USD Baseball 2009

Extraordinary Coaching Since taking over the reigns of the San Diego baseball program in 1999, head coach Rich Hill has built the Toreros into one ofthe premier programs in the country. Two years ago, the Toreros experienced one of the best seasons in program history, received a program-best No. 4 national ranking, received a No. 8 national seed in the NCAA Regionals, hosted a NCAA Regionals for the first time in the city ofSan Diego and produced the program's first 40-win season. Last season, the Toreros captured their second consecutive WCC championship, produced a program-record 44-17 overall mark and reached the championship game of the Long Beach Regional. Hill has assembled one of the best coaching staffs in the country, with ace recruiters Eric Valenzuela and Jay Johnson as well as Mark Viramontes. Together Valenzuela andJohnson assembled the No. 1recruiting class in the nation last year. "''Eric is one ofthe premier coaches in the country. His reputation has grown, especially here on the West Coast, as being an excellent recruiter. He brings a competitiveness to our pitching staff that is unmatched, 11 said Hill. '"'Jay Johnson is all about baseball. There is one thing on his mind, and that is trying to make our offensive players the best that they can be. He is an excellent recruiter, an excellent teacher and an excellent communicator and has a great future, 11 said Hill. 11 "Mark is the unheralded guy on our staff. I go to him just as much during the game as I do anyone on our staff. He has a great knowl– edge ofthe game, is an excellent catching coach, and a great field guy also,"said Hill.

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