LOCAL LEGEND: Coach makes Hall of Fame

21-year Southern Nevada veteran honored for record

Rodger Fairless was already a legend in Nevada, but now the former longtime high school baseball coach will be forever remembered on a national level.

Fairless, who coached for 21 years in Southern Nevada -- first at Eldorado, in 1978, then at Valley and Green Valley, where he guided the Gators to a record six straight state titles, from 1993-98 -- was recently inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Fairless led his teams to 12 state titles overall and compiled a 493-80 record, for an .860 winning percentage.

Already a member of the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame, Fairless, whose former players include four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux of the Chicago Cubs and catcher Doug Mirabelli of the Boston Red Sox, tried to downplay his induction into a national hall of fame.

"It's a great honor, but like I've said before, it's basically an honor for the kids and other coaches who I've worked with," he said. "I'm just lucky to have my name on it."

Fairless, 52, said the keys to the success of his teams were simple.

"We, as coaches in the program, built it around discipline and hard work, and we made sure to try to cover all the bases, as far as teaching kids' fundamentals and situations," he said.

Indeed, Dan Opperman, who played at Valley under Fairless and was the eighth overall pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1987, said he was better prepared than most players when he embarked on his professional career.

"The day I became a professional, I realized everything Rodger had taught us was to prepare us for the next level. There were tons of guys in spring training who hadn't done drills or been in certain situations I learned with Rodger," said Opperman, now an attorney in New Mexico. "Hands down, to this day, he's the best coach I've ever had, at any level. I spent six years in the Dodgers organization and I've been around a lot of different coaches and managers, and Rodger is at the top of the list."

Opperman, whose career was plagued by arm problems, said he still uses lessons learned from Fairless every day.

"He prepares kids to deal with not only baseball, but life, because life isn't easy," he said. "I take a lot of what Rodger did in practices and games. He was preparing me to be a man at the same time, and I thank him for that."

Fairless said one of his goals as a coach was to prepare his players to succeed in life.

"I think the most important job we have as coaches is to teach kids about hard work and dedication, and I hoped that would carry over to whatever path they chose to go," Fairless said.

Opperman said he didn't always like Fairless, but he always respected him.

"You don't really like the man when he's out there, because he's so hard on you, but that's his job, and there's a mutual respect there," he said. "One thing I always look for in a manager or a coach is kids have to want to play for you. I wanted to go out and do well and Rodger brought that out in me.

"Off the field, Rodger's a nice man, but on the field, Rodger would put the fear of death in you. I don't think anyone would say he doesn't. If they did, they're probably lying, because they're probably still scared."

Fairless said he still keeps in touch with former players such as Maddux and Mirabelli, and Tyler Houston, a former catcher at Valley who was the second pick of the Atlanta Braves in 1989. Fairless also coached first-round draft picks Chad Hermansen and David Krynzel at Green Valley -- the 10th and 11th overall picks, respectively.

Fairless was named the first head coach at the Community College of Southern Nevada, but stepped down before a game was played.

Fairless, who has been busy raising 2-year-old twins Jackson and Kylie with his wife, Renee, said he misses coaching and hasn't ruled out a return to the field.

"I miss it a little bit, being able to work with the kids and have an association with the coaches," he said. "I've thought about (returning), but it's something I would really have to evaluate again. If I did, I'd have to be totally dedicated to it, and at this point, I don't know if I am."


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