Chris Rodriguez was named the 19th head coach of the Pacific baseball program on June 5, 2020.

In the 2022 season, Rodriguez guided the Tigers to a 14-38 season. Highlights from the season included an opening weekend sweep over Northern Colorado and a sweep over Saint Mary's at home. The Friday game against Saint Mary's was one of the top attended events of the year for any sport. Brandon Motheral was named to the All-Conference second team after a season in which he led the Tigers in batting average and was tied for 11th in the conference in batting average. Motheral was tied for the team lead second in home runs with seven and was second on the team in total bases with 82. Hunter Schilperoort was named an All-Conference honorable mention after he recorded eight saves during the season, tied for second all-time in a single season for the Tigers.

In his first full season as head coach, Rodriguez guided the Tigers to a 17-34 record including signature wins over #18 Stanford and BYU. At the plate Rodriguez helped Thomas Gavello into one of the best hitters in WCC, the Danville native grew into one of the most feared hitters in the WCC this season as he led the Tigers in runs (43), doubles (12), home runs (10), total bases (104), slugging percentage (.601), hit by pitch (18), on-base percentage (.458) and OPS (1.059). Overall, he also ranked in the top ten in the conference in runs (third), on-base percentage (third), slugging percentage (fourth), home runs (tied for sixth) and batting average (.335, ninth). Notably, Gavello's final long ball on May 28^th against Pepperdine made him the first Pacific player to reach double digits in home runs since James Free II (14) and Danny Mayer (12) in 2017 while his 43 runs were also the most by a Tiger since Mayer's 46 in 2016.

Coming to Pacific at the start of the 2019 season to serve as an assistant coach, Rodriguez was elevated to interim head coach prior to 2020 upon the resignation of former head coach Ryan Garko. Despite a shortened season in 2020, he guided the Tigers to an 8-9 overall finish, including a 5-2 start and series wins over California Baptist and South Dakota State. At the plate, Rodriguez helped juniors Charles Middleton and Alex LeForestier both finish in the top 10 in batting average in the West Coast Conference. On the mound, fellow junior Hayden Pearce also ranked third in the conference with a 0.80 WHIP. 
 
As an athlete himself, Rodriguez was a catcher for two years at Modesto Junior College (MJC) before being drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 52nd round of the 1995 Major League Baseball draft. Ultimately, he would not sign with the Rockies until 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 in 2005, his bachelor of arts degree in physical education from Stanislaus State in 2007, 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 at Modesto Junior College for two years, from 2006-2008. Following this success, he would go on to be named head coach of the program from 2009-2012.
 
After his five seasons at MJC, Rodriguez resigned to accept a position at San Joaquin Delta College, where he would spend the next six years as an assistant coach and adjunct professor. While with the Mustangs, he worked with 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.
 
A native of West Covina, Calif., Rodriguez resides in Modesto, Calif. with his wife, Liz Baroni-Rodriguez, son, Logan (7) and daughter, Noelle (4).

THE CHRIS RODRIGUEZ FILE

Coaching Experience

Pacific Highlights (as Head Coach)

• Six WCC All-Academic selections
• Three WCC All-Conference selections
• One WCC All-Freshman selection

Coaching History