Carnahan’s number retired at ceremony feting Wildcat AD, coach

--Headline: Carnahan’s number retired at ceremony feting Wildcat AD, coach

--Story by Rusty Rae, Sports Editor

McMinnville News-Register/N-R, 6/13/2017
(Slight edit made by Wildcatville.)

--Photo by Tim Marsh for the News-Register

--Photo cutline: Scott Carnahan with the framed retired jersey and Ad Rutschman share a few words after Rutschman announced the school had retired his jersey.

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Retiring Linfield Athletic Director and head baseball coach Scott Carnahan found himself in an unfamiliar place Saturday at Ted Wilson Gymnasium -- in the spotlight-- where administration, coaches, players and family lauded his 34 years of service to the college.

More than 200 staff, friends and former players gathered at the gym for the send-off, hearing from a gold list of speakers, including President Dr. Thomas Hellie, Head Football Coach Joe Smith, who was a baseball assistant for Carnahan, Seattle Mariners assistant coach Scott Brosius, a former player and coach at Linfield, several former players, and his wife, Cathy, and son, Chris. The event was emceed by longtime Linfield athletic voice Dave Hansen.

Smith said if there was a Mount Rushmore of Linfield Coaches, it would include Paul Durham, Roy Helser, Ted Wilson, and Ad Rutschman – adding Carnahan would need to be chiseled into the monument after his many years of service.

Several speakers noted how, under Carnahan’s leadership, the college’s athletic facilities improved to one of the best venues in the Northwest Conference. They cited his relationship-building skills and positive mentality, which allowed the college to do more with less.

Rutschman described how Carnahan embodied the ethos of the athletic program, noting “Carney” continued the tradition of a blue-collar work ethic and doing the right things correctly.

At the end of his delivery, Rutschman announced the college had retired Carnahan’s number 6. He brought out the framed jersey, which will hang in the athletic facilities along with those of other Wildcat greats.

Former player Michael Lindblad, a pitcher for Linfield from 1991-94, summed up the feelings of many of the 200 attending the event, saying, “Mentor, teacher, coach and father figure to our whole Linfield family.”

In addition to having his jersey retired, Carnahan was presented a golf cart decked out in the Linfield’s cardinal red and purple, as the audience chanted “Carnee! Carnee! Carnee!..” led by incoming athletic director Garry Kilgore.

Carnahan, addressing the audience at the conclusion of the festivities, spoke of his love for Linfield. “Cathy has always known Linfield is my second love – and sometimes it has been number one,” he said.
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Photos by Wildcatville below including one showing Polly Sommers of Linfield Athletics handing golf cart keys to Carney.