Toby DeMello was named the 21st head coach of the Pacific baseball program in July 2026.
DeMello's last five years have been spent within the University of Arizona's program where he started out as a volunteer assistant coach for two seasons before receiving a promotion to full-time assistant coach in 2023 as the program's hitting coach while also working with the catchers.
During that span, his offenses consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous in the country, highlighted by the 2023 campaign in which Arizona finished the season top-30 in home runs, top-20 in runs, top-15 in batting average, hits, and scoring, top-10 in slugging percentage, third in doubles and second in triples.
With his help, UA made a College World Series appearance in 2025 and set single game records in home runs (8) and extra base hits (16) against Utah Valley in the regional portion of the tournament. In addition to the deep tournament run, Arizona won the Big-12 conference tournament in its inaugural season in the conference as well as the 2024 Pac-12 conference tournament.
Beyond the diamond, DeMello's work with the hitters and catchers produced 19 All-Conference selections, four All-Americans and three first round MLB Draft picks – one of whom has already reached the MLB in Daniel Susac with the San Francisco Giants.
Prior to his stint in Tucson, DeMello was just up the road at Sacramento State for four seasons as the program's assistant coach and director of operations. His time there was marked by the program's 2019 WAC conference tournament title and subsequent appearance in the NCAA Tournament – just the third appearance in Sac State history.
DeMello has also made stops at Occidental College and Sierra College.
As a player, he is no stranger to the West Coast Conference after playing four years at Saint Mary's, where he would parlay a Johnny Bench Award Semifinalist honor into a 29th round pick by the Seattle Mariners in 2012. The former catcher would spend three seasons in the Mariners' minor league system before transitioning to the Frontier League in 2015-16 as a member of the now defunct Southern Illinois Miners.
DeMello will make his debut in the orange and black when the team returns to competition in the spring of 2027.
