*** Additional video footage with Coach Newman is available exclusively at
our Twitter page ***
LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego Department of Intercollegiate
Athletics is proud to introduce former Nebraska assistant Eric
Newman as its new head baseball coach. The announcement was made Monday by
Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards.
Newman had been the pitching coach at Nebraska since 2007 and served as the head
coach at Dallas Baptist from 2004 until 2007. A San Diego Padres draft pick, Newman played
eight seasons of professional baseball.
"We're very excited to welcome Eric Newman to the Triton
family," said Edwards. "His outstanding reputation and his experiences as both a head and
assistant coach will enable the baseball program to continue to operate at the high standard
that it has in the past."
He takes over the Triton program from Dan O'Brien, who resigned in
June to take the head position at NCAA Division I Santa Clara. O'Brien, the winningest coach
in school history, amassed a record of 454-283-1 (.616) over 14 seasons in La Jolla.
"I'm really honored to be coming in and taking over a program that has established
itself as one of the best in Division II," said Newman. "I plan on continuing to build on the
success that Coach (Dan) O'Brien developed while he was here. I want to thank Earl Edwards and the Athletics Department for this opportunity and I'm
really looking forward to working with the Triton baseball family."
In 2008, his first season as pitching coach at Nebraska, Newman wasted no time
making an impact as his staff played a major role in getting the Huskers to the NCAA
Regionals for the ninth time in 10 years. He took a contingent that had just 14 returning
wins and guided the team to 41 wins and a No. 1 regional seed. For the season, NU was tops
in the Big 12 in complete games (7) and ranked among the league leaders in saves (17,
second), strikeouts (491, third) and ERA (4.18, third). The ERA ranked 23rd nationally, while
the 491 strikeouts were the most at NU since 2005 and the staff's 8.46 strikeouts per game
set a new school record.
The 2008 Huskers featured two-time All-American Johnny Dorn, as well as All-Big 12
selections Thad Weber and Dan Jennings. Five pitchers were selected in the Major League
Baseball Draft, including Aaron Pribanic (third round, Seattle), Jennings (ninth, Florida), Dorn
(15th, Florida), Weber (16th, Detroit) and Zach Herr (38th, San Diego).
In 2010 and 2011, Newman boasted top 15-ranked recruiting classes.
Prior to arriving in Lincoln, Newman spent five years (2002-07) at NCAA Division I
independent Dallas Baptist. Named the program's head coach in 2004, Newman led the
Patriots to a 95-72 (.569) record and guided the program through its transition to Division I.
During Newman's years at the helm, the Patriot program turned out a Collegiate
Baseball First Team All-American in Drew Holder and 14 All-Independent Team picks.
Newman had three players invited to Team USA trials and 15 of his players, including eight
pitchers, were drafted or signed professional free agent contracts.
In 2005, the Patriots were top 15 in the country in batting average, runs scored,
doubles and slugging percentage. In 2006, the team was top 10 nationally in runs, doubles,
home runs and slugging.
Newman was named the 2006 Independent Coach of the Year.
From 2002-2004, Newman was the associate head coach and pitching coach at Dallas
Baptist. During his tenure, he lowered the team ERA from 5.80 to 3.28. The 3.28 in 2004
would have ranked seventh nationally had DBU not been provisional Division I status at the
time.
The Patriots won their second consecutive NCCAA national championship in 2004, a
season that saw five pitchers finish with ERAs under 3.00. The duo of Lance Broadway and
Jeff Gilmore each recorded 10 wins. Broadway, a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and
Roger Clemens Award in 2005, was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the first round and
made it to the Major Leagues in 2007.
Dallas Baptist also won a NCCAA title in 2003.
Patriot pitchers tossed a perfect game and three no-hitters under Newman.
While at DBU, Newman was instrumental in fundraising, helping secure over $600,000
to build a new clubhouse and renovate the indoor hitting facility in 2006. In 2005, Newman
assisted in starting the Minuteman Booster/Alumni Club.
A fifth round draft pick of the San Diego Padres in 1994, Newman pitched professionally
for eight seasons with four different organizations. Overall, he ended his career with a 44-
44 record over 600+ innings. He averaged less than one hit per inning and nearly one
strikeout per inning for his career. He saw action all the way up to the AAA level.
Newman played in the minors for the Padres (1994-98), the Chicago Cubs (1999-2000),
the Arizona Diamondbacks (2001) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2002). He was a
player/coach for the Vero Beach Dodgers in the Florida State League.
As a collegiate student-athlete, Newman played two seasons at Fresno State before
transferring to Texas Tech. In 1993, he won a Western Athletic Conference (WAC)
championship with the Bulldogs. The next season, he was tabbed All-Southwest Conference
as a member of the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Newman earned a master's degree in higher education from Dallas Baptist in 2004. He
did his undergrad work at Texas Tech and received a bachelor's degree in family studies in
1997.
Newman, 39, resides in La Jolla with his wife, Melissa, and son, EJ.
"I'm excited to be working with these accomplished young men that excel on the field
and in the classroom," said Newman. "We're going to put together a great staff to lead this
program into the future."
UC San Diego went 42-15 and advanced to its fifth straight NCAA tourney in 2011. The
Tritons won their third consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) regular
season and tournament titles. In 2009 and 2010, UCSD played in the College World Series,
finishing as the national runner-up in 2010.
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ERIC NEWMAN QUICK FACTS
Education
Alma Mater: Texas Tech 1997 (bachelor's in family studies)
Graduate School: Dallas Baptist 2004 (master's in higher education)
Coaching Experience
Nebraska: Assistant Coach/Pitching Coach 2007-11
Dallas Baptist: Head Coach 2004-07
Dallas Baptist: Assistant Coach/Associate Head Coach/Pitching Coach 2002-04
Vero Beach Dodgers (A, Florida State League): Player/Coach 2002
Coaching Honors
Independent Coach of the Year (2006)
2 NCCAA National Championships (2003, 2004)
1 NCAA Regional appearance (2008)
Playing Experience
Los Angeles Dodgers: 2002 (Vero Beach, Caguas Criollos)
Arizona Diamondbacks: 2001 (El Paso, Monclova Acereros, Guasave Algodoneros)
Chicago Cubs: 1999-2000 (Iowa, West Tennessee, Mesa)
San Diego Padres: 1994-98 (Idaho Falls, Clinton, Rancho Cucamonga, Mobile)
Texas Tech: 1994
Fresno State: 1992-93
Personal Information
Date of Birth: August 27, 1972
Hometown: Fremont, Calif.
Wife: Melissa
Son: EJ
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WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT COACH NEWMAN
Earl W. Edwards - Athletic Director, UC San Diego
"We're very excited to welcome Eric Newman to the Triton
family. He's got an outstanding reputation and his experiences as both a head and assistant
coach make me confident that, under his leadership, our baseball program will continue to
operate at the high standard that it has in the past."
Tom Osborne - Athletic Director, Nebraska
"I am pleased to hear that Eric Newman has been hired
as the head baseball coach at UCSD. Eric did a fine job for us as a coach here at the
University of Nebraska. He is experienced, relates well to players and will do an excellent
job."
Frank Anderson - Head Baseball Coach, Oklahoma State
"Eric Newman is not only one of the best young coaches in the game,
but also one of the best individuals. He will bring a high level of coaching and recruiting to
UCSD. It will be an exciting time for Triton baseball!"
Dan Heefner - Head Baseball Coach, Dallas Baptist
"Eric Newman is a great coach who has a track record of helping
players reach their full potential. He is also an outstanding person that student-athletes will
love to play for. It will be fun to watch him continue to build on the success of the UCSD
baseball program."
Rob Childress - Head Baseball Coach, Texas A&M
"Eric Newman is not only a great coach and recruiter, but a gifted teacher. UC San Diego has truly hit a homerun in the hiring of Eric as its head baseball coach. He will make that program better in every area on the field, off the field and in the community."
*** Additional video footage with Coach Newman is available exclusively at
our Twitter page***
- ucsdtritons.com -
