Athletics - Lewis-Clark State

2010-11 Warrior Baseball Coaches

Head Coach Gary Picone

Gary Picone became only the second head coach in 35 years at Lewis-Clark State College when he took over duties on Sept. 1 after legendary coach Ed Cheff retired.

Cheff left big shoes for Gary to follow as he compiled a 1,705-430-2 record during his 34 years and put LCSC baseball on the map with 16 NAIA national championships, more than quadruple any other NAIA baseball team during that stretch.

Gary has a long history with LCSC, dating back to 1972 when he enrolled at the institution and join the LCSC baseball team as an outfielder for coach Ramon Hooker.

As well as baseball coach, Gary is in his second go-around as Athletic Director/Director of Auxiliary Services at Lewis-Clark State College and has been key in helping the Avista NAIA World Series continue to grow in popularity. The Series has regularly set all-time attendance records year-in and year-out under Gary’s supervision.

Gary played with the Warriors during the 1973 and ’74 seasons and also spent five years playing with the Canadian National Team. After graduation, he joined the Warriors' coaching staff, which included the 1976 season, the first season LCSC qualified to participate in the NAIA World Series.

In 1980, he left LCSC to teach and coach in Canada. He returned in 1983 as the Warriors’ pitching coach. In 1989, the Trail, British Columbia, native was the executive director of the British Columbia Amateur Baseball Association, but returned to LCSC in 1991 as athletic director, a position he served for nine years.

While athletic director, Gary helped bring the Series back to Lewiston. The Series had previously been held in Lewiston during 1983-91, but then jumped around between four sites before returning to Lewiston in 1999. The Series is under contract to remain here at least through 2012.

Gary left as athletic director in 2000 to become pitching coach at Washington State University under new coach Tim Mooney. He spent two seasons there before returning to LCSC as pitching coach in 2002. In the fall of 2003, Picone was involved with the Canadian National Team, serving as head coach during international play in Cuba.

Picone was hired as athletic director in 2006 and has initiated a World Series project every year to help improve Harris Field, which has been home to the NAIA World Series. LCSC installed stadium seating in 2007, a new press box in 2008, and new lighting in 2009, which has helped LCSC continue to have one of the best ballparks in the Pacific Northwest as well as the NAIA. All told the improvements totaled more than $700,000.

By taking over as baseball coach, Gary relinquishes his duties as the Avista NAIA World Series Tournament director, which is now being filled by assistant athletic director Brooke Cushman.

Gary and his wife Terri have three children, Nina, Rico, and Maria, and two grandchildren, Marissa and Grady.

Assistant coach Gus Knickrehm

Gus Knickrehm enters his fifth year as the pitching coach after serving in various other assistant coach capacities throughout his 14-year coaching career at LCSC. Besides coaching, Knickrehm also had a successful career as a pitcher at LCSC. During his senior year, he was a pitcher on the 1987 national championship team, which went undefeated in the Series. During that season, Knickrehm averaged one strikeout per inning pitched. After his playing career, Knickrehm joined the Warrior coaching staff for six seasons, working with the pitchers. He then left to work for a local business, but rejoined the Warrior staff in 2003. In all, Knickrehm has been a part of 10 national titles.

Assistant Coach Allen Balmer

A former Avista NAIA World Series MVP and a Lewiston native, Allen Balmer is entering his third season as an assistant coach at Lewis-Clark State College. He works primarily with position players and is instrumental in both infielder and hitter instruction. Balmer played four seasons with the Warriors during 2002-06 and enjoyed much success. He started all four seasons at third base and helped the Warriors capture two national titles, including the championship in the 50th annual Avista NAIA World Series at Lewiston during his senior year in 2006. He earned the tournament’s MVP award after smacking 12 hits, scoring six runs, and driving in seven during a five-game stretch. Overall at LCSC, Allen recorded 245 hits, established a batting average of .341, and averaged less than 12 errors a season. During his senior year, he hit .377 with a team-leading seven home runs during the regular season. Balmer is a second generation Warrior baseball player as well. His father, Gary, who also works at LCSC, was a standout for the Warriors in the early 1980s. Balmer and his wife, former LCSC volleyball player Marie (Lauder) Balmer, have two children, Brody and Avery Marie.

Assistant Coach Mike Madrid

After a few years away from the team, Mike Madrid is back on the Warrior coaching staff where he will again work primarily with hitters and infielders. Madrid, who played for the Warriors from 2001-02 and served as a coach from 2006-07, has been a part of three Lewis-Clark State national titles, one as a player in 2000, and two during his previous coaching stint. During his senior year, he earned the team's Gold Glove Award in and also hit .328 with 10 homeruns to help LCSC to its 12th World Series title. He then signed a free-agent contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and in 2003 helped a Pirates' minor league team, the Williamsport Crosscutters, capture the New York Penn League championship and made the all-star team. From 2004-06, he played for an independent team in the Frontier League, the River City Rascals, and compiled three-year totals of 47 home runs, 215 RBI, and a .305 batting average. In 2008, he was inducted into the River City All-Diamond Team. From 2007-10, Madrid served as the head coach at Kendrick High School. He earned a bachelors degree in Kinesiology from LCSC. He resides in Lewiston with his brother Julian and his fiancé and former Warrior basketball standout Cami Kalbfleisch.

Assistant Coach Brett Holley

Brett Holley will don a Warrior uniform for the first time since he played for LCSC in 1986-87. He will primarily work with outfielders. As a player, Holley was an honorable mention All-American as a senior in 1987 when he hit .429 with nine home runs and 61 RBI. In 1986, he hit .330 with 11 home runs. Both years he earned all-tournament team honors during the NAIA World Series. Down through the years he has served as a coach at Lewiston High School, and has also coached with the Twins and Cubs American Legion teams. He and his wife, Jennifer, have been married for 22 years and have two children, Chelsea and Zach, and one grandson, Landon.