Harry is very excited to begin his third season with the Palm Springs POWER. He will be taking the post of Manager for the 2011 season. As the 2009 POWER Manager, Gurley led his team to their first outright SCCBA Championship.
As a retired resident of Lake Havasu, AZ he has been visiting Palm Springs for the past 4 years to enjoy the numerous golf opportunities and following the successful history of the POWER organization.
Gurley has built a very distinguished coaching and scouting career at all levels including the pros, college and high school. Most recently Gurley was the pitching coach at Ohio State University for the 2006 & 2007 seasons. During that time, OSU led the Big Ten in team ERA and had their first 10-game winner since 1999.
Prior to working at OSU, Gurley was an assistant coach at Southern Illinois when the Salukis finished second at the 1971 NCAA College World Series. He was also a head High School coach in Arizona, Texas, and Missouri. During those stints, Gurley won a Missouri state championship, was an Arizona State championship runner up and won a Texas Regional championship.
In 1984, he spent one season as manager of the Helena (Mont.) Gold Sox of the professional Pioneer League (Class A) and led them to the league championship.
Gurley also spent several years as an associate scout for the Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals organizations.
With all of this coaching and managerial experience, it is no surprise that Gurley is no stranger to the collegiate summer baseball circuit either. In 1998, he was the pitching coach for the Nevada (Mo.) Griffins who won the Jayhawk Collegiate Baseball Summer League championship and finish second in the NBC Tournament in Wichita, KS.
During Gurley’s distinguished coaching career, he has worked with over 35 players who have played affiliated professional baseball, including 12 players who have made it all the way to the Major Leagues. Four of his prized pitching pupils were also drafted in the 1st Round of the MLB Draft.
Gurley, has one daughter, Paige McCracken. She and her husband Mark, are the parents of Gurley’s two grandchildren, Will and Tess, who live in Kirkwood, Mo.
