High School baseball: Cramblitt retires from coaching

DRAPER — After 419 victories and nine state titles, Juan Diego's Steve Cramblitt is retiring from coaching baseball.

Cramblitt, who has battled chronic fatigue syndrome for approximately a decade, said it's time to move on and take care of his health issues. He will remain as Juan Diego's athletic director. Troy Davis will coach the Soaring Eagle baseball team this season.

"It's something my wife and I have talked about for a long time," Cramblitt said. "My principal and I have talked about it, and it's just time to move on. I'll miss the kids, I'll miss the coaches, the association I have with them and all people involved with the game — even the umpires. It will be an interesting transition."

It's a transition that's necessary for Cramblitt to get his health in order. Coaching takes a lot of energy, and it's been difficult for Cramblitt to do it the last few years. To get through it, he "just kept pushing," he said.

"It's very difficult (to retire)," Cramblitt said. "I wasn't ready to right now. I was thinking about it for next year."

Cramblitt accomplished all that a coach could ask for. His nine state titles tie him with Enterprise's Terry Bowler for most in state history. He won seven at Taylorsville and two at Juan Diego. His seven with the Warriors are the most at a large school in state history.

Cramblitt's 419 victories are the third-most in state history. He is the only coach in state history to win state baseball titles in the 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A classifications. He's also served on national and regional baseball committees, and is respected throughout the nation for his baseball accomplishments and knowledge.

"Baseball in the state of Utah has taken a big hit by him retiring," said Bingham coach Joey Sato. "He's a good friend and very well-respected, not only in the state but outside the state as well. My concern is for him and his health, and that he can continue his duties (as Juan Diego's athletic director)."

Cramblitt coached baseball for 36 years and was a head coach for 24 of them. He started his career at Skyline, and one of the first guys he hired as an assistant was current Cyprus coach Bob Fratto.

"I owe a ton to him," Fratto said. "He took me in off the street (to coach). My high school coach and him are my biggest influences in baseball by far."

Fratto said Cramblitt earned all of his accomplishments as a coach.

"People have this impression that he had so much talent to work with," Fratto said. "It's a misconception that he just rolled out the ball. He has the best practice organization that I've ever seen. He could probably tell you when practice is on May 7 and what they'll be doing minute-by-minute. He's a great coach. He will be missed."

Cramblitt said he enjoyed the fun of winning championships and running successful programs. But what he'll miss the most is the relationships he's had with players.

"The thing I've really thought about are the number of players that have gone on to do outstanding things in their lives," Cramblitt said. "I've gotten a lot of phone calls and e-mails and appreciation for the time they spent in the game. That's what I'm trying to dwell on.

"Any time I talk to a former player, I tell them they have to understand they've touched my life as much as I've touched theirs. That's not something I've made up. It's not a dream. It's reality."

e-mail: aaragon@desnews.com