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Chico Nuts

Tom Stevens, Director Chico Nuts American Legion Base...

Coach Stevens has been the director for the program for 26 years. He was the head coach for the Nuts for 22 years, winning state titles in 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2017. In 2014 he helped the Nuts move on to the American Legion World Series in Shelby, North Carolina. he accumulated a record of 719-320, and over 90% of Nuts players moved on to college baseball. He was the head coach at Los Molinos High school for 21 years, and has been the head JV coach at Pleasant Valley High School for the past four years. He has been the Northern Section CIF baseball chairman for the past eleven years, helping develop baseball in the north section. He has taught high school history for 26 years.

He is a graduate of Cal Poly SLO, and he and his wife Jennifer of 27 years have three children: Abby, Ashlin, and Gehrig.

Brian Thomas, Head Coach Chico Nuts

Coach Thomas is beginning his fifteenth year as a coach in the program and his third as the head coach of the Chico Nuts. He has helped the Nuts to win four state championships and a visit to the World Series in 2014. He has also been the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Butte College for thirteen years.

He is a graduate of Chico State, where he played baseball for the Wildcats and Coach Lindsay Meggs and Dave Taylor, and earned All American honors and team MVP. He played one year of professional baseball for the Yuma Bullfrogs. He and his wife Brandi have two children, Jackson and Sloane.

Ryan Watson, Assistant Coach Chico Nuts

Coach Watson is beginning his ninth season as an assistant coach with the Chico Nuts. He is also in his fourth year as the head coach of Orland High School. In addition to his time with the Nuts, Ryan has coached at Chico State and Butte College.

He is a graduate of Chico State, where he played baseball for the Wildcats and Coach Lindsay Meggs and Dave Taylor

George Laver, Assistant Program Director

George has been involved in the program for over 15 years in many capacities. He has worked tirelessly in that time to help organize fund raisers, recruit players, evaluate coaches, and travel with teams in the program.

George is a retired Chico police officer, and he and his wife Sandy have both supported our program selflessly.