LJ baseball: 'Hud'

Dick "Hud" Huddleston (center), former
baseball and football coach at La Jolla High.
(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Dick Huddleston, the head baseball coach at La Jolla High in the seven seasons encompassing 1982-84 and 1986-1989, proudly held the NFL "Silver Football" Award along with his former offensive tackle John Michels at halftime of the Vikings' game three years ago. The award was recognition on the part of the pro league on the 50th anniversary of the first Super Bowl, spotlighting former participants and their high schools.

"Green Bay picked John in the first round of the NFL draft to protect (quarterback) Brett Faivre's other side," recalled "Hud", amiably soaking up some pre-Spring sun at the annual Viking Alumni Baseball Game Sat., March 1.

"He played in two Super Bowls. He went 6'7", 305 pounds in the pros. In high school, he weighed 260. They put all that bulk on him in college and the pros."

"Hud" coached football, baseball, and golf during his tenure as a wood shop and physical education teacher at La Jolla High from 1981 to 2002.

Asked to recall a leader-type on one of his teams, the retired coach said, "There wasn't a better leader than Brian Hidalgo. He became quarterback when I moved Craig Woodall (Brent Woodall's younger brother) to wide receiver.

"He just took over and did a great job for us. He (Hidalgo) was one you didn't expect (to blossom as a leader the way he did)."

Regarding on-campus teacher/coaches, Huddleston said, "We were all on campus everyday. We saw them (the football players) at lunch. We had meetings at lunch. We had a place in the (Big) gym. We pulled out the bleachers. We watched game film (it was Super 8).

"I gave the scouting report on Monday so that they had it all week."

What did you try to emphasize?

"Depending on the week, how we scouted them (that week's opponent) and how we thought we could beat them."

As far as his coaching approach, "Hud" confided, "To be honest, we were hard on the kids. But they responded.

"It wasn't easy (competing against other schools). We weren't blessed with unbelievable talent. But we were better prepared than the other team.

"We told them (our players) what we expected, and they did it."

Huddleston succeeded Al LaMotte, who went to University City High, as Viking head baseball coach in 1982.