Victor Rojas will start his first season as Hastings College baseball head coach with the season starting Jan. 31. Rojas announced MLB games for 18 years, including 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. His dad, Cookie Rojas, forged his own professional career on the diamond, too. Aaron Bonderson spoke with Victor about his latest venture that brought him to central Nebraska.

Aaron Bonderson: What brought you to Hastings, what made you want to coach the Broncos next season?

Victor Rojas: A lot of things kind of played into it. But at the end of the day, it was about the opportunity to kind of put my stamp on a program that needed to be turned around. I kind of have an entrepreneurial spirit at heart. So I like building things. And so when the opportunity presented itself back in May, I jumped at it, because it’s just kind of my nature. I felt like I was ready to take over as a head coach and really plant or replant the flag here in Hastings, as far as the baseball program is concerned.

Bonderson: You talked about being born into the sport. So your dad played MLB baseball, I think for 16 years, was it? How does that perspective – from someone who’s been playing it at the highest level while you were in your formative years – how do you use that as kind of a launching off point as well?

Rojas: Well, I mean, when you’ve got a teacher like my dad was, and is still to this day, you kind of lean on that tremendously. He’s a guy that was maybe 5’ 10” 150 pounds soaking wet, who came from Cuba, didn’t speak the language, didn’t have any money in his pocket, but he had the biggest heart and the biggest drive that I’ve ever been around. And so, when you see a guy like that carve out 16 years in the big leagues, with five all-star appearances and was never really a full time player until he got to Kansas City in the 1970s, that tells you the type of person that he is and was. And so I draw a lot of inspiration from him. He is my mentor. He’s my hero. And it’s funny, because I tend to gravitate towards that type of a player, guys that are willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win. That’s what I learned from him a long time ago. But it’s certainly not something that I rest on my laurels, and “Oh, my dad did this, and so therefore, I’m deserving of X.” I’m taking everything that I have and trying to put it forth, really giving back to the game that has been so good to me and my family. And so that’s the beauty of it. That’s really the drive and the motivation for me is to be able to give back.

Bonderson: You talked about how you have this entrepreneurial spirit and you want that challenge, but did Hastings College reach out to you? Or did you reach out to them? Or how did you find your way to the Hastings area?

Rojas: I fell in love with Hastings last summer when I visited here. I grew up in a small town in Kansas, and really Hastings reminds me of where I grew up. At 57 years of age, I’ve been everywhere in this country. I’ve done a lot of different things, and I’m at that stage in my life where I’m good with the rat race. I don’t need to be in the concrete jungle anymore. And, I wanted to be in the Midwest and kind of slow things down a little bit from a lifestyle perspective. And I remembered that. And so, when (Hastings College athletic director) Chris Clements called in May, it was an easy decision for us. It’s the best decision I’ve made in a long time. We’re thrilled to be here. My wife works in admissions. My son’s playing for me. We’re all in, as far as Hastings is concerned and hope to be here for the long haul.

Bonderson: I guess, just, what’s your overall thoughts on what is next for Hastings College? How do you see that coming together here over the next few years?

Rojas: Ideally, we start winning baseball games immediately. When I took the job, all the guys that I ended up recruiting and continue to recruit, the mindset was to shock the world and to try to come in year one and try to win a conference championship. That has remained the goal. When we first met on Aug. 13, I explained to them what we wanted to do and what we’re trying to accomplish. So, we set that tone early. Like I said, I think we’re trending in the right direction. I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people. I think there’s a lot of unknown, just because of the fact that we brought in so many guys. … Hastings College baseball is on the cusp of doing something pretty special this coming spring, so hopefully folks tune in or come out to Duncan Field and take in some games.

Bonderson: That’s Victor Rojas, new head coach of Hastings College, the Hastings College Broncos starting up the season here this spring. Thanks for your time.

ROJAS: You got it.