BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—As the CSU Bakersfield baseball team gets ready to open fall camp this weekend, Roadrunner head coach Bob Macaluso has announced the addition of Jeremy Beard and Justin Roberts to his inaugural coaching staff.
Beard will serve as the Roadrunner pitching coach while Roberts serve as the first base coach. Roberts will work with the catchers as well share hitting instruction with Alex Hoover and outfield instruction with Hoover.
Beard spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons with the Pilots' program after working at Western Nevada College for two seasons. He began his coaching career at Central Catholic High School (1998-2001) in Portland, Ore. before becoming the associate athletic director and associate head coach at Columbia Basin College (Wash.) during a nine-year stint for the Hawks (2001-2010).
During his career, Beard recruited and assisted in the development of eight current professional players; Steve Ames (MLB, Florida Marlins), Darrel Ceciliani, Jr. (4th round, AAA, NY Mets), Dylan Baker (5th round, top prospect list, Cleveland Indians), Tim Peterson (20th round, AA, NY Mets), Taylor Smart (26th round, A, Seattle Mariners), Andrew Woeck (31st round, A, Tampa Bay Devil Rays) and Brandon Show (36th round, A, Boston Red Sox).
Beard graduated from Oregon State after playing and serving as an undergraduate assistant coach for the Beavers from 1994-1997. As a pitcher, Beard helped the Beavers claim the Pac-10 North Conference title in 1994 for OSU's legendary coach, Jack Riley. A year later, he was named a team captain in 1995 for, Pat Casey.
“Jeremy has coached at many levels of baseball and brings with him a successful resume in all areas of the game,” Macaluso said. “He provides the expertise necessary to enhance the player experience at CSUB.”
Roberts comes to CSUB from Bakersfield's Centennial High School where he served as an assistant varsity baseball coach from 2005-15. Roberts works with USA Baseball as the National Team Identification Series (NTIS) South-Central Valley Sub-Regional Director for the Northern California USA Team.
A member of the Centennial baseball and football teams, Roberts played collegiate baseball at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, Calif from 2001-04. As a senior, Roberts helped lead PLNU to a Golden State Athletic Conference championship and an appearance in the 2004 NAIA World Series.
Roberts is from a coaching family as both of his parents were head coaches at Centennial High (dad-baseball, mom-volleyball).
“Justin is a sharp young coach that brings energy and expertise in all areas of the game, especially catching,” Macaluso said.
The Roadrunners, the 2015 WAC Tournament champion, will open the 2016 season with a split home-and-away series that gets underway Feb. 19.
~www.GoRunners.com~
