UC San Diego

MEDIA
• Tritoncast podcast (2/12/25)
• Tritoncast podcast (2/7/24)
• Tritoncast podcast (2/15/23)
• ESPN3 Interview (1/16/20)
• San Diego Union-Tribune Feature (5/24/17)
• Trending Now w/Kevin Acee (5/25/16)
• Trending Now w/Kevin Acee (4/18/16)

Eric Newman will enter his 15th season as the head coach of the UC San Diego baseball program in 2026, after being named to the position on Aug. 29, 2011. The 2026 season will be the sixth season the Tritons compete as a member of the Big West Conference and second with full NCAA Division I status and postseason eligibility. 

During his tenure in La Jolla, Newman has posted a 447-288 (.608) overall record and 302-188 (.616) record in conference play. He has led the Tritons to four conference titles combined in both Division I and II competition and three NCAA Division II West Region crowns (2017, 2018, 2019). Newman has garnered three conference coach of the year awards (2012, 2019, 2023) and earned three ABCA/Diamond West Region Coach of the Year accolades (2017, 2018, 2019). 

UC San Diego Division I (2021-present)
In 2025, the Triton offense set several Division I and all-time program records, including a single-season team record with 80 home runs (51 games). Newman had seven scholar-athletes recognized with All-Big West accolades, highlighted by J.C. Allen, Gabe Camacho and Michael Crossland earning spots on the first team. Crossland also set the Tritons' Division I record with 15 homers and ranks second all-time in the Triton record books.

During the four-year transition to NCAA D-I status, Newman directed the Tritons to a 112-101 (.526) record and 72-58 mark in Big West play. In 2024, UC San Diego recorded its second consecutive 30-win season and three Tritons earned All-Big West accolades highlighted by Izaak Martinez who earned All-America honors for the second consecutive season. Newman recorded his 400th win with the Tritons on Mar. 3, 2024 against Stephen F. Austin and recorded his 500th career victory on Mar. 16, 2024 against Cal State Fullerton.

The 2023 season was exceptional for the Tritons, earning UC San Diego's first ever Big West Championship after finishing 21-9 in conference play. Newman was named Big West Coach of the Year and received the 2022-23 UC San Diego Excellence in Coaching Award, while seven Tritons earned All-Big West honors. Reliever Izaak Martinez earned the program's first All-America nod of the Division I era.

In the first season of Division I competition in 2021, UC San Diego finished above .500 in conference play with a 21-19 record in an augmented schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Six Tritons earned All-Big West accolades in UC San Diego's first season in the conference. The following season saw three Tritons were on the all-conference list in 2022.

UC San Diego Division II (2012-2020)
In the final season of Division II action, the Tritons finished the abbreviated season 17-4 and atop of the CCAA leader board. The final polls ranked the team first by Collegiate Baseball and third by NCBWA. On February 21, with a win over Sonoma State, Newman earned his 300th win as head coach of the Tritons.

The back-to-back-to-back 2017, 2018 and 2019 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Diamond NCAA Division II West Region and 2019 and 2012 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Coach of the Year compiled records of 309-162 overall and 215-115 in arguably the toughest conference nationally in the NCAA Division II. Newman directed the Tritons to three West Region trophies, three CCAA tournament titles and two CCAA regular-season banner, compiling nine straight winning campaigns, seven of them with 30-plus wins and the last three World Series runs eclipsing 40. UC San Diego has earned six NCAA Championship berths, advancing to back-to-back West Region finals in 2014 and 2015 before sweeping through that tournament in both 2017 and 2018 in Azusa. The Tritons have made six trips to the CCAA tournament under Newman.

In 2017, Newman directed UCSD to a 44-19 overall record and the Division II West Region championship, sweeping through all four games at the regional tournament in Azusa. The Tritons then advanced through to the national finals in Grand Prairie, Texas, winning four consecutive elimination tilts after losing their opener. Needing to beat West Chester of Pennsylvania twice for the first national title in program history, Newman's club dropped a 5-2 decision in the first of two potential matchups with the Golden Rams. The runner-up finish matched UCSD's best ever.

UCSD previously placed second in the CCAA South Division, as well as at the 2017 CCAA Championship. The Tritons lost their second game at the double-elimination, six-team event, but won three successive elimination contests to make it all the way to a winner-take-all championship meeting with rival Chico State, falling 12-5.

The 2016 season was a 13th straight in which UCSD posted a winning mark (31-21). Newman's group achieving the second-best ERA (3.91) in the CCAA for the third year in a row, remarkably with having handed 35 of 52 (.673) starts to true freshmen, and 294.1 of 449.0 (.656) innings handled by true or redshirt freshmen.

In 2015, Newman's pitching staff set new single-season program records for lowest earned run average (2.84), shutouts (13), strikeouts (469) and strikeouts per nine innings (8.72). The All-American ace of that unit, Justin Donatella, became UCSD's highest Major League Baseball draft pick in almost three decades, earning selection in the 15th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association National Pitcher of the Year and CCAA Most Valuable Pitcher.

The 2013 season was a 10th straight in which UCSD produced a winning overall record. Susdorf was a consensus all-region performer, Troy Cruz joined him on the All-CCAA First Team as the CCAA Freshman of the Year, and shortstop Dillon Moyer was made the 38th-round draft selection of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Seven Tritons in all have been offered professional contracts since Newman arrived on campus, in Donatella, Moyer, Tuma, Jeff Rauh, Trevor Scott, Richard Seigel and Tony York.

In 2012, his first campaign with the Tritons, Newman was named the CCAA Coach of the Year after guiding the team to its fourth straight league regular-season and tournament championships. The Tritons qualified for their sixth consecutive NCAA West Regional as well.

UCSD won a slew of individual awards, led by starting pitcher Ryan Goodbrand and centerfielder Danny Susdorf, who each garnered All-America recognition. Six Tritons picked up all-region accolades and eight were named to All-CCAA teams. Reliever Elias Tuma showed his prowess in the classroom as well by being named a Capital One Academic All-American.

Prior to UC San Diego
Prior to coming to La Jolla, Newman had been the pitching coach at Nebraska and served as the head coach at Dallas Baptist University. A draft selection of the San Diego Padres, he played eight seasons of professional baseball.

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 Major League Baseball 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.

In addition to leading UC San Diego, Newman continues to be a popular choice for numerous clinics and workshops both locally and even internationally. In 2016, he served as a speaker at San Diego State as part of the ABCA Barnstormers 2016 West Coast Clinics. Prior to that, he traveled to Singapore in December of 2015 with the legendary Augie Garrido and other college baseball coaches for The Hit Factory Ballplayer Showcase at Singapore American School.

Playing Career • Personal
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 undergraduate work at Texas Tech and received a bachelor's degree in family studies in 1997.

Newman resides in Rancho Peñasquitos with his wife, Melissa, three sons, EJ, Jack and Joshua, and twin daughters, Ellie and Claire.

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ERIC NEWMAN QUICK FACTS

Education
Alma Mater: Texas Tech, 1997 (Bachelor's degree in family studies)
Graduate School: Dallas Baptist, 2004 (Master's degree in higher education)

Prior 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

Playing Experience
Los Angeles Dodgers, 2002 (Vero Beach, Caguas Criollos)
Arizona Diamondbacks, 2001 (El Paso, Monclova Acereros, Guasave Algodoneros)
Chicago Cubs, 1999-00 (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
Sons: EJ, Jack, Joshua
Daughters: Ellie and Claire (twins)

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WHAT OTHERS SAID 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 - Former football Head Coach and 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 - Assistant Coach, Tennessee
"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."