UPDATED ON AUGUST 18th
Notre Dame assistant coach Joe Hastings will be named an assistant coach at Coastal Carolina.
Hastings has spent the last two seasons on Mik Aoki’s coaching staff after being at Boston College with Aoki previously.
Press Release is below.
CONWAY – Coastal Carolina head baseball coach Gary Gilmore has named Joe Hastings assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator.
Hastings, a former All-America first baseman at East Carolina, comes to Coastal Carolina after two seasons (2011-12) at Notre Dame, where he spearheaded the national recruiting efforts for the Irish and served as hitting and infield coach. In his eight-year tenure as an assistant, Hastings coached three first round MLB draft picks: Tony Sanchez and Mike Belfiore at Boston College and current Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman at Virginia.
Hastings mentored Fighting Irish first baseman Trey Mancini, a two-time All-Big East selection, and third baseman Eric Jagielo, an All-BIG EAST pick in 2012. As a freshman, Mancini was the first rookie and eighth player in Notre Dame history to lead Notre Dame in all three triple-crown categories. He also was named 2011 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, third team All-BIG EAST and Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.
Hastings moved to South Bend with current Notre Dame head coach and former Boston College skipper Mik Aoki. Hastings also led the recruiting efforts at Boston College as well as worked with the Eagles’ infielders and hitters. He produced eight Major League Baseball draft picks and six All-Atlantic Coast Conference performers in his four seasons (2007-10) with the Eagles. In 2009, Boston College had four players earn all-conference, the most since the school joined the ACC. In the 2010 MLB player draft, Boston College had six players selected, most in program history. In fact, three Eagles were taken in the first 10 rounds of the draft – another program first. Boston College also had a major presence in the 2009 draft, as Sanchez was selected in the first round – fourth overall – by the Pittsburgh Pirates, the highest pick ever for the Eagles’ baseball program. Belfiore was then taken in Comp Round A (45th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks, making the pair the two highest draft picks taken in the same draft from Boston College.
Prior to coaching at Boston College, Hastings served one season (2006) as an assistant coach at Big South member Virginia Military Institute. The Keydets established a school record for wins with 30 and had their first winning season in more than 40 years. VMI also set the school record for runs, RBI and hits.
Hastings began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Virginia in 2005. He worked primarily with the Cavaliers’ outfielders and first basemen.
A native of Connelly Springs, N.C., Hastings enjoyed an outstanding four-year playing career at East Carolina (1997, 1999-2001). The first baseman captured third team All-American honors in 2001, leading the team with 62 RBI. He also earned All-Colonial Athletic Association accolades that same year, while leading the Pirates to an NCAA regional title. Hastings helped the Pirates to a record 166 wins over his career. As a junior, Hastings led East Carolina in batting average (.352), home runs (13), RBI (60) and slugging percentage (.605), while tying for the team lead in runs (50).
Drafted in the 24th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft, Hastings played four seasons (2001-04) in the San Diego Padres’ organization. He advanced as high as AA, where he played for the Mobile Baybears (2003; Southern League).
Hastings received a bachelor’s degree in physical education from East Carolina in 2001. He and his wife, the former Laura Welch, have two children: Meghan (4) and Jacob (3).
