Aug. 9, 2006

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University baseball head coach Mark O'Brien announced today the addition of Chad Baum to the Bronco Baseball coaching staff. Baum, who joins O'Brien's staff after two seasons as an assistant at UC Irvine, will primarily handle tutoring the players on hitting and working with the team's catchers.

"I'm really excited about joining the Santa Clara baseball program, there are a lot of great guys coming in and I'm excited about the direction of the program," Baum said. "It is a big step to join a high-class program here at Santa Clara."

Prior to coming to the Mission Campus, Baum served as an assistant for UC Irvine head coach Dave Serrano. There, he was the Anteaters' first-base coach, and worked with the players on hitting and tutored the catchers. Baum was a volunteer assistant coach at Cal State Fullerton from 2001 to 2004, helping the Titans to three College World Series appearances, including a national championship in 2004.

As a player, Baum captained the 1998 and 1999 Titan squads, helping lead the team to the College World Series in his senior year. A catcher, his expertise behind the plate also helped him tutor Cal State Fullerton's 2004 first-team All-American Kurt Suzuki, who was a second-round draft choice of the Oakland Athletics in the MLB Draft.

Currently, Baum is helming the SoCal Fire in the NBC World Series, where the Fire is among the final six teams contending for the World Series title.

"Chad is an outstanding addition to our program in many ways," O'Brien said. "Number one, he has a phenomenal baseball pedigree, both playing and coaching for Cal State Fullerton and being a part of George Horton's staff that won the national championship. To also be at UC Irvine with Dave Serrano, he's had some wonderful guidance in his coaching career, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Chad has a great work ethic and tremendous knowledge of the game. I couldn't be happier to have him join our staff."