Longtime University of New Mexico assistant Ken Jacome has been named Pima College's new baseball coach, replacing the retiring Rich Alday.
Pima announced the moves in a series of statements Wednesday. The Star's Greg Hansen reported Tuesday that both Alday and Aztecs softball coach Armando Quiroz were retiring.
Jacome spent the last 14 seasons at UNM. He is a graduate of Rincon High School, and served locally as the head coach at Pueblo High School (1995-96) and as a volunteer assistant at the UA (1997-98).
Jacome started the baseball program at El Paso Community College, and won 207 games in six seasons. He joined Alday's New Mexico staff the next season, and stayed at UNM through the end of the 2018 season. Jacome served as the Lobos' pitching coach in his final year.
“I have been away from Tucson for 20 years and I wanted the opportunity to come home. This is going to work out great and I’m looking forward to bringing Pima back to being a championship team,” Jacome said in a news release. “I’ve been able to establish my own identity learning from some great coaches along the way. This gives me a chance to instill things I have learned over 20 years and give back to a great program."
Alday retires with a 517-251 record in 17 seasons spread over two stints at the school. He coached at Pima from 1974-89, then returned for one season.
“It was a special moment to get my 500th win here, but it is time for someone else to lead this program and I’m happy it’s Ken Jacome," Alday said in a news release. “He did a great job for me at the University of New Mexico. He has many contacts with four- year schools that will get kids to that next level. He has a lot of experience and is very knowledgeable. He brings a lot to the table.”
Jacome earned his undergraduate degree from Oklahoma City University, and has a master's degree in education from NAU.
