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Steve Rodriguez Hometown: Alma Mater: |
Director A member of Pepperdine's 1992 national championship team and an assistant coach for the Waves the past four seasons, Steve Rodriguez, 32, became the University's 16th head baseball coach when he was named to the position on June 18, 2002. Rodriguez, who earned All-American honors in 1991 and 1992, becomes only the third former Pepperdine player to assume the head coaching duties for the Waves in the program's 64-year history. Gary Marks became the first former Pepperdine player to pilot the program when he skippered the program from 1963-67. Rodriguez, a fifth-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox in 1992, was named WCC "Player of the Year" in 1992 as the Waves posted a 48 – 11 mark and captured the College World Series (CWS) title. Rodriguez was named to the All – CWS team and was part of two memorable plays in Omaha – a grand slam that helped defeat Texas in the semifinal round and a late-inning defensive gem in the Waves' 3-2 win over local rival Cal State Fullerton in the championship game.A first-team All-West Coast Conference (WCC) selection in 1991 and 1992, Rodriguez made a big splash as a sophomore in 1991 when he batted .419, the second highest single-season average in school history. His 104 base hits that season are a Pepperdine single-season record. He currently ranks in the Top 10 in five different single-season categories. This past fall, Rodriguez was named one of the WCC's Top 50 athletes of all-time that was announced by the conference office. Rodriguez returned to Pepperdine to earn his Master's Degree in Educational Technology in 2003. |
Rick Hirtensteiner Hometown: |
Camp Director Tabbed the West Coast Conference's (WCC) "Player of the Year" in 1989, Hirtensteiner was an eighth round draft pick by the California Angels. Hirtensteiner played professional baseball for seven seasons with the California Angels, Florida Marlins and Montreal Expos organizations, reaching the AAA level with Montreal. Hirtensteiner also played in the Northern League with the St. Paul Saints, the Salt Lake City Trappers of the Pioneer League plus stints in Australia and Mexico. A three-time All-WCC pick, Hirtensteiner ranks No. 11 on Pepperdine's all-time hitting chart with a .337 career batting average. Hirtensteiner is the Waves' all-time career leader in runs scored (228) and triples (17), and ranks No. 2 in base hits (295), RBI (175) and at-bats (876). As a senior in 1989, Hirtensteiner led the Waves with a .366 batting average and clubbed a team-best 12 home runs as a leadoff hitter. Hirtensteiner tied a single-game school record by slugging three home runs in a game at UC Santa Barbara. Additionally, Hirtensteiner emerged as the Waves' closer, oftentimes tossing warm-up pitches in the outfield during conferences on the mound. Hirtensteiner earned Academic All-American honors in 1989 after earning a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Hirtensteiner was also recognized as the WCC's "Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year," becoming just the second Pepperdine athlete to earn the prestigious Pat Malley Award. |
Sean
Kenny Hometown: Alma Mater: |
Assistant Director Pepperdine's pitching coach, and assistant recruiting coordinator, Coach Sean was essential in the success of the University of San Diego baseball team for his 5 years as assistant coach. Kenny is in his first year with Pepperdine, but his 7th year in the WCC. Kenny was a standout pitcher for three years at Eastern Michigan University, where he completed a Bachelor's degree in English Literature with a minor in coaching in 1997. He was drafted in the 17th round by the Mets and played for three seasons in the New York system. He would later earn a Master's degree in Physical Education from Saint Mary's College. As a proven recruiter,
Kenny assists in the recruiting efforts, bringing in and developing some
of the best arms in the college game. Kenny was a volunteer assistant
at St. Mary's College from 1996-1997. In 1997-98 he served as pitching
coach at Laney Community College in Oakland. From 1998-2003 he was with
the Toreros at University of San Diego. |
Chuck Hazzard Hometown: Alama Mater: |
Assistant Director Chuck Hazzard, who spent the last two seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at UNLV, begins his first season in the same capacity at Pepperdine. As volunteer assistant, Hazzard will provide support in a number of areas to Rodriguez and the Pepperdine baseball program. His duties at UNLV included working with the infielders and assisting with the hitters. During Hazzard's two seasons at UNLV, the Rebels compiled a cumulative record of 72-53 (.576), won the Mountain West Conference (MWC) Tournament each year and twice advanced to the NCAA Tournament. In 2005, UNLV registered a 35-29 overall record, including a 23-7 mark in the MWC and participated in the NCAA Tempe Regional. The Rebels finished second in the country in scoring average (11.2 runs per game) and three of the four starting infielders were named All-MWC. Hazzard was a four-year letterwinner at Florida from 1995-98 where he played under former Pepperdine head coach Andy Lopez. He helped the Gators to the College World Series in 1996 and 1998. In 1996, he became the only player in school history to be named first team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC), All-Tournament SEC, All-Tournament South 1 Regional and selected to the All-College World Series team. Additionally, Hazzard holds the Florida single-season record for most post-season home runs with seven. He concluded his career ranked among the school's Top 10 in every offensive category, with the exception of stolen bases. Following his collegiate career, Hazzard was an 18th round selection of the New York Yankees. After concluding his playing career, Hazzard went to work in the private industry and in his free time coached the Dallas Mustangs and North Texas Red Hawks. Both teams are elite summer programs for 17-18 year-olds. Born November 1, 1974, Hazzard was a four-year starter at Jesuit College Prep in the Dallas area before graduating in 1993. |
