Shan Deniston

Shannon Willis Deniston (February 28, 1919 – April 4, 2020) was an American athlete and sports coach. A native of Long Beach, Deniston attended St. Mary's College of California for one year before starting a professional baseball career in 1939. He played for several minor league teams before serving in World War II at the San Diego Marine Corps Base. While there he also coached the baseball team at Pepperdine University, where he received a degree, and played professional football in the Pacific Coast Professional Football League (PCPFL) and on a military service team. After the war was over Deniston returned to professional baseball as a player-manager, spending 1947 to 1955 both playing for and managing several minor league teams while also serving as a college coach at Pepperdine and Drake University. Deniston retired from playing in 1956 and became a high school football coach, a position he would serve in until 1977, when he was named head coach at United States International University. He retired from coaching in 1987. Deniston became a centenarian in 2019 and died at the age of 101 in 2020.

Early life and college career Deniston was born on February 28, 1919, in Long Beach, California. He grew up in Compton, and attended Alhambra High School. While at Alhambra he competed in football, track, basketball, and baseball. Deniston was described by The Long Beach Sun as "an outstanding end and one of the best pass grabbers in the Southland prep ranks." Deniston attended St. Mary's College of California for one year, in 1938, before accepting an offer to play professional baseball by the New York Yankees. He also briefly attended Pasadena Junior College in 1939, playing catcher in baseball and halfback in football.

Playing career Baseball (1939–1942) Despite mainly playing first baseman, Deniston was signed by the New York Yankees as an outfielder in 1939. He made his debut against the Tucson Cowboys in a 11–2 win, replacing Curdele Lloyd and making two hits.

In the 1940 season, Deniston played for five teams in four different leagues. After being released, he played for the Big Spring Barons/Odessa Oilers in the West Texas–New Mexico League, appearing in 12 games. With the Barons/Oilers he made ten hits, three doubles, one triple and two home runs.

In February 1941, Deniston returned to the Portland Beavers on a one-year contract as a catcher. He ended up playing the season in the California League for the Anaheim Aces, appearing in eight games and making three hits.

Football (1942–1948) In 1942, Deniston played professional football in the Pacific Coast Professional Football League (PCPFL) for both the Los Angeles Bulldogs and Hollywood Bears, as a right guard for the Bulldogs and a halfback for the Bears. He was described by The Los Angeles Times as a "demon blocker." With the Bears in a game against the Bulldogs, Deniston caught a fifteen-yard pass that set up a Hollywood touchdown.

Deniston attended Pepperdine University in 1943, and spent the year out of sports. That year he played football for the El Toro Flying Marines military service team that compiled a 8–1 record and was ranked number sixteen in the country.

Baseball (1945–1955) While in the Marines, bone chips and calcium deposits had weakened Deniston's arm, and he "had given up hope of advancing as a baseball player."

After graduating from Pepperdine in 1947, he was named an assistant coach at the school and additionally was named by the St. Louis Browns as a player-manager of the Mayfield Clothiers minor league team.

Deniston was later assigned to coach the Belleville Stags of the Illinois State League. Near the end of the season, Deniston placed second on the team in batting average with a mark of .322. He appeared in a total of 29 games, and was at-bat 107 times, making 35 hits, 11 doubles, one triple, and four home runs.

Deniston was with Audubon for 39 games of the 1950 season, playing catcher, before resigning for "the best interest of the team." The Cardinals compiled a record of 18–21 in the Iowa State League (ISL) with Deniston.

Mid-season in 1951, Deniston was signed to play catcher by the Des Moines Bruins of the Western League. His signing was due to several injuries to their previous players at that position.

In 1952, Deniston played catcher for the Kellogg Cardinals, and by July held the league lead in batting average with .485. In a win over the Marshalltown Ansons, Deniston scored two home runs.

In 1953, Deniston was named player-manager of the Storm Lake White Caps in the Iowa State League. Against the Carroll Merchants, he scored the game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. In June, he took the league lead in home runs with three. By July, Deniston had made six home runs, leading the league, and also was ISL runs-batted-in leader with 27. He finished the season tied with Walt Menke for league lead in home runs hit.

In 1954, Deniston started the season with New Ulm, before suffering a broken finger and leaving the team. After finishing the season with them, Deniston retired and accepted a coaching position at La Jolla High School.

Coaching career While at Pepperdine in 1944, he served as head coach of their baseball team. In 1946, after returning from World War II, Deniston assisted their football team while also playing the sport professionally.

In January 1948, St. Louis Browns business manager J. W. Baker named Deniston a player-manager for the Pittsburg Browns of the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League (KOM). Deniston ended up coaching the school's football team for thirteen seasons, from 1957 to 1969, winning several championships. He served in that position until resigning in 1976, following a season with just one win out of nine games.

In 1977, Deniston was named head football coach at United States International University. He served in that position for two seasons before being replaced by Tom Walsh; the team folded the next year.

Deniston later returned to Lincoln High School as head baseball coach, spending 1985 to 1986 in that position before retiring.

Later life and death In 1978, Deniston umpired one game in the National League (NL) when the regular umpires went on strike. He umpired as a volunteer for the game between the New York Mets and San Diego Padres. He died on April 4, 2020, in San Diego, at the age of 101.

Jerry Powell, who played high school football under Deniston and later professionally, said "from Pop Warner, to high school, college and the pros, I played for a lot of coaches. Without a doubt, Shan Deniston was the best man, the best coach I ever played for. He was truly a blessing and will be sorely missed."

Head coaching record College football