John Gumpf Staff

Third-year volunteer assistant coach John Gumpf already has made a distinctive impact on the Notre Dame baseball program while coaching the group of talented outfielders and overseeing various administrative tasks, including the program[apos]s growing offering of baseball camps and the popular Opening Night Dinner.

The presence of the spirited Gumpf provides an added level of coaching while lending the experiences of a former professional player and top draft prospect.

Gumpf – who is married to Notre Dame head softball coach Deanna Gumpf – was a volunteer assistant coach with the Irish softball team from [apos]98-[apos]01. He interrupted his coaching career in 2001, coinciding with the birth of the couple[apos]s son Brady and with Deanna[apos]s promotion to head coaching, while remaining an instructor at the Notre Dame Baseball Summer Camps.

One of the nation[apos]s top-ranked prospects as an outfielder at nationally-ranked Riverside (Calif.) Poly High School, Gumpf was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the second round of the 1989 Major League draft. He played four minor-league seasons and went on to play two seasons of college football as an all-conference linebacker at Riverside Community College ([apos]93-[apos]94), later serving as an assistant coach with the Riverside Poly baseball ([apos]94-[apos]97) and football ([apos]95) teams and RCC football ([apos]96, [apos]97).

Notre Dame[apos]s outfield defense – currently led by a group of four seniors – has shown key signs of improvement during Gumpf[apos]s involvement. Cody Rizzo has emerged as one of the nation[apos]s top defensive rightfielders while his classmate Alex Nettey has progressed from an eager walk-on to being one of the nation[apos]s top defensive centerfielders. Former prep catcher Steve Andres and converted infielder Matt Bransfield also have made big strides in left field, giving the Irish tremendous depth and talent in their group of senior outfielders.

Gumpf graduated from Cal State San Bernadino in 1997, with a degree in kiniseology. He came to South Bend in 1998, when his future wife (the former Deanna Mays) accepted the top assistant[apos]s position with the Notre Dame softball program. During his four seasons on the softball coaching staff, the Irish made three NCAA appearances and fashioned a 2001 season that included a No. 8 national ranking and 54-7 record. He helped mold outfielders Lizzy Lemire and Jenny Kriech into All-America performers, with Lemire earning a spot on Team USA.

Gumpf played in his pro career with the Sarasota Twins (Gulf Coast League), the Appalachian League[apos]s Elizabethan (Tenn.) Twins, the Midwest League[apos]s Kenosha (Wis.) Twins and the Fort Myers Miracle (Florida State League).

His prep baseball career included all-league honors as a senior, after leading his junior-year team to a No. 7 national ranking. He also was an all-star linebacker with the RPHS football team.

Born July 5, 1971, in Riverside, Gumpf also has worked for Skyenet Internet Service during his time in South Bend. The Gumpfs were married in Riverside on Dec. 19, 1998, and welcomed son Brady to their family on Sept. 19, 2001 – with the family[apos]s second child due in February of 2006.