole Mahoney-Bruer. | ORIGINAL RELEASE

Soliz, a Rio Mesa High School alumnus, directed the Spartans' baseball team from 1999-2022, winning six Pacific View League championships. His teams were undefeated in league play for a three-year span of 2017-2019, and he was named league Coach of the Year three times. He totaled 336 wins during his time at RMHS.

Additionally, Soliz has been the head baseball coach for the Conejo Oaks summer collegiate baseball team based out of Thousand Oaks since 2011, after assisting within the organization for three summers. He has recruited and coached teams consisting of NCAA, NAIA, and community college players, directing the team to the 2018 California Collegiate League title.

He also served as an assistant coach at Cal State Los Angeles from 1995-1999 following his graduation from the school.

A 1990 graduate of Rio Mesa High School, Soliz was an All-CIF player as a senior with the Spartans. He earned a scholarship to play at Cal State Los Angeles and was named All-CCAA in 1994.

Soliz has been a full-time teacher at Rio Mesa since 1999 teaching social science.