Don Barbara enters his sixth seasonwith the Tigers in 2014 and serves as coordinator of recruiting andhitting instructor.
He helped lead Pacific toback-to-back record breaking offensive numbers. In 2009 - his firstyear with Pacific - the Tigers combined to hit .322, includingseven individual hitters batting over .300. Pacific's power hittersdeveloped in 2009 under his watch, with three players sluggingabove .500, and the team led the Big West Conference with 135doubles. In 2010, Pacific posted one of its most prolific offensiveseasons, as the squad set program records for hits (629) andbatting average (.325) with eight Tigers earning spots on theTigers' single-season offensive leader boards.
In 2011, Pacific finished third inthe Big West in batting, with Dustin Torchio taking home the BigWest batting title, Matt Carvutto leading the league indoubles, and three Tigers placing in the top five in the BigWest in hits.
Barbara came to Pacific after threeseasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator atSacramento State (2004-08). Don served as the Hornets' hittingcoach, infield coach, third base coach and recruitingcoordinator.
Before his tenure at SacramentoState, Don spent seven years as an assistant coach at Long BeachState (1997-99, 2001-04). Barbara's instruction at the plate paidimmediate and long lasting dividends for the Hornets as theSacramento State team batting average increased from .251 prior tohis arrival to .289 in 2006, .280 in 2007 and .311 in 2008.Barbara's tutelage also impacted the Hornets' defense, helping theteam fielding percentage improve from .960 in 2005 to .964 in 2006,.968 in 2007 and finally to .970 in 2008. The .970 field percentageposted in 2008 tied a Sacramento State record for the highestfielding percentage in school history.
At Long Beach State, Barbara helpedlead the Dirtbags to six regional NCAA appearances in his sevenseasons, including a trip to the College World Series in 1998.Serving mainly as the hitting and third base coach while at LongBeach State, Barbara also instructed first basemen and outfielderswhile assisting with all aspects of recruiting. Barbara helpedbring in current Major Leaguers Bobby Crosby (2004 AL Rookie of theYear), Evan Longoria (2008-09 AL All-Star, 2008 AL Rookie of theYear), Paul McAnulty, Jeremy Reed, Terrmel Sledge and TroyTulowitzki (2007 NL Gold Glove) to spend their collegiate careerswith the Dirtbags.
Barbara's playing days are justdecorated as his coaching resume. A member of the Long Beach StateHall of Fame, Don was one of the original Long Beach State Dirtbagson the 1989 team that played on an all dirt infield and earned atrip to the College World Series.
An All-American first baseman fortwo seasons, Barbara was selected as the Big West Conference Playerof the Year and Division I Hitter of the Year in 1990 after batting.474 with 102 hits, 69 runs and 27 doubles. In January of 2007,Barbara was voted to Long Beach State's all-time greats list,comprised of the program's top 30 players from 1954-2006. He wasthe fourth leading vote getter, behind Jered Weaver, Jason Giambiand Bobby Crosby.
After leaving Long Beach State viathe draft, Barbara spent six seasons (1990-1996) in professionalbaseball, Don was drafted in the 24th round by the then-CaliforniaAngels. He reached as high as Triple-A for the Angels in 1992 andalso played for the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers(1993), the Los Angeles Dodgers (1994) and the Boston Red Sox(1995). In 1994, Barbara batted .352 for the Pacific Coast ChampionAlbuqurque Dukes.
Barbara completed his undergraduatedegree in kinesiology from Long Beach State in 2004. Don and hiswife, Corrie, have two children, Madison and McKenzie.
