STOCKTON, Calif. – University of the Pacific elevated assistant coach Chris Rodriguez to the position of interim head baseball coach for the 2020 season on January 6^th following the resignation of Ryan Garko, who accepted a position with the Los Angeles Angels.
 
"I am beyond thankful to Janet Lucas and Wes Yourth for the opportunity to lead the Pacific baseball program in 2020," said Rodriguez. "Thank you to Coach Garko for establishing the framework for a successful program moving forward. I am excited to get the season started and look forward to growing my relationships with my staff, the players and the Pacific community."
 
With 15 years of experience in college coaching, including a head coaching stint at Modesto Junior College, Rodriguez brings a seasoned perspective to the Pacific Tigers.
 
"We are tremendously excited for the upcoming 2020 baseball season and have full confidence in Coach Rodriguez, along with the rest of the Pacific Baseball coaching staff," said Wes Yourth, the Senior Associate of Athletics for Internal Affairs. "We truly appreciate what Coach Garko has brought to the Pacific Baseball program, and know that Chris, along with assistant coaches, Joey Centanni and Garrett DeGallier, will lead the program forward in 2020."
 
Coming to Pacific as a product of the local area, Rodriguez played two years as a catcher at Modesto Junior College (MJC) before being drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 52nd round of the 1995 Major League Baseball draft and signing with the Rockies prior to the draft in 1996.
 
Rodriguez would go on to win a Northwest League Championship with the Class-A Portland Rockies in 1997.
 
After finishing 1998 Spring Training with Portland, Rodriguez spent the following years taking his talents to the classroom. He earned an associate's degree from Modesto Junior College, his bachelor of arts degree in kinesiology from Stanislaus State in 2005, and his master's degree in Sports Coaching from The United States Sports Academy in 2008.
 
Back on his old stomping grounds, Rodriguez served as an assistant coach on the baseball staff at Modesto Junior College for four years. Following this success, he would go on to be named head coach of the program from 2009-2012.
 
After his eight seasons at MJC, Rodriguez resigned to accept a position at San Joaquin Delta College, where he would spend the next five years as an assistant. While with the Mustangs, he worked with the catchers and hitters, coached third base and was in charge of recruiting efforts for the program. With Rodriguez on staff, San Joaquin Delta made Final Four appearances in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018, won a State Championship in 2018 and were state runners-up in 2014 and 2015. 
 
During his time as a coach, Rodriguez has seen 63 of his athletes go on to play Division I baseball, with 24 of these players reaching the professional level.

"Knowing Chris for many years, UOP hit the jackpot with him to lead the Tigers," said Eric Valenzuela, current head baseball coach at Long Beach State. "He's a tireless worker that gets players to compete at an exceptionally high level. He is very well respected in the college baseball community and will thrive as the leader of the Pacific program".
 
A native of West Covina, Calif., Rodriguez resides in Modesto, Calif. with his wife, Liz Baroni-Rodriguez, son, Logan (7) and daughter, Noelle (4).
 
Following the season, a national search will begin for the next head coach of the Tigers.