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Shaun Cole, former national pitching coach of the year and current San Diego State pitching coach, was elevated to head coach of the Aztec baseball program, as announced July 25, 2023 by SDSU Director of Athletics John David Wicker.
Cole’s impressive resume includes successful stops as associate head coach/pitching coach at Eastern Kentucky University, coordinator for player development in San Diego Padres’ highly rated farm system, USA Baseball 18U National Team director and pitching coach at the University of Arizona, where he won a College World Series championship and oversaw multiple nationally ranked recruiting classes.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I am very honored to become just the sixth head coach in program history,” Cole said. “SDSU baseball has vast potential, and I am excited to build off the previous successes and take this program to new levels. We expect to compete for conference championships through enhanced recruiting, player development and a tireless work ethic.
“I want to say thank you to the administration, alumni and players for supporting me in this transition to be the next head coach. I also want to recognize Mark Martinez and his commitment to San Diego State for 18 years. Mark maintained the program while honoring Tony Gwynn’s legacy with passion and pride. I’m thankful for the past two seasons together and his support.”
“Shaun is one of the brightest minds in college baseball,” Wicker said. “He has continually developed players at all levels, and we’re excited to have him leading our program.”
Cole spent six seasons at Arizona from 2009-14, serving one year as the Wildcats’ director of baseball operations before he was elevated to pitching coach. During Cole’s tenure, Arizona made four NCAA regional appearances, highlighted by a College World Series title in 2012, the same season he was named National Pitching Coach of the Year by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
While in Tucson, Cole developed and guided three of the school’s most successful pitching staffs, as Wildcat hurlers combined for 121 wins, 25 complete games and 1,324 strikeouts between 2010 and 2012. Overall, Cole mentored nine pitchers who were selected in the MLB Draft, including Kurt Heyer, who received All-America recognition in 2011 by the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
Not to be outdone, Cole made his mark on the recruiting trail as well at Arizona, contributing to four consecutive nationally ranked signing classes in 2012 (19th), 2013 (37th), 2014 (12th) and 2015 (17th).
Since Cole’s arrival on The Mesa for the 2022 season, SDSU pitchers have led the Mountain West in earned run average, strikeouts, opposing team batting average and fewest hits allowed for two straight years while producing a trio of MLB Draft Picks in TJ Fondtain, Kelena Sauer and Troy Melton.
Under Cole’s direction, the Aztecs once again flashed their talents during the 2023 campaign, as the Scarlet and Black topped the conference in strikeouts per nine innings (9.7) and hits allowed per nine innings (8.48), both of which ranked 36th in the country. In addition, the SDSU staff tossed a league-leading four shutouts, their highest total since 2017, which was tied for 32nd nationally.
Following the 2023 season, Fondtain was picked by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 14th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft, while Sauer was chosen by the Toronto Blue Jays shortly thereafter in the 15th round.
The 2023 Mountain West Pitcher of the Year, Fondtain burst onto the national scene after completing the eighth no-hitter in program history and the first since 2009 in a 4-0 shutout of Nevada on April 21. For his efforts, the Aztec left-hander garnered widespread acclaim, collecting Pitcher of the Week honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and D1Baseball.com along with his selection as Peak Performer of the Week from USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award.
Not to be outdone, Fondtain received All-America recognition from multiple outlets, including second-team honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA/Rawlings), D1Baseball.com and Collegiate Baseball newspaper to go with third-team plaudits from Baseball America.
Meanwhile, Sauer earned first-team all-Mountain West honors after leading the league with 12 saves, becoming the first Aztec to surpass double digits in that season statistic since 2017 (CJ Saylor). He also appeared on the midseason watch list for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) National Stopper of the Year award after collecting consecutive saves vs. UNLV to earn MW Pitcher of the Week honors.
In 2022, Cole made a tremendous impact in his first year at SDSU, as the Aztec pitching staff once again led the Mountain West in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (8.85) and strikeouts per nine innings (9.1), which ranked 55th and 85th in the nation, respectively.
Individually, Cole mentored a pair of all-league hurlers, including Troy Melton, who was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the fourth round of the MLB Draft after earning MW Co-Pitcher of the Year honors along with second-team ABCA/Rawlings All-West Region accolades.
In addition, Cole presided over the mound debut over Fondtain, who received second-team all-conference recognition in his first season as a starting pitcher to go with a trio of MW Pitcher of the Week awards.
Cole arrived in “America’s Finest City” after a two-year stint at Eastern Kentucky University, where he served as the Colonels’ associate head coach/pitching coach in 2019-20.
During his tenure, Cole developed and guided one of EKU’s most successful pitching staffs while enrolling three of the highest ranked recruiting classes in program history. In his first season in 2019, EKU set team records for strikeouts (510) and lowest opposing batting average (.258) while logging the most victories (32) since 2004 and lowest team ERA (4.79) since 2008.
Under Cole’s tutelage, three Colonel pitchers garnered all-Ohio Valley Conference accolades in 2019, including first-team selection Aaron Ochsenbein, who was picked by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth round of the MLB Draft that year after setting a school record for lowest single-season ERA (0.83).
During the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Cole helped EKU engineer one of the best starts in school history, as the Colonels rolled to a 12-2 record, highlighted by an upset at No. 11 LSU, before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to his stint in the Bluegrass State, Cole served as coordinator for player development with the San Diego Padres, where he was involved in all aspects of baseball operations, scouting and player development.
Among his countless duties with the Padres, Cole assisted in player development for the team’s minor league system, which was ranked No. 1 in MLB in 2018, including the Padres Dominican Republic Academy. In addition, he cross-checked prospects throughout the country for the 2016 MLB Draft and attended pre-draft workouts.
In 2016, Cole was also the pitching coach for the Tri-City Dust Devils, the Padres’ short-season Class A affiliate based in Pasco, Washington, where he developed the organization’s top pitching prospects.
In 2017, Cole served as the coordinator for San Diego’s spring training facility in Arizona. In that role, he oversaw the daily operations of mini-camp, extended spring training, as well as two rookie ball teams during the Arizona Fall League. He also managed the AZL Padres that season.
From June 2014 to Sept. 2015, Cole served as the director of the 18U National Team for USA Baseball. Among his responsibilities was managing the Tournament of Stars presented by MLB and the 17U National Team Identification Series – both primary selection vehicles for the 18U National Team. Under Cole’s guidance, the 18U National Team captured gold medals at the 2014 COPABE Pan American Championships in Mexico as well as the 2015 WBSC 18U Baseball World Championships in Japan.
Cole began his coaching career as the pitching coach for one season at Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood, Washington, helping the Tritons capture the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (now NWAC) championship in 2008.
In 2004, Cole earned a bachelor of arts degree in education with a concentration in kinesiology at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He also completed a master’s of education degree in 2009 at the University of Washington in intercollegiate athletic leadership.
Cole, 44, takes over for Mark Martinez, who retired on July 13, following a nine-year tenure as head coach from 2015-23, when he led the Aztecs to three Mountain West tournament championships (2015, 2017, 2018) and one regular-season conference title (2023).
SHAUN COLE FILE
Birthdate: Feb. 4, 1979
Hometown: Tucson, Ariz.
Education: B.A., William Penn Univ. (2004); M.Ed., Washington (2009)
Experience
Head Coach: San Diego State, 2023-
Pitching Coach: San Diego State, 2021-23
Associate Head Coach/Pitching Coach: Eastern Kentucky, 2019-20
Coordinator for Player Development: San Diego Padres, 2016-18
18U National Team Director: USA Baseball, 2014-15
Pitching Coach: Arizona, 2010-14
Director of Baseball Operations: Arizona, 2009
Pitching Coach: Edmonds Community College (Wash.), 2008
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Shaun Cole, former national pitching coach of the year and current San Diego State pitching coach, was elevated to head coach of the Aztec baseball program, as announced July 25, 2023 by SDSU Director of Athletics John David Wicker.
Cole’s impressive resume includes successful stops as associate head coach/pitching coach at Eastern Kentucky University, coordinator for player development in San Diego Padres’ highly rated farm system, USA Baseball 18U National Team director and pitching coach at the University of Arizona, where he won a College World Series championship and oversaw multiple nationally ranked recruiting classes.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I am very honored to become just the sixth head coach in program history,” Cole said. “SDSU baseball has vast potential, and I am excited to build off the previous successes and take this program to new levels. We expect to compete for conference championships through enhanced recruiting, player development and a tireless work ethic.
“I want to say thank you to the administration, alumni and players for supporting me in this transition to be the next head coach. I also want to recognize Mark Martinez and his commitment to San Diego State for 18 years. Mark maintained the program while honoring Tony Gwynn’s legacy with passion and pride. I’m thankful for the past two seasons together and his support.”
“Shaun is one of the brightest minds in college baseball,” Wicker said. “He has continually developed players at all levels, and we’re excited to have him leading our program.”
Cole spent six seasons at Arizona from 2009-14, serving one year as the Wildcats’ director of baseball operations before he was elevated to pitching coach. During Cole’s tenure, Arizona made four NCAA regional appearances, highlighted by a College World Series title in 2012, the same season he was named National Pitching Coach of the Year by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
While in Tucson, Cole developed and guided three of the school’s most successful pitching staffs, as Wildcat hurlers combined for 121 wins, 25 complete games and 1,324 strikeouts between 2010 and 2012. Overall, Cole mentored nine pitchers who were selected in the MLB Draft, including Kurt Heyer, who received All-America recognition in 2011 by the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
Not to be outdone, Cole made his mark on the recruiting trail as well at Arizona, contributing to four consecutive nationally ranked signing classes in 2012 (19th), 2013 (37th), 2014 (12th) and 2015 (17th).
Since Cole’s arrival on The Mesa for the 2022 season, SDSU pitchers have led the Mountain West in earned run average, strikeouts, opposing team batting average and fewest hits allowed for two straight years while producing a trio of MLB Draft Picks in TJ Fondtain, Kelena Sauer and Troy Melton.
Under Cole’s direction, the Aztecs once again flashed their talents during the 2023 campaign, as the Scarlet and Black topped the conference in strikeouts per nine innings (9.7) and hits allowed per nine innings (8.48), both of which ranked 36th in the country. In addition, the SDSU staff tossed a league-leading four shutouts, their highest total since 2017, which was tied for 32nd nationally.
Following the 2023 season, Fondtain was picked by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 14th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft, while Sauer was chosen by the Toronto Blue Jays shortly thereafter in the 15th round.
The 2023 Mountain West Pitcher of the Year, Fondtain burst onto the national scene after completing the eighth no-hitter in program history and the first since 2009 in a 4-0 shutout of Nevada on April 21. For his efforts, the Aztec left-hander garnered widespread acclaim, collecting Pitcher of the Week honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and D1Baseball.com along with his selection as Peak Performer of the Week from USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award.
Not to be outdone, Fondtain received All-America recognition from multiple outlets, including second-team honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA/Rawlings), D1Baseball.com and Collegiate Baseball newspaper to go with third-team plaudits from Baseball America.
Meanwhile, Sauer earned first-team all-Mountain West honors after leading the league with 12 saves, becoming the first Aztec to surpass double digits in that season statistic since 2017 (CJ Saylor). He also appeared on the midseason watch list for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) National Stopper of the Year award after collecting consecutive saves vs. UNLV to earn MW Pitcher of the Week honors.
In 2022, Cole made a tremendous impact in his first year at SDSU, as the Aztec pitching staff once again led the Mountain West in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (8.85) and strikeouts per nine innings (9.1), which ranked 55th and 85th in the nation, respectively.
Individually, Cole mentored a pair of all-league hurlers, including Troy Melton, who was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the fourth round of the MLB Draft after earning MW Co-Pitcher of the Year honors along with second-team ABCA/Rawlings All-West Region accolades.
In addition, Cole presided over the mound debut over Fondtain, who received second-team all-conference recognition in his first season as a starting pitcher to go with a trio of MW Pitcher of the Week awards.
Cole arrived in “America’s Finest City” after a two-year stint at Eastern Kentucky University, where he served as the Colonels’ associate head coach/pitching coach in 2019-20.
During his tenure, Cole developed and guided one of EKU’s most successful pitching staffs while enrolling three of the highest ranked recruiting classes in program history. In his first season in 2019, EKU set team records for strikeouts (510) and lowest opposing batting average (.258) while logging the most victories (32) since 2004 and lowest team ERA (4.79) since 2008.
Under Cole’s tutelage, three Colonel pitchers garnered all-Ohio Valley Conference accolades in 2019, including first-team selection Aaron Ochsenbein, who was picked by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth round of the MLB Draft that year after setting a school record for lowest single-season ERA (0.83).
During the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Cole helped EKU engineer one of the best starts in school history, as the Colonels rolled to a 12-2 record, highlighted by an upset at No. 11 LSU, before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to his stint in the Bluegrass State, Cole served as coordinator for player development with the San Diego Padres, where he was involved in all aspects of baseball operations, scouting and player development.
Among his countless duties with the Padres, Cole assisted in player development for the team’s minor league system, which was ranked No. 1 in MLB in 2018, including the Padres Dominican Republic Academy. In addition, he cross-checked prospects throughout the country for the 2016 MLB Draft and attended pre-draft workouts.
In 2016, Cole was also the pitching coach for the Tri-City Dust Devils, the Padres’ short-season Class A affiliate based in Pasco, Washington, where he developed the organization’s top pitching prospects.
In 2017, Cole served as the coordinator for San Diego’s spring training facility in Arizona. In that role, he oversaw the daily operations of mini-camp, extended spring training, as well as two rookie ball teams during the Arizona Fall League. He also managed the AZL Padres that season.
From June 2014 to Sept. 2015, Cole served as the director of the 18U National Team for USA Baseball. Among his responsibilities was managing the Tournament of Stars presented by MLB and the 17U National Team Identification Series – both primary selection vehicles for the 18U National Team. Under Cole’s guidance, the 18U National Team captured gold medals at the 2014 COPABE Pan American Championships in Mexico as well as the 2015 WBSC 18U Baseball World Championships in Japan.
Cole began his coaching career as the pitching coach for one season at Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood, Washington, helping the Tritons capture the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (now NWAC) championship in 2008.
In 2004, Cole earned a bachelor of arts degree in education with a concentration in kinesiology at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He also completed a master’s of education degree in 2009 at the University of Washington in intercollegiate athletic leadership.
Cole, 44, takes over for Mark Martinez, who retired on July 13, following a nine-year tenure as head coach from 2015-23, when he led the Aztecs to three Mountain West tournament championships (2015, 2017, 2018) and one regular-season conference title (2023).
SHAUN COLE FILE
Birthdate: Feb. 4, 1979
Hometown: Tucson, Ariz.
Education: B.A., William Penn Univ. (2004); M.Ed., Washington (2009)
Experience
Head Coach: San Diego State, 2023-
Pitching Coach: San Diego State, 2021-23
Associate Head Coach/Pitching Coach: Eastern Kentucky, 2019-20
Coordinator for Player Development: San Diego Padres, 2016-18
18U National Team Director: USA Baseball, 2014-15
Pitching Coach: Arizona, 2010-14
Director of Baseball Operations: Arizona, 2009
Pitching Coach: Edmonds Community College (Wash.), 2008
San Diego State baseball head coach Shaun Cole announced his first staff hire on Aug. 30, 2023, with the addition of Julius McDougal as assistant coach.
With his appointment, McDougal rekindles his professional association with Cole after their careers intersected as assistant coaches at Eastern Kentucky University in 2019 and 2020.
McDougal arrives on The Mesa after spending the past three seasons as associate head coach at Georgetown University, where he served as the Hoyas’ hitting coach and recruiting coordinator. Among his numerous responsibilities, McDougal will also continue those duties with the Aztecs, along with overseeing the team’s infield defense.
“I am excited to welcome Julius to the Aztec baseball family,” Cole said. “When we started this search, it was my goal to find one of the best recruiters and talent developers in all of college baseball. We have accomplished that and much more in bringing Julius to San Diego State. His work ethic, character, player relationship building, evaluation skills, and ability to connect with players are unparalleled.”
During McDougal’s tenure at Georgetown, the Hoyas fashioned a dramatic turnaround with back-to-back seasons of 30 victories or more for the first time in program history, highlighted by a pair of Big East tournament appearances, after posting a 6-25 record in 2021.
“I am very excited and honored to join the San Diego State coaching staff and the Aztec baseball community,” McDougal said. “I would like to thank Coach Cole, (athletic director) John David Wicker and the rest of the athletic administration for this this opportunity. I can’t wait to get started and help the Aztecs win championships.”
With McDougal on board, Georgetown was collectively named the Big East Conference Coaching Staff of the Year for the first time in school history following the 2022 campaign after the Hoyas established a program record for victories (32), home runs (98) and total bases (925), while setting second-best team marks in winning percentage (.571 (32-24)), runs scored (400), RBIs (367) and slugging percentage (.480).
That season, McDougal also coached the Hoyas first Big East Freshman of the Year recipient in catcher Owen Carapellotti, who garnered second-team All-America accolades from D1Baseball.com, while infielders Ethan Stern and Jake Hyde were all-Big East selections, earning first- and second-team honors, respectively.
During McDougal’s final season on the D.C. campus in 2023, Georgetown compiled a 30-27 record, featuring its first conference tournament victory, and boasted six all-Big East selections, including first-team honorees Michael Eze and Ubaldo Lopez.
Prior to his stint with the Hoyas, McDougal spent three years at Eastern Kentucky from 2018-20, serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator, infield coach and assistant hitting coach after joining the Colonels’ staff as a volunteer assistant in the summer of 2017.
With McDougal’s assistance, EKU posted consecutive 30-win seasons in 2018 and 2019, accomplishing the feat for the first time since the 1999 and 2000 campaigns. The Colonels’ 16 conference victories in 2019 were the most for the program since 2013 and he helped direct an offense that ranked among the top 30 nationally in walks, runs, home runs and stolen bases.
A renowned recruiter, McDougal helped assemble the 65th-ranked national recruiting class in 2020, according to Perfect Game. EKU boasted six of the top 20 freshmen in the Ohio Valley Conference, according to PG, which was the most of any school in the league. Between 2018-19, three of McDougal’s recruits were selected in the MLB Draft.
In 2020, McDougal helped guide the Colonels a 12-2 mark, including a Friday night upset at No. 11 LSU, before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a team, EKU finished 10th in the nation in on-base percentage (.420), 12th in batting average (.314), 13th in doubles per game (2.43), 14th in slugging percentage (.492), and 15th in scoring (8.4 runs/game).
Individually, McDougal coached a pair of All-Americans in second baseman Daniel Harris IV and catcher A.J. Lewis, as the latter signed a free-agent contract with the Colorado Rockies.
Previously, McDougal spent the 2016 and 2017 campaigns as head coach at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he guided the Tigers to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) regular-season championship in his first year at the helm. That season, Stillman earned the No. 1 seed at the SIAC tournament and advanced to the finals. In all, he had five players sign pro contracts during his tenure.
Prior to his elevation to head coach, McDougal worked as an assistant at Stillman after serving the same role at Kentucky State for one season in 2014.
McDougal played collegiately at Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, earning all-conference honors in 2010 after hitting .416, which was ranked 53rd in the country. In addition, he was named Claflin’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2011.
McDougal earned a bachelor of science degree in marketing from Claflin in 2012 before completing his master’s degree in business administration at Alabama in 2016.
Tony Tarasco, who played eight seasons with six different teams in Major League Baseball and has been on the staff of three professional organizations, was hired as an assistant coach for the San Diego State baseball program, as announced by head coach Shaun Cole on Sept. 25. 2023.
Tarasco remains in the region after serving a five-year stint as the San Diego Padres’ Minor League High Performance and Outfield/Baserunning Coordinator from 2016-20. He also spent the two past two seasons as head varsity baseball coach at Great Oak High School in nearby Temecula, California.
Between his tenures with the Padres and Great Oak High, Tarasco worked one season as the New York Mets’ first base coach and outfield/baserunning coach in 2021.
“Tony is one of the most respected minds in baseball and his teaching skills and baseball knowledge will be a great asset to our program on and off the field,” Cole said. “Tony has experience at all levels of baseball and will bring a unique big-league experience to our student-athletes.”
With the Padres, Tarasco became the first administrator for an MLB organization to hold dual assignments for a full season at an affiliate team as manager and roving coordinator when he skippered the Lake Elsinore Storm during the 2019 campaign, leading his squad to the California League Southern Division championship. He also managed the Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican Pacific League in 2017.
In addition, Tarasco served as the Padres’ coordinator at the 2020 COVID-19 Instructional League and the COVID-19 Alternate MLB player site.
“I’m excited for my first collegiate opportunity and the chance to impact student-athletes,” said Tarasco whose coaching career crossed paths with Cole in the Padres organization from 2016-18. “I’m here to help SDSU baseball win. With an emphasis on winning conference championships and contending on the national stage, I plan to focus on student-athletes’ growth on and off the field.”
Among his numerous responsibilities with the Aztecs, Tarasco will coach third base and oversee outfield and baserunning development while assisting with hitters and recruiting.
Tarasco began his coaching career with a 10-year stint in the Washington Nationals organization, including the final three seasons (2013-15) as the parent team’s first base and outfield coach. With Tarasco on staff, the Nationals captured the NL Eastern Division crown in 2014 and finished as the best baserunning team in the majors that season.
Additionally, Tarasco worked as Washington’s minor league outfielder and baserunning coordinator from 2011-12, leading outfield transitions for such players as Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Taylor. He also served as hitting instructor for the Hagerstown Suns in the Class A South Atlantic League from 2008-10 and the Vermont Lake Monsters of the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League from 2006-07.
Tarasco was selected by Atlanta in the 15th round of the 1988 MLB Amateur Draft out of Santa Monica (Calif.) High School and made his big-league debut with the Braves on April 30, 1993, when he went 2-for-4 at the plate vs. the St. Louis Cardinals.
In addition to the Braves, Tarasco played for the Montreal Expos (1995), Baltimore Orioles (1996-97), Cincinnati Reds (1998), New York Yankees (1999) and New York Mets (2002). He also spent the 2000 campaign as a member of the Hanshin Tigers in the Japanese Central League.
Tarasco played 457 games in the major leagues during his career, batting .240 with 46 doubles, 34 home runs, 39 stolen bases and 118 runs batted in. With the Expos in 1995, he enjoyed one of his most productive seasons, hitting .249 with 18 doubles, 14 homers, 40 RBIs and 24 stolen bases in 126 games.
Tarasco twice won his team’s Community Service Award, earning such honors with the Braves in 1994 and the Orioles in 1997. As a member of the Expos in 1995, he was a finalist for the Roberto Clemente Award, presented annually to the MLB player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.
Former San Diego State infielder Max Foxcroft was elevated to the role of full-time assistant coach after spending the 2023 campaign as an undergraduate assistant on the Aztec staff.
Among his numerous responsibilities, Foxcroft serves as the program’s camp director and assists with recruiting while supporting the development of hitters, infielders and catchers.
Foxcroft played 30 games with 13 starts across two seasons at SDSU before transitioning to the coaching ranks. He totaled six hits in a Scarlet and Black uniform, finishing with two doubles, eight RBIs and eight runs scored.
In 2023, Foxcroft contributed to a coaching staff that guided the Aztecs to the Mountain West regular-season championship, assisting with hitters and infielders while overseeing the team’s five student managers. He also earned his bachelor’s degree in communication studies from San Diego State that spring after receiving Mountain West all-academic recognition in 2021.
Foxcroft was a prep star at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, where he was ranked 13th among second base prospects in the state of California for the 2019 recruiting class by Perfect Game after meriting first-team all-conference honors as a senior.
Foxcroft originally signed with Oregon following his prep career, earning 46 starts in 48 games at second base as a freshman in 2019. In his lone season with the Ducks, he tied for second nationally with 15 sacrifice bunts.
A native of Newport Coast, California, Foxcroft also served two years as a volunteer coach with the Newport Beach Little League program in 2017-18.
Brian Shubsda enters his second season with the San Diego State baseball program and first as the team’s chief of staff after he was elevated to the position by Aztec head coach Shaun Cole on Aug. 1, 2023.
Among his endless duties, Shubsda is responsible for driving the program’s capital improvement initiatives for Tony Gwynn Stadium and Player Development Center. He is also tasked with reinvigorating alumni support, local and military relationships, as well as a growing list of corporate partners and sponsors.
In addition, Shubsda is spearheading a reorganization of the baseball operations department while assisting in the recruitment, on-boarding and retention of top talent for support staff and operational personnel.
Not to be outdone, Shubsda will oversee the development of a modern baseball technology department to optimize player performance, scouting and evaluation, in-game analysis and overall team readiness.
Prior to his new appointment, Shubsda spent the 2023 campaign as SDSU’s catching coordinator and director of player development, contributing to the Aztecs’ first Mountain West regular-season championship in 19 years.
Under Shubsda’s guidance, SDSU catchers combined to lead the Mountain West in putouts and caught stealing percentages while helping the Aztec pitchers record one of their most successful seasons in program history, highlighted by TJ Fondtain’s no-hitter against Nevada at home on April 21, 2023.
Individually, Shubsda tutored a pair of first-team all-Mountain West selections in Cole Carrigg and Poncho Ruiz, the latter of whom was named to the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award watch list.
Following the season, Carrigg was selected by the Colorado Rockies with the 65th overall pick in the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft, while Ruiz was signed as a free agent by the Minnesota Twins.
A native of Toms River, New Jersey, Shubsda played collegiately at The Citadel, where he received his bachelor’s degree in sport science.
Upon graduation, Shubsda played parts of three seasons (2009-11) for the Newark Bears and Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League under National Baseball Hall of Famer Tim Raines and two-time World Series champion Sparky Lyle.
After receiving his master’s degree in technical management from Georgetown, Shubsda was selected to attend the U.S. Army Aviation School of Excellence, where he earned his wings as a UH60 Blackhawk pilot.
Following numerous deployments to the Middle East, Africa, and Pacific theaters, Shubsda completed an interservice transfer to the U.S. Navy, where he spent six years leading emerging technology initiatives for U.S. Special Operations.
Shubsda continues to serve the country as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserves.
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