Jedd Soto - SMC Gaels

Coaching Staff
Jedd Soto
Head Coach Jedd Soto
Head Coach
Louisiana-Monroe, 1996
7th Year
20
Jedd Soto, who enters his seventh season as Saint Mary’s College head baseball coach, is the school’s third winningest coach since 1968. His 135
career victories trails only Miles McAfee (215) and Tom Wheeler
(141). Soto’s teams have finished .500 or better in three of the
past four seasons, and his total of 101 wins from 2006-2009
are the most in a four-year span by a head coach for the
Gaels since 1982.
Soto has had one the biggest turnaround in Division
I baseball during the past five years. Since Soto’s first season,
the Gaels have improved from a national power ranking of 250
in 2004 to a 2008 rank of 95 (out of 296 teams). The improvement of 154 spots in four seasons is one the largest improvements of any Division I program in the nation during that time
period. At 35 years old, Soto remains one of the youngest Division I head coaches in the country.
Soto has become the second coach in Saint Mary’s modern history to record back-to-back
improvements in the win column and his 101 wins in the last four seasons is the most for
any SMC baseball coach since 1992. The Gaels are 64-32-1 at home since 2006. The Gaels
had four players drafted in 2009, the most for a Saint Mary’s team since 1991. Soto has
had four freshman All America honorees during the past three seasons including Troy
Channing, who was one of twelve players up for the Dick Howser National Players of
the Year award in 2009.
“I am pleased to continue Jedd Soto’s leadership of the baseball program,” said Mark
Orr. “The progress this program has had under his leadership has been impressive. His ability to recruit and develop quality student-athletes is something I look forward to seeing him
continue to do for years to come.”
In the last five seasons, Soto has had thirteen players selected in the amateur draft including: Kyle Jensen (12th round, Florida Marlins); Anthony Aliotti (15th, Oakland A’s); Scott Schneider
(20th, St. Louis Cardinals); Brian Justice (27th, Toronto Blue Jays); Brian Byrne (12th, Arizona Diamondbacks); Mike Sansoe (18th, San Diego Padres); Joel Fountain (25th, Florida Marlins / 25th,
Oakland A’s); Corey Madden (21st, Florida Marlins / 45th, Chicago Cubs); Sam Carter (free agent,
San Diego Padres); Sean Gleason (20th, Baltimore Orioles / 25th, Boston Red Sox); and Joel Staples
(44th, Florida Marlins).
Soto has had an additional four draft-and-follow players at Saint Mary’s: Dan Lewis (Philadelphia Phillies); Adam Hicks (Cincinnati Reds); Cody Nelson (Los Angeles Angels); and Troy Channing (Seattle Mariners).
Additionally, 23 players have earned West Coast Conference (WCC) accolades during Soto’s tenure at SMC.
Jedd Soto retains a strong graduation rate at SMC among players who have completed their eligibility.
Other draftees, including Brian Byrne (2005 draft as a junior) and Joel Staples (2008 draft as a junior), have
since returned to Saint Mary’s to complete their degree requirements. Soto’s success on the field is transferred
to the classroom – the Gaels have a 2.85 average team GPA for the past five seasons.
Five players have been honored with All-Academic Team awards by the West Coast Conference for their
achievements on the field and in the classroom since spring 2006. Eric Cattoni, a 2007 Biology (Pre-Med)
major, graduated with a 3.99 grade point average. He was the runner up in the Lowe’s Senior Class StudentAthlete of the year award and named to the Academic All American Team presented by ESPN, The Magazine.
Soto hails from a powerful coaching tree that includes former LSU head coach, Smoke Laval; and Jim
‘Skip’ Walker, a 1000-game winner at the collegiate level. Soto has blended these two styles and implemented
them into his own approach. The fundamental philosophy of the program is to have “excellence on and off the
baseball field.” Soto’s system challenges the players, coaches and trainers to improve each day until they meet
or exceed their goals.
“We were very fortunate to hire someone with Soto’s ability to lead our baseball program into the future,”
stated former SMC Director of Athletics and Recreational Sports, Carl R. Clapp. “He has a tremendous understanding of the game of baseball and runs an outstanding program. His success is not just measured on the field, as he
values both the academic and Lasallian traditions of Saint Mary’s College.”
Soto has continued the tradition of excellence that began at Feather River College (1997-2003) while leading
his teams to four 30-win seasons, three conference titles, three regional titles, and one super regional championship. In 2003 Soto led Feather River to the California Final Four in the team’s sixth year of existence.
At age 23, Soto launched the first-ever baseball program in Feather River’s history. Of the 108 community colleges in California at the time, Feather River was the smallest with a full-time student enrollment of less than 300
students. Baseball was one of five sports offered at the institution and was the only program to win consecutive conference and regional titles.
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Coaching Staff
Jedd Soto
“Jedd Soto and his staff are amazing at what they accomplished
Jedd Soto Personal File
at FRC,” said Paul Thein, former Feather River College Vice President and Athletic Director. “With minimal resources and its unique
Hire Date: July 1, 2003
location, he established our program as one of the elite baseball
Career
Record:
302-263-2
powerhouses in the state of California, in a very short period of
SMC
Record:
135-178-2
time.”
Birth Date: May 4, 1974
In the six years Soto spent at Feather River College, he had
eight players drafted by Major League Baseball in five years, inHometown:
Reno, Nevada
cluding five from his 2003 team. Outfielder Chris Roberson was
Marital Status: Married to Carly Soto
drafted out of FRC in the 9th round in 2001. He is currently in
Children:
Jay
Arizona Diamonbacks’ AAA system. Another 2003 graduate, Evan
Maclane, was drafted by the New York Mets in the 25th round. He
Coaching History
is currently pitching for St. Louis Cardinals’ AAA affiliate Memphis
Redbirds.
Head Coach
Saint Mary’s (2004-present)
In 2003 Soto led the Feather River team to its finest season,
Head Coach Feather River (1998-2003)
which led to a state Final Four finish. The program finished ranked
Assistant
Coach
Nevada (1997)
4th in the state (out of 98 baseball teams), posting a 36-12 record.
During the 2000-03 seasons, Feather River reached the playoffs
each year, and won the Golden Valley Conference championship the
Education
last three seasons. Soto was named the Golden Valley Conference
M.S. in Science and Sports Admin. US Sports Academy (2003)
Coach of the Year in 2001, 2002, and 2003 while posting a career
B.A. in Management Louisiana-Monroe (1996)
record of 167-85 (.663 winning percentage).
A.A.
in
Management
Southern Idaho (1994)
While coaching at Feather River, Soto had seven 1st team junior college All Americans, nine 1st team all state honorees, 28 1st
team all conference selections, and one freshman All American.
The staff sent 44 players to four-year institutions – including 15 athletes to division one colleges.
Student-athlete academic achievement has been a focus in Soto’s system since he began coaching – the Feather River squad was a fourtime recipient of the school’s Academic Team of the Year award (2000-2003). Their efforts culminated in winning the prestigious Statewide
Pepsi Team Scholar award in 2002, 2003 and 2004 for maintaining a team average 3.45 GPA. Soto also taught sports management and marketing as a full-time faculty member in the Math, Physical and Life Sciences instructional division at Feather River College. He was elected a division chair for the department and was involved in curriculum development, tenure review, and campus-wide strategic planning. He served as
an associate scout for the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds during his coaching career at Feather River College.
In 1997, Soto participated on the construction team to build Feather River’s baseball facility, including drainage, dugouts, batting cages,
fencing, and grading. Soto raised an additional $220,000, which provided for a professional lighting system, fan picnic area, outfield teams flags,
Astroturf areas, storage facilities, and an on-site locker room. Feather River is presently considered one of California’s premier playing facilities.
Soto completed a dual master’s degree from the United States Sports Academy in Science and Sports Administration 2003. He earned his
bachelor’s degree in 1996 from University of Louisiana Monroe in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and Management
and minors in Real Estate and Insurance. He holds an associate’s degree from the College of Southern Idaho. During his time at LouisianaMonroe, Soto’s teams won two conference championships, the Southland Conference tournament championship and participated in the NCAA
super regional championship. In junior college, his teams won two conference championships, a regional championship, a tri-regional championship and participated in the Junior College World Series.
Soto was born in San Dimas, CA. He grew up in Reno, Nevada and graduated from Reed High School where he was an all-conference and
all-state varsity letterman. Soto played two seasons for the Carson Capitols, winning the USSA national championship in 1993. Soto and his
wife, Carly, have one son, Jay. They reside in Moraga, California.
Head Coach Jedd Soto
2010 Saint Mary’s Baseball Information Guide
21
Coaching Staff
Gabe Zappin
Associate Head Gabe Zappin
Associate Head Coach
Excelsior College, 2002
7th Year
22
Gabe Zappin is entering his 12th season as a coach on
Soto’s staff, and is currently in his seventh season in Gael
pinstripes. In 2008, Zappin was named the Associate
Head Coach by Soto. Zappin works as with the Gaels as
an infield coach and hitting instructor. He had also been
instrumental in producing strong recruiting classes for
the Gaels, bringing in top prospects from California and
many surrounding states.
Zappin’s role on the field is instruction of infield play,
hitting, and running the offense from third base. Zappin
came to Moraga after serving six year as Soto’s top
assistant at Feather River College (Quincy, CA). While serving under Soto at Feather
River College, Zappin assisted in sending more than 35 players to the university level
and assisted the Eagles in reaching the Final Four. Several of Zappin’s recruits were
drafted, including Humberto Gonzales, picked up by the New York Mets in 2003.
While at Feather River, Zappin also served three years as an associate scout in the
Milwaukee Brewers organization.
Zappin began his collegiate career in 1994 at De Anza College as a third baseman and pitcher under head coach Tom Kunis, who is now the pitching coach at
Stanford. Zappin then played for San Francisco City College during his sophomore
year. As a student athlete at SFCC, Zappin was a First Team All-Conference selection
in the Bay Valley North conference. Zappin played his third year at the University
of Nevada Reno. At Nevada Reno, he served as a closer and spot starter. He posted a
3-1 record with five saves and helped the Wolf Pack advance to the Super Regional.
Zappin played his senior year at Cal State Northridge to finish his collegiate career.
His prep career was at Carson High School in Carson City, Nevada where he led
the Capitols to a state championship in 1992.
Zappin carries a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies with a minor in Psychology from Excelsior College. Zappin was born in Columbus, Ohio, currently
resides in Walnut Creek with his wife, Mirna.
Gabe Zappin Coaching File
Education
BS in Liberal Studies
Excelsior College, 2002
Coaching History
Associate Head Coach
Saint Mary’s (2008-present)
Assistant Coach
Saint Mary’s (2004-07)
Assistant Coach
Feather River College (1998-03)
Marital Status
Married to Mirna Zappin
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Coaching Staff
Lloyd Acosta
Assistant Coach
UC Davis, 1996
3rd Year
Lloyd Acosta enters his third year on the Gaels’ coaching staff. In addition to managing the
Gaels’ offense, he assists with the infield and serves as the recruiting coordinator. Acosta
has implemented an exciting, high-tempo offense
which has proven successful since his arrival.
In the 2008 season, the Gaels’ team batting
average rose 32 points and they scored 75
more runs than they did in 2007. The Gaels
hit .321 as a team that season with Brian
Hawkins and Kyle Jensen both hitting
over .400. Over the past two years, the
Saint Mary’s offense has averaged
Lloyd Acosta Coaching File
Education
Bachelor’s Degree
Master’s Degree UC Davis, 1996
Champman, 2001
Coaching History
Assistant Coach
Saint Mary’s (2008-pres)
Assistant Coach
UC Davis (2002-07)
Assistant Coach
Sierra College (2001)
Marital Status
Married to Karen
Has four children: Brendon, Makayla, Caden and Luke
2010 Saint Mary’s Baseball Information Guide
Assistant Coach Lloyd Acosta
over six runs per game.
Acosta came to Saint Mary’s after a six-year stint as recruiting
coordinator at UC-Davis. He was also responsible for running the
Aggies’ defense. Their team fielding percentage improved each
season and in 2003 they led the nation with a .970 fielding
percentage. In that same 2003 season, the Aggies advanced
to the Division II College World Series where they finished in
3rd place. He was part of the Aggies’ transition to Division I
and his recruiting classes went on to help lead Davis to the
NCAA Division I Regional in 2007. After the 2006 season
one of his players, Danial Descalso, was drafted in the third
round by the St. Louis Cardinals. He has advanced as high as
AAA in the organization and this past summer he won a gold
medal for Team USA. Danial’s father, George, is a former Gael.
Acosta began his collegiate coaching career in 2001 as an assistant coach at Sierra College in 2001. While at Sierra, the Wolverines
made the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. Prior to that, he coached
at Rocklin High School. Acosta received his bachelor’s degree from UCDavis and his master’s degree from Chapman University. He and his wife
Karen reside in Rocklin with their four children: Brendon, Makayla, Caden,
and Luke.
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Coaching Staff
Mike McCormack
Assistant Coach Mike McCormack
Volunteer Assistant Coach
Worchester State College, 2008
2nd Year
24
Mike McCormack is in his 2nd season as an assistant coach at Saint
Mary’s. He came to Moraga after lettering three years for Head
Coach Dr. Dirk Baker at Worcester State College in Worcester,
MA. McCormack was named a team captain in his senior season
in 2008 and helped guide the Lancers to a 17-3 record in the
final 20 games of his senior season to win the Massachusetts
State College Athletic Conference Championship and qualify
for the Division III New England Regional. He was named
the 2008 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree
in Criminal Justice. He was named to Worcester
State’s All-Decade Team in November of 2010.
In a short amount of time McCormack has built an impressive coaching
resume. He was an assistant coach for the Post 150 Greater Newburyport
American Legion Team that went to the 2008 Massachusetts State Finals.
The 2009 team, which only lost four players from the year before, won the
2009 Massachusetts State Championship. He served as a talent evaluator
and helped select the Northeast teams that went on to win the 2007 Gold
Medal and the 2006 Silver Medal for the Bay State Games, which is the a
tournament consisting of high school players from the six regions in Massachusetts. He has also spent the last four years working with Demarini
Top-96, sponsored by Wilson, touring the country running college coaching
clinics for high school players.
He has been the Co-Chairman of the Newburyport High School Alumni
Game to Benefit ALS/Jimmy Fund since 2004. The Jimmy Fund supports
the fight against cancer in children and adults at Boston’s Dana-Faber
Cancer Institute.
At Newburyport High School, he lettered for four years, was named
team captain his senior season in which his team won the league championship. His head coach was Massachusetts Hall of Fame Coach Bill Pettingell; his assistant coach was former major league player/hitting coach
Walt Hriniak. His parents and two sisters reside in Georgetown, MA. He will
be in charge of the Gaels outfielders and coach first base.
Mike McCormack Personal File
Education
BS in Criminal Justice
Worchester State, 2008
Coaching History
Vol. Assistant Coach
Saint Mary’s (2009-present)
Marital Status
Single
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