Head Coac Sam Piraro- San Jose State
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
San Jose State University baseball head coach Sam Piraro has announced the addition of former Spartan outfield standout Brian Yocke as his volunteer assistant coach to round out his staff.
Yocke participated in the program for just one season in 2007, but made his mark with a unique story of perseverance. He was cut after one day of tryouts at the start of the 2006 fall season, but returned to the baseball offices the very next day to ask to be given a second chance. Piraro and his staff allowed Yocke to continue training with the team through the fall. He eventually successfully walked on to the squad and earned a roster spot for the 2007 spring campaign.
The native of Santa Clara, Calif., began the year on the Spartan bench, but worked his way onto the diamond on February 17 and into the starting lineup at the University of the Pacific on April 17. He ultimately became a fixture in center field, starting each of the next 17 contests before sitting out the regular-season finale, and then earning a lineup spot in all four games the Spartans played at the 2007 Western Athletic Conference Tournament in Reno, Nev. He finished with a .346 batting average (27-for-78) over 31 games, 22 of them starts. Yocke compiled 25 runs, three doubles, one triple, 14 RBI, a .410 slugging percentage, nine walks, 11 hit-by-pitches, a .480 on-base percentage, seven sacrifice hits and four steals in five attempts. On three separate occasions, Yocke reached base safely five times in a single game. He made just one error in 59 defensive chances for a fielding percentage of .983.
“I’m really excited that Brian has committed to be our volunteer this year,” said Piraro “It was a real honor to be able to coach him during the year that he played here. He was very inspirational to all of his teammates, and his coaches. He will bring great passion and enthusiasm to the coaching profession. He’s a guy that likes to help people, and that is why we think he will be a great addition to our staff.”
“I’m thrilled to be back on board,” added Yocke. “I’m excited for what we have in store, especially with (new associate head coach and pitching coach) Coach (Tom) Kunis, from what I’ve heard about his reputation, what Pritch (assistant coach Jeff Pritchard) did last year and what Coach P (Sam Piraro) does year in and year out.
“I’m just looking forward to being a part of this program again. We have high expectations for the coming year. I go into things having high expectations, and it’s good that I am going into a program that has those same expectations. If everyone involved is as ready to commit to this as I am, than we’ll have a great year. I think we’ll have a lot of fun.
“What I can bring into coaching from the year that I played (2007), the thing that really motivated me that year, was passion, not only on the field but off it as well. That’s why I came back into baseball. I took a break because I wanted to take care of some things, but I’m back because I have a passion for the game, as well as for athletics in general. I want to have that experience with these kids, trying to motivate them, both on the field and off. Hopefully, that passion that I had playing, I’ll carry through to these guys. I know I’ll have it. I hope I can convey it. It will be my first real coaching experience, so hopefully, I can convey it as well as I think I can, and if I can, I think it will be fun.”
The 2009 season will be Yocke’s first foray into collegiate coaching. He spent the 2008 season as one of two coaches for the junior varsity team at his other alma mater, Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, and also spent this past summer assisting Mitty’s varsity squad during summer league ball. Yocke played at San Jose’s Mission College for former Spartan Todd Eagen in 2004 and 2005, before transferring to San Jose State.
For San Jose State, Yocke will coach an outfield group that includes another hard-nosed, walk-on centerfielder like himself in sophomore San Jose native Jason Martin. He will also handle baserunning, assist with academics, and serve as the first base coach. First-year associate head coach Tom Kunis will direct the pitchers, coordinate the Spartan youth camps and take the lead on identifying pitching targets during the recruiting process. Second-year assistant coach Jeff Pritchard will remain the hitting instructor and recruiting coordinator. He will also still head up the San Jose State Baseball academic program, run the prospect camps and coach third base. Jason Piraro and Teghan Meyer are each in their fourth years as the director of baseball operations and administrative assistant, respectively.
