FULLERTON, Calif. – Former Fresno State top assistant/pitching coach Steve Rousey joins the Cal State Fullerton baseball program as its new pitching coach, Head Coach Rick Vanderhook announced on Monday.
In his role as pitching coach for the Titans, Rousey will help develop, mentor and coach the Titans both on and off the field, as well as assist in recruiting.
"We're very excited to welcome Steve Rousey back to the Titan family," said Head Coach Rick Vanderhook. "He brings a wealth of experience, not only as one of the best coaches in the country, but from his playing days with the Titans as well.
"He knows the West Coast. He knows college baseball and will be a huge asset to our program."
Rousey comes to Cal State Fullerton after spending eight seasons as the pitching coach for Fresno State.
This past season, Rousey helped lead the Bulldogs to a 35-25 record and oversaw a pitching staff that had three players taken in the MLB Draft in Ricky Tyler Thomas (7th Round, Chicago Cubs), Fred Schlichtholz (13th Round, San Diego Padres) and Rickey Ramirez (15th Round, Minnesota Twins). The Bulldog pitching staff ranked second in the Mountain West in ERA (5.64), second in opposing batting average (.282) and tops in batters struck out (464).
In 2016, he helped guide the Bulldogs to the Mountain West Championship. That season the pitching staff ranked first as a team in the conference in ERA (3.72), strikeouts (479), runs allowed (270), doubles allowed (83), opponents' batting average (.261), hits allowed (526) and home runs allowed (26). The Bulldogs held Mountain West foes to a 2.99 ERA and nearly had a 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in league play.
Junior Jimmy Lambert was named MW Co-Pitcher of the Year and was selected in the 5th round of the MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox. Senior southpaw Dylan Lee was a 10th round selection of the Miami Marlins as Fresno State had multiple pitchers selected in the MLB Draft for the sixth straight season. Senior Tim Borst and junior Rickey Ramirez each picked up Second-Team All-Mountain West honors while Borst ranked second in the conference in saves (8) and Ramirez was tied for sixth in appearances (26).
In 2015, the Bulldogs pitching staff was led by Jake Shull who led the Mountain West with a 1.90 ERA. Splitting his time between starting and relieving, Shull finished second in the conference in opposing batting average (.210) and third in saves (6). He went on to be an 11th round selection of the Detroit Tigers in the 2015 MLB Draft. Senior Garrett Mundell, a 23rd round pick of the New York Yankees, finished the season with an opposing batting average of .228, an ERA of 2.93, and picked up four saves. The 2015 Bulldog pitching staff also led the MW with a .252 opposing batting average.
In 2014, the pitching staff owned a 3.80 team ERA. Following the end of the season, three of the six Bulldogs drafted in the 2014 MLB Draft were pitchers. The 'Dogs were led by Jordan Brink as the junior posted an ERA of 2.87 along with 62 strikeouts. Brink went on to be selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 11th round, while Derick Velazquez was selected by the Houston Astros in the seventh round and Mundell forewent the MLB to return for his senior season after being drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Mundell posted a 1.58 ERA with a 4-0 record.
In 2013, the Bulldogs inaugural season in the Mountain West, Rousey's young late-charging pitching staff was highlighted by a Freshman All-American and the lowering of the team ERA by more than a full run per game in the last month of the season.
The 2011 and 2012 campaigns saw Bulldog pitchers dominate the WAC with eight pitchers being drafted and posted respective ERAs of 2.91 and 3.88 in those two seasons. The 'Dogs also amassed 909 strikeouts while earning a pair of championship rings.
Bulldog pitchers had been drafted 21 times during Rousey's tenure at Fresno State and 13 earned all-conference honors.
Prior to Fresno State, Rousey spent eight seasons as the head coach for Big West rival CSUN. In 2010 he helped secure a winning season after compiling back-to-back top 40 recruiting classes for the Matadors. The Matadors saw six players drafted or signed by a Major League Baseball organization off that team and also had four student-athletes earn All-Big West honors.
In 2002, Rousey helped guide the Matadors to the Big West Conference title in only their second year in the conference. He developed 3 future MLB Pitchers that season in Kameron Loe, Bill Murphy, and Leo Rosales.
Before coaching at CSUN, Rousey's coaching career included stints at Long Beach State, Los Angeles City College and Crescenta Valley High School.
Rousey was an assistant for Coach Dave Snow at Long Beach State from 1993-95. In his three years, the 49ers established themselves as a national power by capturing two of three Big West titles, making three regional appearances and a trip to the College World Series semifinals. During his time at Long Beach, LBSU had three pitchers earn All-American honors and one named the 1993 National Pitcher of the Year. Four more MLB players, including three pitchers were a part of those Long Beach teams.
Rousey has coached over 100 student-athletes who have gone on to be drafted & signed by major league organizations, seventeen of whom have played in the MLB. He has been a part of eight Division I conference championships, nine NCAA appearances, three College World Series teams, and a national championship.
Before his career as a coach, he was a top pitcher at Cal State Fullerton (1982-84). In three seasons playing for the Titans and NCAA's all-time winningest head coach Augie Garrido, he compiled an impressive 15-5 record with 120 strikeouts. Rousey played in the College World Series twice, and helped the Titans to a National Championship in 1984 by compiling an 8-3 record with a 3.47 earned run average.
While playing ball at Crescenta Valley High for Coach Randy Seibert, Rousey was a seventh round pick by the Chicago Cubs after earning All-CIF honors. He declined the Cubs' offer and chose to attend Cal State Fullerton.
A fourth-round pick by the Seattle Mariners in 1984 after his junior season, he spent five years playing professionally in the Seattle Mariners and Montreal Expos organizations.
Rousey earned his bachelor of arts in English from Cal State Fullerton in 1989 and his master's degree in Physical Education & Health from Azusa Pacific University in 1992. Rousey and his wife Robin have four children, P.J., Gabbie, Nate, who attends Fresno State, and Faith, who is a sophomore on the softball team at Fresno State.
SUPPORT THE TITANS!
Fans can purchase tickets for various Cal State Fullerton athletic events by visiting FullertonTitans.com/Tickets. The Athletic Ticket Office can also be contacted by phone at 657-278-2783 or by email at athletictixs@fullerton.edu. The Ticket Office is located at the Titan House off of Gymnasium Drive at the eastern end of the Intramural Fields and is open from 10 am – 4 pm PT, Monday – Friday.
FOLLOW THE TITANS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titan Athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook/FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans) Instagram (FullertonTitans) and Snapchat (FullertonTitans). In addition, the baseball team has established its own Twitter (@BaseballTitans) and Instagram accounts (csf_titanbaseball).